109 - Collaborations to Improve Paid Family and Medical Leave for Mental Health

Abstract Information: Though Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave has had substantial uptake overall, notable gaps exist in awareness and usage. For example, caregivers are most aware of leave for new-child bonding, but less often using it to care for their own or a loved one’s medical condition. Workers with lower income are also using the program at lower rates. These concerns are not wholly “solvable” by a single agency or organization. In addition, partnering across organizations can facilitate cross-pollination of evaluation expertise and funding/capacity. Recognizing these factors, we partnered across state agencies and with academic and community partners on recent program evaluations. Using a combination of administrative data analysis, surveys, interviews, and listening sessions, we gained a substantial understanding of facilitators and barriers to using leave, along with perceived impact and concrete ideas for future implementation enhancements. Through intentional alignment across these evaluations and partnerships, we were able to leverage a broader set of expertise around the issues and potential improvements to customer experience and equitable program usage.