American Academy of Pediatrics Urges Action on US Paid Family Leave

In a world where the United States remains the only industrialized nation without national paid family and medical leave, the call to protect parents and children grows louder. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is the latest organization to officially back this potentially life-saving and certainly life-changing policy.

In a new statement issued on October 28, the association of pediatric experts outlines the overwhelming benefits of national paid family and medical leave and offers recommendations for making the policy work for all families.

While the United States currently guarantees 12 weeks of job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), it often falls short for parents who need more time or lack the financial ability to forgo pay.

“Because no universally available PFML currently exists in the United States, families are often forced to make difficult choices between a paycheck and unpaid leave to care for a sick loved one or newly arrived child, resulting in lost wages for unpaid caregivers and subsequent health, income, and wealth inequities across gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status,” the statement reads.

To address these inequities and support parents and children, the AAP recommends that paid family and medical leave be accessible to all families. This includes parents of newborns, as well as adoptive and foster parents, caregivers for loved ones with medical needs, and individuals managing their own serious health conditions.

If given the opportunity to take at least 12 weeks off with pay, the AAP believes—and studies show—that families and the economy at large would flourish. “Parental presence positively impacts infant and child health, specifically in infants, children and adolescents with special health care needs,” the organization notes. “Paid family and medical leave also improves parental health, strengthens parent-child relationships, minimizes health inequities and positively affects the labor market. Studies also show that economic benefits increase with longer periods of leave.”

So, if national paid family and medical leave is a win-win for the economy and parents, what’s taking so long to make it a reality? The AAP emphasizes that progress will require collaboration among healthcare workers, public health officials, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal policymakers. For now, though, the AAP is doing its part in pushing things forward.