The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has launched a one-year Paid Leave Navigator Pilot in Mercer County to help new parents understand and access benefits like Temporary Disability Insurance and Family Leave Insurance.
Running through October 2026, the pilot provides hands-on support with planning leave time, understanding job protections, completing applications, and communicating with employers and health care providers. Navigators will also offer assistance in families’ preferred languages and help reduce application errors that can delay benefits.
Community health workers and doulas from Trenton Health Team and The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey were trained as navigators and will offer flexible, culturally responsive support.
“Welcoming a new child should be a time of joy, not stress over paperwork or lost income,” said Lisa Asare, president & CEO of the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority. She noted that the pilot is designed to help families access essential programs and strengthen maternal and infant health.
The pilot is funded by the Burke Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and was co-designed with New Practice Lab. NJDOL will provide ongoing technical assistance and evaluate whether the model improves access to benefits and reduces administrative burdens, informing potential expansion to additional counties.
Read more: ROI-NJ: State announces pilot program in Mercer County to help parents understand leave benefits