Glover presents at DC Conference

On September 9, 2015, Annie Glover, an MPH candidate at UM School of Public and Community Health Sciences, travelled to Washington, D.C. to present research at the Paid Family and Medical Leave Findings Symposium sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. The presentation included a panel discussion moderated by Latifa Lyles, Director of the U.S. Women’s Bureau. Annie and a team at the Montana Department of Labor & Industry applied for a US DOL grant to fund this research in 2014. The Montana Paid Family Leave Study was conducted by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry and gathered input from the general public and the business community regarding paid family leave policies and programs.

“On our research team, I helped to design the study and contributed to the development of the survey tools that we used to gather this data,” said Annie. “I believe that the MPH program has provided me with significant preparation in research as well as in maternal and child health issues that really benefited this project."

This presentation compared the results from Montana’s public opinion and business surveys and provided insight into how Montanans feel about paid family leave, what values and beliefs motivate their opinions, and techniques for public education around this issue. Among other findings, this study found that Montanans do recognize the health benefits for children whose parents have access to paid family leave. Supporting parent/child bonding was also presented  as a benefit by the Rhode Island research team at the Symposium. The Montana study also showed significant public support for paid family leave policies that cover elder care. As Montana’s population ages, more and more people find themselves balancing work responsibilities with the care they must provide their aging parents. Annie is looking forward to continuing this research and presenting a poster at the Montana Public Health Association conference in October.

ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM:
The Department of Labor's Women's Bureau, in collaboration with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Chief Evaluation Office, hosted a Paid Family and Medical Leave Findings Symposium. The event provided an opportunity for advocates, policy makers, and legislators to hear about new research findings, to share  lessons learned and successes, and to discuss the future for paid family leave policies in the U.S.  

PRESENTATIONS INCLUDED:
Opening remarks by U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez
 
Session 1: Panel presentation of findings by Women's Bureau's 2014 Paid Leave grantees
  1. The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services – Economic impact analysis, financing and benefit models, and a cost-benefit study to assess the feasibility of enacting a paid family leave program
  2. The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards – Microsimulation model that will help the state estimate eligibility, take-up and benefit costs of a variety of proposed paid family and medical leave programs
  3. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry – Feasibility and economic impact of creating a state paid family leave program – including providing financing, eligibility and benefit recommendations – and to conduct public opinion research for communications and implementation purposes
  4. The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training – Effectiveness of the Rhode Island Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program and its benefits for Rhode Islanders, as well as the public's awareness of the program
Session 2: Paid Leave research presentations
  1. Simulation of Different Effects of Paid Leave – Heidi Hartmann and Jeffrey Hayes (Institute for Women's Policy Research)
  2. Study on the Long-term Effects of Paternity Leave in California – Jane Waldfogel (Columbia University)/Maya Rossin-Slater (UC-Santa Barbara)/Chris Ruhm (University of Virginia)/Ann Bartel (Columbia University)/Jenna Stearns (UC-Santa Barbara)
  3. Study on the Business Effects of the Rhode Island Paid Leave Law – Jane Waldfogel (Columbia University)/Ann Bartel (Columbia University)/Maya Rossin-Slater (UC-Santa Barbara)/Chris Ruhm (University of Virginia)