Data and Reports

On May 15, 2026 the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women released a position paper examining the growing challenges facing older women in Sonoma County, including economic insecurity, housing instability, and limited access to essential services. Shaped by lifelong inequities such as lower wages, caregiving responsibilities, and longer life expectancy, many older women struggle to access support within fragmented and underfunded systems. Drawing on expert panel discussions and community testimony, the paper highlights these interconnected issues and calls for improved coordination, housing assistance, transportation, caregiving resources, and access to information and services.

»Read position paper

On February 8, 2026, the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women released a position paper on mental wellness for women and girls in Sonoma County; shaped by cumulative stress, trauma exposure, identity-based marginalization, and barriers to accessible, culturally responsive care. These challenges have intensified in recent years as residents have experienced repeated disruption, including catastrophic fires, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing social and economic instability. This local picture reflects a broader pattern documented globally. The World Health Organization reports that more than 1 billion people live with a mental health disorder and calls for equitable financing, sustained investment in the mental health workforce, and expansion of community-based, person-centered care.

»Read position paper

On January 8, 2026, the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women approved a position paper examining the impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement on immigrant women and children in Sonoma County. The position paper was developed through a Commission-hosted hearing held on September 11, 2025, which created space to share some of the real-life experiences of immigrant women in Sonoma County dealing with ICE enforcement and better understand the impact on their lives and their families through their eyes. Speakers were selected from different parts of the County, different social and civil roles, and different perspectives.

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An initial report from the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women 2022-2023, adhoc committee on Reproductive Rights and Health (Dr. Nancy Padian and Joanne M. Brown)

Access to contraception and abortion products is defined by the availability of related products and services for those who want them. A critical component of access is awareness of existing services and an understanding of an individual’s rights to access.  The objective of the adhoc committee was to examine these issues among a subset of young women in Sonoma County (Sonoma Valley, District One).

View the report: 

Reproductive Rights and Health: Contraception and abortion access in Sonoma County Report 

In 2021, the Voices of Sonoma County Women ad hoc embarked on their second year of data collection, aimed at assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in our community. In January 2022, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG) opened applications for the Women’s Recovery Response Grant (WRRG), a $5 million dollar funding program focused on supporting the needs of women in California who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our committee successfully secured a $25,000 grant from the CCSWG to pursue a partnership with the Center for the Advancement of Women at Mount Saint Mary’s University for our project. In collaboration with the Center, our committee crafted an impactful and intersectional Report on the Status of Women and Girls in Sonoma County. The Report draws on data from the Voices of Sonoma County Women 2021 research project and the September 2022 release of the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) to paint a comprehensive picture of the post-pandemic experiences of women in our county. Our committee is currently focused on collaborating with community organizations to develop actionable insights and policy recommendations based on our data. We hope that the Report will empower local leaders to pursue equitable policy solutions for women in our community. To request a printed copy of the report in English or Spanish, please email sococsw@sonomacounty.gov.

On March 14, 2023 the Commission on the Status of Women of Sonoma County (CSW) presented their 2020-2023 work plan to the Board of Supervisors. Chair Blalock and Officer at Large Brown provided an overview of their work from fiscal years 2020/21, 2021/22 and current projects for 2022/23. Please click on the report and the PowerPoint for more details on the important work your Commission on the Status of Woman has been doing during this very challenging time.

CSW 2020-2023 Work Plan Report

CSW 2020-2023 Work Plan PowerPoint

During the Sonoma County wildfires, power shut-offs, more wildfires, and then Covid-19- The entire sector of childcare has been affected. The Covid-19 Ad hoc has researched, analyzed data and reports, interviewed, and hosted a Childcare Radio show with top experts in Childcare. To view the report, please click here.

The 2020 Voices of Sonoma County Women Report was prepared with the data generated between January 2019 and January 2020 from Listening Sessions at public forums held throughout the County, as well as with women housed at the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. We also collected responses through our Voices of Sonoma County Women survey. We shared the resultant Report with government officials, organizations, and individuals throughout Sonoma County.

View our 2020 Report in English and Spanish:

2020 Voices of Sonoma County Women (Executive Summary) (PDF: 73 kB)
2020 Voices of Sonoma County Women (Complete Report) (PDF: 684 kB)

Informe 2020 Voces de Mujeres del Condado de Sonoma (Resumen Ejecutivo) (PDF: 78 kB)
Informe 2020 Voces de Mujeres del Condado de Sonoma (Reporte Completo) (PDF: 743 kB)