Welcoming a new child into the family can be one of the most fulfilling and exciting, yet challenging and stressful events in a parent’s life. While every family is unique and has different hopes, needs and desires for their child, we all want to give our children the best start.

In Kentucky, more than 52,000 babies are born each year, and in 70% of those homes, both parents work. And while most babies are born healthy and full-term, March of Dimes latest report card shows more than 11% of babies in Kentucky are born preterm. Some that are born too sick and too soon need to spend time in a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to get necessary medical care. It can be stressful and overwhelming for families to navigate a newborn’s health complications, especially when faced with the added pressure to return to work.

In these moments, families need help and support and providing paid parental leave is one way to do that.

While Kentucky lawmakers should be praised for adopting critical policies like Medicaid expansion and postpartum extension to support a healthy start for moms and babies, without dedicated paid parental leave, too many parents are risking their financial security by taking the time needed without pay to care for and bond with a new child. And when a child is born preterm and needs a longer hospital stay, the need for extra support is even greater.

Senate Bill 142, which did not receive a House committee hearing in 2024, would have allowed state employees up to four weeks of paid leave to care for a new child without losing their income or savings.

The fact is, the average worker who takes four weeks of unpaid leave to care for their child loses more than $3,100 in income.  A 2020 study funded by March of Dimes showed that states that have implemented paid leave policies saw a 20% drop in the number of women leaving their jobs in the first year after welcoming a child and up to a 50% reduction in five years.

Paid parental leave would be an investment not just in the well-being of state employees and their families, but also in the economic prosperity and social fabric of our commonwealth. As we navigate the challenges of the modern era, supporting new parents isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s an economic necessity.

Studies have consistently shown that paid leave reduces turnover costs for businesses, boosts employee productivity and leads to higher workforce participation among women. Additionally, paid parental leave promotes employee loyalty and morale, leading to greater job satisfaction and decreased absenteeism. A United Way of Greater Chattanooga report from August 2024 identifies that paid parental leave is a core component of building family friendly/business friendly communities, citing The Best Place for Working Parents in showcasing that first-time mothers who use some form of paid leave are 32% less likely to quit their jobs before or after childbirth and are 19% more likely to return to the same employer after leave. Employers report that paid family leave either maintained or increased employee productivity (89%), profitability/performance (91%), turnover (96%) and employee morale (99%).  

Paid parental leave also has clear health benefits to both parents and babies. An international evaluation of paid leave policies showed that an increase of 10 weeks of paid maternity leave resulted in a 10% lower neonatal and infant mortality rate and a 9% lower rate of mortality in children under age 5, even after controlling for other known risk factors for infant and child death.Additionally, maintaining steady income during this postpartum period can positively impact a parent’s stress level while allowing time to focus on postpartum health needs whether physical or mental. 

What’s more, studies have demonstrated that infants whose parents have access to paid leave are more likely to receive essential medical care, immunizations and breastfeeding support. Further, during the critical early months of a child’s life, parental presence significantly reduces the risk of infant mortality and enhances cognitive development.

Gerth:Now we have to make sure Trump doesn’t screw up Louisville consent decree | Opinion

The time has come for Kentucky to embrace paid parental leave as fundamental, rather than a luxury. In 2019, President Trump signed into law 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees. Our peer states of Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Florida, Georgia and Texas have also enacted paid parental leave policies for their state employees, allowing them to attract and retain top talent. By doing the same, we can distinguish ourselves as a state that values its families, invests in its future and continues to promote policies that improve maternal and infant health outcomes. 

By supporting state employees and their families during one of life’s most significant transitions, we not only promote individual well-being, but also lay the foundation for a stronger, more resilient society. It is also a good first step toward ensuring paid family leave is a benefit extended to all families under Medicaid and private insurance.

Let us lead by example and seize this opportunity to build a brighter future for all Kentuckians, one where parents can welcome a new child with the peace of mind that comes from knowing they have the support they need to thrive.