By Nat Baldino

With its recent passage of a statewide paid family and medical leave (PFML) program, Virginia has joined 14 other states and Washington, D.C., in offering this vital benefit. As the first PFML program in the South, Virginia’s achievement is a historic win for working families. Virginia now tackles the difficult task of implementing the program. Standing up a paid leave program requires, among other steps, a rulemaking process to interpret and administer the new law; engagement with stakeholders; outreach and education to workers, employers, medical providers, and others; staffing the program; and building technological and data infrastructure that aligns with existing state laws, regulations, and infrastructure. Thankfully, Virginia does not have to do this alone.

Through CLASP’s role facilitating our Paid Leave Administrators’ Network, we have had the privilege of witnessing the ways in which incoming state program administrators learn from those who have come before them. The final sprint to the passage of Virginia’s law was an incredible demonstration of collaboration and a true testament to the power of good government to work together to create strong, equitable programs. Among the highlights we witnessed:

A Spirit of Giving

What was most impressive to witness was the administrators’ sheer willingness to show up to help Virginia. We received a request from the incoming administrators of Virginia’s program to be connected with current state PFML administrators, and arranged a rapid response call. At least one administrator from each state joined the call. There were administrators who hopped on in between meetings and other commitments just to show their support; most administrators had read the bill text and gave feedback on specific aspects of the incoming program. And everyone shared valuable and helpful insights from the lessons they had learned. Some administrators spent additional one-on-one time with the Virginia team to provide more in-depth support, demonstrating their dedication to making all paid leave programs as strong as possible.

Good Government is a Feedback Loop

This spirit of generosity creates a feedback loop that continually improves all paid leave programs. During the first few years of a program’s rollout, administrators will often discover changes that need to be made, but that require going back and altering the original legislation. For example, California’s original bill text used a definition of “family member” that excluded claimants whose loved ones were not blood relatives or recognized by current legal definitions but whom are absolutely understood as legal family. Recognizing the need to include chosen family and non-traditional family structures, California recently passed SB 590, which expands the definition of “family member” to include chosen and extended family. Administrators are constantly improving their programs based on what they learn as they strive to implement these programs with the highest standards of equity. By sharing these lessons, the administrators of current programs can help incoming states avoid the lengthy legislative and administrative processes required to make program changes.

It’s a Culture Shift, Not Just a New Program.

One administrator had an important message for Virginia when considering how important early education and outreach is: “It’s not just a new program, it’s a culture shift.” Especially as Virginia breaks new ground in the South, this is an opportunity to recognize paid leave as both a government program that supports workers and their families and an opportunity to reframe how we value care.

Administrators have proven themselves to be not just stewards of their programs, but the vanguard of this cultural shift. Our experience in Virginia shows that paid leave has the potential to create its own shift, showing what a government that prioritizes care can look like: one that is collaborative, generous, and forward-thinking.