Paid Parental Leave Expands to More State Employees in Kansas

Thousands of additional state employees will benefit from paid parental leave, as the Judicial Branch and Board of Regents have updated their paid family leave policies.

Both of the policies reflect the Governor’s executive order with the following changes:

• The Judicial Branch altered its paid parental leave policy to eight weeks for both parents (instead of four weeks for the secondary parent).

• The Board of Regents require their employees to be employed for 12 months to be eligible (instead of 180 days).

“Our research has shown that paid family leave is a win-win for families, employers, and the economy — so we’re thrilled that more state employees will have access to this family-friendly benefit,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of United WE. “We look forward to continuing to work with legislators to pass paid family leave laws and urge other states without paid family leave policies to consider the research-backed benefits that support employees and their families.”

Expanding access to paid leave has been a top priority of the United WE, formerly Women’s Foundation, which works with Kansas leaders to provide research on the benefits of paid family leave.

More information on United WE’s research into paid family leave is available at: https://united-we.org/paid-leave.

Jackson County Executive White and Appointments Project® Partner to Increase Women’s Participation on Boards and Commissions

Women’s Foundation Appointments Project® Announces Expanded Programming to Jackson County, Missouri

Kansas City, MO – September 24, 2020 –  The Office of County Executive Frank White, Jr., in partnership with the Appointments Project® today announce their collaborative partnership to increase the number of women on county boards and commissions. Started in 2014, the Appointments Project® has successfully placed 140 women on boards and commissions, including 28 percent women of color since inception.  

“I’ve seen first-hand the need to increase gender parity and better drive representation across civic leadership to ensure that we’re drawing on the talents and diversity of all our residents,” County Executive White said. “We are eager to partner with the Appointments Project® and strengthen our county by increasing the number of appointed women, with an initial focus on the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority. It is my understanding that there have likely only been three female commissioners in the Authority’s 50-year history.”

The Appointments Project® serves as a talent bank, advisor and advocate for women seeking opportunities to lead their communities and works to attract diverse, qualified applicants for appointed positions on boards and commissions. The Appointments Project® formula trains and mentors women through the process of applying for these positions, fast-tracking their ability to get appointed at every level of government.

“Our research showed us that women don’t become civically engaged because they weren’t being asked. As a result, we created the Appointments Project® so boards and commissions could reflect the communities they serve,” said Wendy Doyle, Women’s Foundation President & CEO. “We are grateful to have County Executive White join us as a partner to expand the program in the Kansas City metro area. Together, we are addressing the gender disparities in local civic leadership and are able to make real changes in our communities.” 

Based on a growing number of success stories, the pipeline of women leaders is growing rapidly across the country. The Appointments Project® fills a critical need in creating a pathway to work with elected officials and better community representation that leads to better lives for all.  To learn more about the Appointments Project® visit www.appointmentsproject.org. 

About Appointments Project®

To create lasting change for women and their families, the Women’s Foundation headquartered in Kansas City focuses on relevant research and strategic partnerships. In 2014, they established the Appointments Project® to empower women and strengthen communities by increasing the gender diversity of civic boards and commissions. Through a landmark study, they identified the barriers causing women to be underrepresented on civic boards and commissions and established the Appointments Project® to improve the number of women serving. For more information, please visit www.appointmentsproject.org or follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @appointmentsproject).