Improving Benefits Certification Through Thoughtful Healthcare Sector Partnerships and Digital Tools
Public benefits programs may be able to leverage electronic health records to streamline access to benefits.
Paid Leave
What New York City Parents Told Us About Child Care
Our 2026 survey of NYC parents finds strong demand for more leave and trusted, flexible child care, and preferences that vary widely.
What We Learned About Parental Leave from the 2026 National Parent Survey
With results from two parent surveys, we have a better understanding of what parents want from paid leave programs.
How to Build User-Centered Paid Leave Websites
A review of state paid leave websites reveals how programs can best make information clear and findable.
What Parents of Young Kids Want: Insights from the 2026 National Parent Survey
A new survey of U.S. parents with young children reveals what parents want—from how they want to spend their time to what they hope for the future.
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.
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.
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.
Paid Leave in 2025: Three Crucial Battlegrounds for Working People and Families
Vicki Shabo offers a peek at what’s ahead for paid leave in 2025, highlighting three key areas to watch in an unpredictable year.
Paid Leave Is Back on the Agenda: Exploring the Economic and Social Benefits
Vicki Shabo explores how the 2024 election is reigniting the paid leave debate and highlights its key benefits for workers and families.
Rural New Mexicans Need Paid Leave to Navigate Long Distances to Health Care Services
New Mexico's rural communities face long distances to health care and could better access it with paid family and medical leave.
Rural Mainers Need Paid Leave to Navigate Long Distances to Hospital-Based Health Services
Distances to Hospital-Based Health Care Underscore Maine's Need for Paid Family and Medical Leave to Build a Healthier and Stronger State.
Documenting the Evolution of Federal Paid Family and Medical Leave Policy
This brief co-authored by experts from the Urban Institute and New America's Better Life Lab showcases paid leave policy evolution.