New data shows that policies to provide universal concrete and economic supports to families can have a powerful impact on child abuse and neglect prevention and broader family well-being. In this Digital Dialogue, we’ll dig into one such strategy—paid family and medical leave. We’ll explore what research tells us about the impacts of these concrete supports and learn more about one state’s journey to a statewide policy.
Speaker:
Laura Weeldreyer
Executive Director, Maryland Family Network
Laura Weeldreyer is the Executive Director of Maryland Family Network (MFN), the state’s foremost advocacy organization for very young children and those who care for them. MFN is the CBCAP grantee for Maryland, the State Coordinating Entity, and the largest Early Head Start grantee in the state. In 2022, MFN was a leader in the coalition that passed Paid Family and Medical Leave for the state of Maryland, as well as an historic suite of legislation to support access to high-quality child care.