On Tuesday, June 28th, 2022, the Children’s Bureau’s Learning & Coordination Center hosted, “Laying the Groundwork: Paid Family Leave as a Prevention and Promotion Strategy.” During this Digital Dialogue session, Laura Weeldreyer, Executive Director of the Maryland Family Network, discussed how policies that provide universal concrete and economic supports to families have a powerful impact on child abuse and neglect prevention and broader family well-being. More specifically, Ms. Weeldreyer homed in on the topic of Paid Family and Medical Leave. A multitude of research supports how paid family leave is beneficial for the whole family. These benefits include:
- Healthy Growth and Development for Infants and Toddlers,
- Improved Maternal Health and Family Economic Security
- Improved Paternal Attachment.
Yet, the US is the only advanced economy and one of only 2 or 3 countries on the planet without some form of paid family leave. Furthermore, only 11 out of 50 states offer paid family leave. More resources are available here and here.
By Taylor Savage, Policy Intern
