Our team, led by Drs. J. Bart Klika and Melissa T. Merrick, is evaluating how public policies address the root causes of family violence, including child maltreatment and intimate partner violence (IPV).

Experiencing family violence has been linked to adverse health and economic opportunity. Yet, child maltreatment and intimate partner violence (IPV) are preventable public health issues.

Paid family leave (PFL) programs provide income-replacement during particularly stressful family events, such as the birth of a child. In this commentary, we describe the conceptual links between PFL, child maltreatment, and IPV, suggesting that PFL may be a promising strategy for the primary prevention of child maltreatment and IPV.