WorkLife Law Wins $150k Grant to Support Pregnant, Postpartum Farmworkers
The grant will support WorkLife Law’s efforts to help pregnant and postpartum farmworkers assert their legal rights and avoid health risks while pregnant.
The Center for WorkLife Law has received a $150,000 grant to support a program that helps pregnant farmworkers and those who have recently given birth in California.
The grant comes from the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC) through its Agricultural Community-Based Projects (AgCBP). It will fund an initiative called “Dar a Luz: Legal Rights for Farmworkers in Pregnancy and Postpartum,” which is a partnership between WorkLife Law and Central Coast United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE).
With this funding, WorkLife Law will create programs and resources for community health workers to help farmworkers access paid leave and avoid pesticide exposure during pregnancy. The initiative will include training sessions on legal rights during pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding, along with guidance on California’s paid leave programs. Participants will receive toolkits to help farmworkers, and a free legal helpline will offer support in Spanish and Indigenous languages.
“We are deeply honored to have been selected by PERC to receive funding for this life-changing project,” said Liz Morris, Co-Director of WorkLife Law. “This grant will allow us to strengthen our commitment to advocating for the legal rights of farmworkers, ensuring they receive the protections and support they need to maintain a healthy pregnancy.”
PERC is a partnership between the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs and UC Davis Division of Continuing and Professional Education, in collaboration with Oregon State University.