Re-Scripting Early Care and Learning On Screen
Authentic representation in TV and film can help transform culture and systems for early child care and education, for the benefit of all.
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Big ideas, bold solutions. Explore the latest research, analysis, and policy insights from our experts.
Child Care on Screen: Ten Facts and Key Policy Milestones for Storytellers
To tell authentic stories about care on screen, creatives need context about the realities of U.S. child care and key policy moments.
Seven Ways Screenwriters Can Tell More Authentic Stories About Child Care
Research shows viewers want to see child care depicted honestly in TV and movies. Here’s how writers can upend tired tropes.
To Appeal to “Middle America,” Creatives and Studios Should Focus on Authentic Work, Family, and Care Stories
Rural, Midwestern, and Southern U.S. Viewers Want to See Work and Family Issues on Screen
In a segmented media and cultural environment, the demand for relatable work-family depictions is universal.
Explainer: Paid and Unpaid Leave Policies in the United States
A short primer on private-sector workers’ access and use of federal unpaid leave through the FMLA and an introduction to state programs.
Explainer: Paid Leave Benefits and Funding in the United States
A short primer on state paid family and medical leave programs across 13 states and Washington, DC.
Virginia’s New Paid Leave Law Closes the Loop Between Implementation and Policy
With a new paid leave law, Virginia has hardcoded critical implementation lessons learned from other paid leave programs across the country.
Putting Pregnancy, Abortion, and Care into Context on Screen
TV and film viewers are eager to see more realistic, authentic depictions of reproductive health decisions on screen.
Not All Paid Leave Policies Are Equal
A new report concludes that newer voluntary, optional paid leave policies in several states are not leading to coverage.
10 Top Moments for Care on TV in 2025
From the struggles of parenthood to confronting a cancer diagnosis, Vicki Shabo and Lydia Storie count down the top TV care moments of 2025.
Closer to the Pain, Closer to Solutions: On Paid Leave, States Are Showing Us the Way
National paid family and medical leave is the goal, but in the meantime, state policy innovations and improvements provide evidence and hope
Breaking Out of a Gendered Box: Centering What’s Most Human When Writing About Work, Family, and Care
How people in the U.S. perceive, experience, and discuss the impact of gender roles in work, family, and care contexts.
Explainer: The FAMILY Act of 2025
Key parameters in the FAMILY Act, a comprehensive paid leave bill, would help to provide the financial stability people need.
This Labor Day, Viewers Want to See Relatable Challenges With Jobs, Money, and Work-Family Stress
New research finds that audiences seek visibility, understanding, and solutions in the media they consume.