Care Forward
Care Forward leverages the power of community to raise standards for domestic work at the neighborhood level. We do this by creating a framework for domestic workers and employers to engage in ongoing dialogue and negotiation around pay and other conditions; developing campaigns that raise awareness and enforcement of existing rights/laws and working to formalize domestic work standards for the neighborhood by coordinating a community standards board with workers, employers, and allies.
Join our Contract Campaign!
Since 2024 students at Mamaroneck High School in the Original Civic Research & Action (OCRA) program, have been working on a long term project to raise awareness amongst employers of domestic workers on the rights of their employees. We have formed a coalition, Care Forward Mamaroneck, where the OCRA students are working alongside the Community Resource Center, the Worker Justice Center of New York, and Care Forward – We Rise to achieve this. The goal is to improve the working conditions of domestic workers, specifically nannies, housecleaners and home care workers, in Westchester to raise awareness about domestic workers rights amongst their employers.
I pledge to strengthen my contract
Contracts
In November 2023, following an Executive Order from President Biden, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released sample contracts designed to help domestic workers and their employers establish clear job expectations and fair working relationships. Written agreements benefit everyone who values care for all! Care Forward has adapted the DOL's templates with recommendations from our community members to make this easy for you!
The sample Westchester Contract for Child care will help you get started!
Care For All
Care For All
Our first zine, Care For All, introduces our work as a neighborhood-based standards-raising initiative to employers. We crafted Care Checklists and other recommendations for employers and domestic workers to establish clear job expectations and fair working relationships.
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Workshop to Become A Fair Domestic Employer
3.18.2026 6:30-8:30pm
In PersonJoin Care Forward Mamaroneck to learn how to be a fair employer!
Research
Do you have a written contract?
The high school surveyed over 75 employers of domestic workers in Westchester County in 2025 and created a three part podcast panel of experts to educate employers of domestic workers on the standards they should uphold.
Only 17.7% of Employers of Domestic Workers have an established written contract with signatures
73.1% of people do not have overtime pay established in a written contract
43.6% of people do not have required hours per week established in a written contract
Less than a ⅓ of the people we surveyed feel very knowledgeable about the difference between minimum wage and living wage
Around ¼ of the people we surveyed feel very knowledgeable about establishing written contracts
There is a clear need in our community for education regarding the employment and working conditions of domestic workers
Highlights
In 2025
The high school surveyed over 75 employers of domestic workers in Westchester County in 2025
Created a three part podcast panel of experts to educate employers of domestic workers on the standards they should uphold.
Launched a campaign to increase and strengthen written contracts in Mamaroneck.
Developed a survey to further evaluate baseline contract standards amongst employers.
Media Coverage
Care Forward leverages the power of community to raise standards for domestic work at the neighborhood level. We do this by creating a framework for domestic workers and employers to engage in ongoing dialogue and negotiation around pay and other conditions; developing campaigns that raise awareness and enforcement of existing rights/laws and working to formalize domestic work standards for the neighborhood by coordinating a community standards board with workers, employers, and allies.
Check out our coverage: