Founder’s Playbook
State Initiatives
Across the country, states respond to their needs and serve to ground policy innovation, particularly on complex social issues. But lasting change depends on more than ideas — it requires nuance, durable infrastructure, and a clear throughline from state success to national progress. Strategic design and narrative leadership provide that bridge, turning local innovation into national momentum.
Strategy led by Robert Espinoza, design by RD Design for SAGE – Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders and PHI, with images courtesy of both organizations.
Designing What Comes Next
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Designing state advocacy that reflects political reality. Organizations working at the state level often face a common set of challenges. Political environments vary widely and can be deeply polarized. Policy goals require precise technical design and an understanding of how legislation actually moves. Coalitions need support to organize across years, not just legislative sessions. And national partners seek alignment across states without flattening local context.
The challenge is turning distributed state energy into strategic pathways that lead to sustainable policy change.
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From isolated efforts to coordinated strategy. Robert’s approach to state advocacy begins with meeting states where they are—politically, culturally, and operationally—while helping them connect their work to a broader movement. He blends strategy, technical assistance, training, and narrative alignment to ensure that advocacy efforts are both ambitious and grounded.
This work recognizes that state policy success depends not only on what is proposed, but on who is engaged, how issues are framed, and whether advocates have the tools and confidence to sustain momentum over time.
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Infrastructure that helps states win—and keep winning. Under Robert’s leadership and in collaboration with his advocacy teams, national organizations proided the technical assistance and capacity building state advocates needed to advance their own policy agendas. Through multi-year campaigns, technical assistance, learning networks, and shared message frameworks, this work supported advocates and government leaders in moving from fragmented efforts to coordinated strategies grounded in local political realities.
Over time, states gained clearer roadmaps for action, stronger relationships across jurisdictions, and greater confidence navigating complex policy environments. Policy proposals became more viable and better aligned with on-the-ground conditions. As state wins accumulated, they informed federal conversations, shifted national narratives, and demonstrated how nationally supported, locally driven innovation can produce systems-level reform.
Similarly, clients for The CareWorks Project gain strategic support to help state leaders move from ideas to concrete recommendations and ultimately to durable change.
“In Wisconsin, Robert Espinoza helped us think differently about how to strengthen the direct care workforce—from training and career pathways to the policy environment shaping the field. His ability to connect practical workforce initiatives like WisCaregiver Careers with the realities of state policy made his contributions especially valuable.”
— Kevin Coughlin, Policy Initiatives Advisor-Executive, Division of Medicaid Services, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, which oversees Wisconsin’s Medicaid program and long-term services and supports for older adults and people with disabilities.
Essential Jobs, Essential Care.™
PHI
A multi-state advocacy initiative that works with coalitions on the ground to advance direct care workforce policy reforms, while building their capacity to engage in advocacy on these issues.
Read more here.
“Robert Espinoza has what it takes to move the direct care movement forward. Through a well-designed multi-state initiative that included New Mexico, we worked closely together. I had the chance to see Robert’s strategic vision, leadership and deep commitment. The team he led for our work in New Mexico have moved complex workforce challenges toward policy wins for our state.”
— Adrienne Smith, President and CEO of New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition, a statewide organization that advocates for and advances the professional development and workforce issues of New Mexico’s direct caregivers.
SAGENet
SAGE - Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders
A network of state and local affiliates throughout the country that advance LGBTQ older adult policies and programs, coordinated by SAGE (led by Serena Worthington, 2010-2019).
The Spousal Impoverishment Protections Initiative
SAGE - Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders
A multi-state advocacy initiative to expand spousal impoverishment protections to same-sex couples in the absence of marriage equality, which became legal in 2015.
“Robert is a visionary leader who elevates the direct care workforce with insight, creativity, and a deep commitment to progress. His work brings forward bold ideas and practical solutions that strengthen the field and inspire meaningful, lasting change.”
— Nicole Howell, Director, Direct Care Workforce Development, National Council on Aging, a leading national nonprofit advancing healthy aging, economic security, and independence for older adults.
Meet the Founder
Founder & CEO of The CareWorks Project, Robert Espinoza is a national expert on the care economy, advising leaders on caregiving, aging, workforce policy, and narrative strategy to create a long—term care ecosystem that truly works. Reach out.