Why Paid Family Leave Is an Imperative for a Healthy and Economically Successful Louisiana

Shelina Davis, MPH, MSW
Chief Executive Officer

In public health, we often say that the conditions in which people live, work, and raise families shape their health more than any clinical intervention ever could. Paid family leave is one of those conditions. It’s a quietly powerful, deeply practical, and necessary support for healthier families, stronger communities, and a more competitive Louisiana economy. 

At its core, paid family leave is about stability. When a child is born, a parent is ill, or a family faces a medical crisis, time, not just treatment, is essential. Unfortunately, for too many Louisiana families, time comes at the cost of a paycheck. In fact, most workers in our state still lack access to paid leave, forcing impossible choices between income and caregiving. This is both a workforce and public health issue. It’s about families, children, individual and whole community health, and the jobs we need to sustain them.  

Three years ago, Louisiana took an important step forward. In 2023, the state enacted six weeks of fully paid family leave for approximately 70,000 state employees, allowing parents to bond with a new child without sacrificing income or financial security. This policy was more than a benefit—it was a signal. A signal that Louisiana values families, understands workforce realities, and is willing to invest in long-term outcomes. 

The early impacts are exactly what public health would predict. Paid leave improves maternal and infant health, reduces stress, and supports early childhood development. It also strengthens workforce retention. When employees know they can care for their families without jeopardizing their livelihoods, they are more likely to stay, return, and contribute. That is not just good policy—it is good business. 

And we are not alone. Across the country—and increasingly in the South—states are moving forward. Virginia is on the verge of becoming the first Southern state to establish a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program, with legislation advancing that would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave for workers. This builds on a broader national trend: more than 15 states and Washington, D.C. have already enacted paid family leave programs, with others pursuing legislation or voluntary models. Even in Southern states that have not yet adopted full programs, many have begun offering paid parental leave for state employees—an important first step that mirrors Louisiana’s approach. 

Now, Louisiana has an opportunity to build on this success—especially in one of our most critical sectors: education. 

Across the country, school systems are struggling to recruit and retain educators. One under-discussed driver is the lack of paid parental leave. Many teachers must cobble together sick days or take unpaid time, and some ultimately leave the profession altogether in search of better benefits. For a state already facing workforce shortages, this is a challenge we cannot afford to ignore. 

Providing paid parental leave for educators is not a perk, it’s a strategic investment in our schools that allows teachers the ability to start or grow a family without financial hardship. For students, it means greater continuity in the classroom as experienced educators are more likely to return and remain in their roles. For school districts, it means retention, reduced turnover costs, improved morale, and a stronger pipeline of talent. 

For communities, paid parental leave for educators means something even bigger: stability. Schools continue to be critical anchor institutions, and when the educators that run them are supported, entire communities benefit—from better student outcomes to stronger local economies. 

Louisiana has already demonstrated that paid leave is feasible, effective, and aligned with our values. Extending paid parental leave to educators, and ultimately to more working families across the state, is the logical next step. 

If we are serious about improving health outcomes, strengthening our workforce, and building a more resilient Louisiana, we must continue to invest in the policies that make those outcomes possible. Paid family leave is one of them.