[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6626670,"mediaKeyId","2749906-87b91a7be2926d54320b83746dcd59f6","parentId",2749906,"title","Authority ramps spring outreach; podcast hits 75 episodes and staff expand accessibility work","audioSeconds",992,"startMs",1736000,"endMs",2728000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2749906-87b91a7be2926d54320b83746dcd59f6&start=1736&end=2728","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2749906-87b91a7be2926d54320b83746dcd59f6/thumbnail_1736000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6626670/Connecticut/Authority-ramps-spring-outreach-podcast-hits-75-episodes-and-staff-expand-accessibility-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626670-50de3affd079be603049fd4c0e0f44d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643004&Signature=Hbx29QxRnMJITZk2x7ZmdLmrO0D6Zox~T-8Z5v0em1Rd0FpGJCgD600Ae5powdyu377zEPbYmJlpIEx5wI5FBfS~y5N2YNtkcooR~zAzL0dNkDPJ2AdA9DCbSN~cuGwx~i-v~ftDS160fUEY9yXk7Uk8CCadjAaj2mjBtVPCn0d08b-7hOxrEf0INiXX695lHLNNApGFNSkwQM~zXi4M3ScLhyJ~PXUI5w9C3uvQWD6sX449~CZZLZfuITsiBaR-f0QtGzCUpTVFYgmKuFwDs5VWkS10mymITMYPw60eeIfo6hXV2Lm~~kZ5NrIliFznQns1eIaKTuqaHmbgM6EO7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Connecticut Paid Leave Authority CT","date","2025-03-24T14:11:10.72Z","article","The Connecticut Paid Leave Authority’s outreach team told the Outreach & Engagement Committee it is ramping up spring events across the state, expanding partnerships, and completing digital-accessibility and contact-data reviews to improve service to residents.

Jessica, who presented the outreach update, said the team had participated in events with the Small Business Administration, UConn, CBIA and community fairs and is scheduled for upcoming conferences including True Colors Sojicon at UConn and the Tri-State SHRM Conference at Mohegan Sun. \"Tomorrow and Saturday, we will be up at UConn, the Storrs campus for the true colors Sojicon event,\" she said.

Jessica highlighted a partnership with the Judicial Branch Office of Victim Services to publicize an October change that allows victims to seek compensation from both the Office of Victim Services and Connecticut Paid Leave for qualifying situations; staff plan an op-ed for National Crime Victims Rights Week and a joint podcast. She also summarized staff media appearances and outreach to employers and community organizations, and said staff revamped the program’s video library and website navigation.

Nancy provided the committee an update on the paid-leave podcast, reporting the program reached 75 episodes and 7,090 total downloads with 988 downloads in the last 90 days. \"We hit 75 episodes,\" she said. Nancy described episodes planned for March and April on topics including developmental-disability awareness, LGBTQ health month, and victim services tied to the Office of Victim Services.

Jessica also said staff are conducting a PDF accessibility review of website materials and analyzing \"Contact Us\" form data to find common question trends and improve the user experience. She credited team members — Nicole, Amber, Virginia and others — for outreach and content work and noted Michael Caesar will represent the authority at an employer panel on paid leave.

Committee members praised the team’s work and encouraged continuing periodic user research to sustain improvements. The meeting adjourned at 9:49 a.m.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 20, 2025, CT Paid Leave, Outreach & Engagement Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The outreach team outlined an expanding spring schedule of community events, a new partnership with the Judicial Branch Office of Victim Services, a website accessibility review, and podcast milestones including 75 episodes and nearly 7,100 downloads.","taxTitle","CT Paid Leave Authority, Quasi-Public Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Connecticut","taxId",15727,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6626674,"Authority partners with MDRC to study why claimants fail to complete documentation",796,396000,1192000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2749906-87b91a7be2926d54320b83746dcd59f6&start=396&end=1192","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2749906-87b91a7be2926d54320b83746dcd59f6/thumbnail_396000.jpg","/articles/6626674/Connecticut/Authority-partners-with-MDRC-to-study-why-claimants-fail-to-complete-documentation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626674-7769ad0b8f39f4879f3a8a332947fbce/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643004&Signature=mKsCRPzDfI~fqvfP9EHkEiVaVwgRrA4lMGSVVGhrwotY8WdakHv8rE7Kpx5Lg-vEcWzRuY59J7SM-JzuolOMAaHwczMBDnB3lTjMJ89T~khWArnZlD8OSfaFGrcXiuYBPDDUGzHm7GTcC8-89vOypSOYnD-Q-rxDynd~rQK7Ig1tOpG9kzGXMMdkzdptaOPlswF0Ls~xG0WyeZx~cI418NI3CM6yNmjnjoQaLh31Q8jpTyRRayyxh8mn2uqMidYkEYlcStnZFrybEJwgMGnchksRIz3h0ZBjGubZNbjDMNqQORuPFWaFlah1ODGc8UnFI3cdJ0jm1qxlRFCxxvgS4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Connecticut Paid Leave Authority announced a partnership with MDRC to research why many claimants begin paid-leave claims but do not complete required documentation, a problem staff identified as the leading reason for denials.

Jessica, who introduced the item on the committee call, said staff have been meeting with Rebecca and her team at MDRC for several months to design research to surface barriers to claim completion. \"We have been meeting with Rebecca and her team over at MDRC, for the past couple of months,\" she said.

Rebecca, of MDRC’s Center for Applied Behavioral Science, told the committee the project — called \"Using behavioral insights to advance paid family leave programs\" — is funded by private foundations and will focus on claimant behavior, particularly people who get as far as starting a claim but do not submit documentation. \"Our project is called using behavioral insights to advance paid family leave programs,\" she said.

MDRC described a two-step, opt-in process: an initial short screener followed by paid Zoom focus groups for those who consent. MDRC said Connecticut and Aflac (the program administrator) would perform the initial outreach to claimants; MDRC would not receive claimant names and said it would operate under its institutional review board (IRB) protections and provide gift cards to participants. MDRC emphasized it would not share personally identifying information with the authority and that participation would be voluntary and would not affect claim outcomes.

Staff and committee members said documentation problems are a major driver of denials. Molly noted a staff analysis showing 72 percent of claim denials were for reasons related to missing medical documentation. Rebecca and others said the qualitative research is intended to surface structural and behavioral reasons — for example, whether claimants never fit the policy definition, whether they change circumstances, or whether paperwork, employer interactions or medical provider processes create hurdles.

Committee members asked about related research by other groups. Rebecca said MDRC is coordinating with New America’s New Practice Lab and other researchers doing related work in states such as Minnesota and Maryland, and that each state's program context differs. She said MDRC will synthesize findings and return insights to the authority without sharing participant identities.

Staff said the research is intended to produce actionable insights — for example, form or process changes — that could reduce denials caused by missing documentation. No formal procurement or contract award was reported during the meeting; staff described the relationship as a partnership with MDRC under private foundation funding.","MDRC will conduct surveys and paid focus groups to learn why many claimants start paid-leave claims but do not submit required documentation; staff said 72% of denials relate to missing medical documentation and MDRC will use IRB-approved, opt-in research with gift cards for participants.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6626678,"Connecticut Paid Leave Authority backs bill to extend coverage to uncertified school staff",161,142000,303000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2749906-87b91a7be2926d54320b83746dcd59f6&start=142&end=303","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2749906-87b91a7be2926d54320b83746dcd59f6/thumbnail_142000.jpg","/articles/6626678/Connecticut/Connecticut-Paid-Leave-Authority-backs-bill-to-extend-coverage-to-uncertified-school-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626678-8ead3327b1afe879788f2c95ff7ef5db/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643004&Signature=aGYVyKysyQ6mwkozUjza-aX8BkpC2TuYn1bdKRWmn0pB2fKh4Baah5XVCr2L7-FioBVLHOOK8VgizdfwGIxy1R6B7NhYfkEc4aSxCG4g5r3mzbOMXTPYExkUuXN4SImdFolVktSDn52QquWY3FSCIIxkJAaum7Xdw6DNzAC7YBT26CdcMS-w7A2lWEi72PO-CwgfinRjg3igDy7hK~Pa2epl05257w~RLW~yFMDOY0WiKe8jEEqkDRHUDR1gkErVz0juC3sZaaHr98HFc1-x567KnB2xZJAXPrFeVP0Jw3ag-Z98zYWZ0NIRKQJ119Juohrdt3IWRLiEH43ve6HvyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Connecticut Paid Leave Authority’s Outreach & Engagement Committee heard an update on Senate Bill 1427 on March’s committee call, which would expand paid family and medical leave insurance benefits to school employees in positions that do not require certification or licensing.

Erin, a staff member at the authority, said she testified in support of the bill on March 4 and that the labor committee was considering substitute language that would add job-protection under the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act (Connecticut FMLA). \"I testified in support of the bill on March 4,\" she said.

The substitute language described in the update would clarify that employees in roles that do not require certification or licensing — for example paraeducators, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, library aides and clerical staff — would be covered. The update noted that positions that require certification or licensing would remain excluded. Staff said the change is intended to simplify administration and to avoid confusing situations in which an employee holds a certification but the current job does not require it.

Committee members responded favorably to the substitute language. Justin Dartman said the proposed approach would reduce administrative burdens on districts, noting his experience with paraeducators who hold teaching certificates but do different classroom work: \"I do think that would be a logistic nightmare for districts to figure out who is actually eligible and who isn't... I think it will really make the burden, less onerous on districts.\"

Staff said labor committee chairs viewed the bill as a priority and that committee work was underway; committees must finish moving bills within the coming weeks before the legislative session ends in June. The authority said it continues to track dozens of bills but identified SB 1427 as the priority for the authority this year.

The committee meeting included routine business motions: approval of the Jan. 16, 2025 meeting minutes passed with two abstentions, and the meeting adjourned by vote later in the session.

The authority did not present final statutory text during the meeting; staff said they were monitoring substitute language being considered by the labor committee and preparing to administer changes if the bill advances.

Looking ahead, staff said they would continue to work with legislators and the labor committee to refine language and implementation details if the bill moves forward.","Committee heard a legislative update on Senate Bill 1427, which would expand paid family and medical leave eligibility to school employees in positions that do not require certification or licensing; staff said they testified in support and the labor committee has added job-protection language under Connecticut FMLA.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Authority ramps spring outreach; podcast hits 75 episodes and staff expand accessibility work

Authority partners with MDRC to study why claimants fail to complete documentation

Connecticut Paid Leave Authority backs bill to extend coverage to uncertified school staff