Maine’s investments in children are paying off, according to new national study

PRINT

Maine ranked 18 out of 50 states and D.C. in amount of resources a working parent has available to support their family. 

Consider this scenario: a single parent with an infant and a toddler who works full time at a minimum wage job. They recently took 12 weeks off from work to care for her infant, the parental leave that’s allowed under the Federal Family Medical Leave Act. Their children now attend a child care center, which charges 25% less than the state’s market rate and they receive a subsidy to help offset the costs of child care as well as nutrition benefits. 

In Maine, that parent would take in an estimated $39,018 a year—an amount that includes minimum wage earnings, paid family leave if available, net federal and state benefits, and deducts child care expenses. 

Read the full article from Maine Morning Star

Related

Learn how statewide paid family and medical leave (PFML) programs are financed through payroll contributions from workers and employers. This policy brief explores key decisions for funding PFML programs, including start-up funding, premium contributions, rate determination, and wage coverage.
Learn how statewide paid family and medical leave (PFML) programs are financed through payroll contributions from workers and employers. This policy brief explores key decisions for funding PFML programs, including start-up funding, premium contributions, rate determination, and wage coverage.
Access to high-quality child care is essential for a family’s active workforce participation and children’s healthy development. Child care is not just a service—it is crucial infrastructure that supports economic stability and growth both for
 Paid family and medical leave (PFML) is one of 12 evidence-based policies in our 2024 Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap, which details states’ progress toward adopting and implementing policies that effectively improve child and family wellbeing.