Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Connecticut received a $299,963 project grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program (CFDA 10.310) to conduct research examining how paid family leave (PFL) policies influence maternal and child nutrition and health outcomes in the United States. The award, effective March 1, 2026 through February 29, 2028, will generate evidence on the impacts of state-level PFL programs by evaluating outcomes including breastfeeding rates, food security, birth outcomes, and maternal health using nationally representative data and rigorous analytical methods.

The research will analyze both newly implemented and long-standing PFL programs across multiple states to identify which policy features—such as wage replacement rates and leave duration—are most effective in supporting positive nutrition and health outcomes. The findings will provide policymakers and practitioners with evidence-based insights to inform the design of more effective paid family leave policies that support family nutrition, health, and well-being, directly supporting NIFA AFRI's mission in the Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health priority area.