United States of America

A man wearing an orange CARE t-shirt and PPE helps an older man with bagging groceries.

Where We Work

CARE’s U.S. Programs offer a locally led, networked approach to helping women and families

In the United States, low-income women — especially in underserved communities — face widening gaps in accessing critical support. When crises occur — from natural disasters to shifts in federal funding and rising poverty — they are often the hardest hit and the slowest to recover.

To meet this growing need, CARE has been implementing programs in the U.S. since 2019. We have reached more than 300,000 families across 10 states and Puerto Rico through disaster relief, health, and economic mobility programs.

CARE draws on 80 years of global experience to reach women where they are. Through our CARE Partner Network, we work with women-led organizations rooted in local communities to ensure programs meet local needs. We also make sure support reaches those most in need, creating long-lasting, sustainable change. Women aren’t just recipients of this work — they are the changemakers driving it forward.

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What type of work does CARE do in the United States?

Disaster preparedness and relief

CARE is the only humanitarian organization in the country that focuses on supporting women through disaster recovery. Our strategy is to work through a network of trusted, women-led organizations that deeply understand their communities’ needs. We partner with them before disasters occur to provide emergency preparedness training, preposition supplies and funding, and build strong relationships.

This model allows CARE to surge funds and resources within hours of an emergency, rather than weeks. This ensures we deliver vital cash assistance, critical relief supplies to families who need them most, and recovery grants to these organizations, which are the pillars of community resilience.

Learn more about CARE’s U.S. disaster relief work

A woman wearing an orange CARE t-shirt and matching face mask holds two bags of chips up to a man carrying a cardboard box with a large paper bag stacked on top. Behind them are large stacks of plastic water bottles.

CARE staff member Gabby Dirden supports local food distribution as part of CARE's COVID-19 Response. CARE delivered 13 million meals in the U.S. as part of its pandemic response. Photo credit: © 2021 Laura Noel/CARE

Maternal health

The U.S. has one of the highest maternal death rates in the developed world, a crisis driven by deadly gaps in care for women from underrepresented groups. CARE bridges these gaps by combining our global expertise with local leadership. In partnership with universities like the Morehouse School of Medicine, clinics, and community doulas, our comprehensive model provides the critical wrap-around services — from clinical checkups to transportation and cash support — that are proven to save lives.

In partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine, CARE provides high-risk moms in greater Atlanta with regular checkups and wrap around services to boost health outcomes.

Economic mobility

While there is a growing demand for labor, particularly in rural communities, many women remain locked out of opportunities for lasting financial security. That’s why we build a complete pathway to employment by partnering with community colleges for skills training and providing critical support like cash and transportation.

We also work directly with local employers to create safe, stable jobs with wage growth opportunities. Across our programs, CARE prioritizes the integration of financial empowerment, entrepreneurship, and savings programs to help build solid financial footing.

Why CARE?

Global expertise, local power: CARE brings 80 years of humanitarian expertise to our U.S. work, which is grounded in deep local partnership
Locally led, women-centered: We channel resources to the last mile through trusted, women-led organizations who know their communities
Data-driven learning: We rigorously monitor impact, collect participant feedback, and refine approaches
National voice for change: We use CARE’s brand and platform to elevate frontline stories and drive change at scale