The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) and the University of California-Berkeley’s Work-Family Supports and Health Research Hub presents a webinar series on the importance of paid family and medical leave. This webinar series was produced in partnership with the Policies for Action—a signature research program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, administered by the Urban Institute—on the impacts of work supports on health outcomes.

Work Supports for Reducing Maternal Mortality: The Role of Paid Family and Medical Leave

March 29, 2019

Watch the webinar recording.

Maternal mortality has been on the rise in the United States since the 1990s and the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation in the world according to the World Health Organization. Maternal mortality also varies widely by race and ethnicity in the United States, with Black women more than three times as likely to die in childbirth as White women.

Work Supports for Child Health: The Role of Paid Family and Medical Leave

April 26, 2019

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Increased attention and efforts to improve birth outcomes for newborns has helped to reduce the number of low birthweight babies and the infant mortality rate in the United States. However, infant mortality rates and instances of babies born with low birth weights in the United States is higher and declining at a slower rate than in other developed countries. Infant and child health also vary widely by race and ethnicity in the United States, with infant mortality rates and low birth weight babies being higher for Black mothers.

Work Supports for Adult Health: The Role of Paid Family and Medical Leave

May 31, 2019

Watch the webinar recording.

Many Americans struggle to balance work and caregiving responsibilities. As the United States population ages — with the U.S. Census Bureau projecting that by 2035 those 65 and older will outnumber the youth for the first time in history – the number of men and women who are providing care for someone age 65 and older will continue to increase. In addition, one in seven people live with an adult with a disability.