May 17, 2025 — In a recent interview on PBS’s State of Affairs, Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Moms First, delivered a powerful message: fixing America’s child care system is not just a family issue—it’s a national economic imperative.
As part of the First 1,000 Days Policy Coalition, Moms First is mobilizing millions of parents and advocates, including partners like the Burke Foundation, to make affordable, high-quality child care and paid leave central to public policy. “When we don’t have a structure of care—when we don’t have affordable child care or paid leave—there is no gender equality,” Saujani told host Steve Adubato.
Saujani introduced PaidLeave.ai, an innovative tool built in partnership with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, to help parents quickly determine eligibility for paid leave. “Two out of five parents don’t use paid leave because they don’t know it exists,” she said. “With PaidLeave.ai, you can find out in minutes if you qualify, how much you’re eligible for, and what steps to take next.”
Citing new data, Saujani explained that providing child care benefits isn’t just the right thing to do—it pays off. A recent Moms First study found that companies offering child care benefits see a return on investment as high as 425%, thanks to reduced absenteeism and higher employee retention. “It’s not only moral,” she said. “It’s economic sense.”
Watch Here: State of Affairs: Reshma Saujani on Child Care