Family Leave

Transition Plan for Secure Families

Family Leave

Paid leave facilitates healthy child development and family bonding during the critical developmental window of early childhood. Access to leave is associated with improved child vaccination rates, maternal mental health, duration of breastfeeding, and a child’s recovery from serious illness. However, a large portion of the workforce and those they care for are not able to receive the health benefits of paid leave. The administration should expand access to paid family and medical leave to promote the health of children and families.

Implement paid family and medical leave.  Regardless of their parents’ employers, children deserve time to develop strong emotional bonds that lay the foundation for their healthy development and lifelong health. During the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, comprehensive paid leave would improve the health of children and their families. The administration must support efforts to provide working parents and their children with a comprehensive paid family and medical leave standard and benefits.