CT PAID LEAVE PROMOTES BONDING BETWEEN FATHERS AND THEIR NEW CHILDREN
June 16th is Father’s Day
Hartford CT — In recognition of Father’s Day, the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority reminded Connecticut residents today that paid leave benefits are available for fathers welcoming a new child to their family. Whether the family is expanded through birth, adoption, or foster care, parents may be eligible for paid leave benefits. In addition to pregnancy and childbirth leave for moms, the time needed to bond with the newly born child, the newly adopted child, or newly placed foster child are qualifying reasons for fathers as well.
“Since our program’s inception, over 61,000 men have taken applied to the CT Paid Leave program to bond with their new children,” said Erin Choquette, CEO of the CT Paid Leave Authority. “Paternity leave is an important opportunity for fathers to take time off from work to actively participate in the care of the new baby. Studies have shown that taking paternity leave helps fathers mentally, and reduces stress, anxiety and depression and boosts the bond between parent and child.”
The availability of paid leave for fathers to bond with their new children is good for the entire family. According to a 2021 study, first time fathers who were directed to spend close bonding time with their infants and who carried their babies in a soft carrier attached to their bodies showed more amygdala activity when they heard babies crying than those who used a carrier seat. Another study found that among all fathers who participated, more time spent on childcare predicted more connectivity between the amygdala and the superior temporal sulcus, a key empathy pathway in the brain. When men take bonding leave, their partners benefit too because moms report less depression and stress thanks to the additional help. Finally, research also shows that when infants experience strong attachments from the get-go, they are better poised to become mature, happy, independent and resilient adults.
“The difference in raising the second child while on leave was just so stark,” said Charlie Johnson. “You’re not sleeping, and the baby’s feeding every two to three hours. You think to yourself, how am I supposed to do it? Because I could stay home for a couple of months and not worry about my income, our son got into a better schedule, which allowed me to function as a human being both inside and outside of my home.”
To apply for CT Paid Leave benefits online, workers will first need to create an account with CT.gov. This will provide the applicant with a single identity and will take approximately 10 minutes. The applicant can then submit their claim online. Claims may also be filed by phone by calling (877) 499–8606. Hours of operation for a live representative are 8 AM to 8 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
For more information about CT Paid Leave and how to apply, please visit www.ctpaidleave.org.
For more information about bonding and Paid Leave, please listen to this podcast:
https://www.ctpaidleave.org/resources-and-guides/paid-leave-podcast
