The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) announced Nov. 14 the launch of a one-year Paid Leave Navigator Pilot program in Mercer County.
Under the pilot, which is to run through October 2026, navigators will assist new parents with understanding and accessing the state benefits programs available to them. These include Temporary Disability Insurance and Family Leave Insurance.
Navigators will also support parents in planning their leave time, understanding job protection laws, and applying for appropriate benefits. The pilot aims to increase the uptake of paid leave benefits in Mercer County, expand language access, improve family experience, and reduce application errors that can delay claim processing.
Community health workers and doulas with Trenton Health Team and The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey, both located in Trenton, are trained as navigators for the program. They will offer flexible support to accommodate family schedules, including help communicating with employers and health-care providers, along with assistance in clients’ native languages.
“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. “The Paid Leave Navigator Pilot ensures that every New Jersey family – regardless of background or circumstance – can access critical benefits. By helping parents understand and navigate these essential programs, we’re promoting healthier outcomes for both mothers and infants, and advancing our shared goal of equitable support for families across the state.”
The Paid Leave Navigator Pilot is funded by The Burke Foundation, which is centered on enhancing the lives of children and families, as well as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which champions health equity. New Practice Lab, a program within New America that aims to improve family economic security and well-being through improved social policy design and delivery, has partnered with NJDOL to co-design and launch the pilot.
“At the Burke Foundation, we believe every family deserves a healthy beginning,” said Executive Director Atiya Weiss of the Burke Foundation. “Building on our record of investing in evidence-based innovations that strengthen New Jersey families, we’re proud to support this groundbreaking pilot with trusted community navigators to help more parents access paid leave – building the evidence for solutions that can scale across the state.”
NJDOL will work with the navigators to provide ongoing technical assistance and training. The department will evaluate the pilot program with a research partner to determine if it improves access to benefits, reduces administrative burden for families, and make recommendations for expanding to additional counties.
New parents may be eligible for Temporary Disability Insurance for pregnancy and childbirth recovery and Family Leave Insurance for bonding with a new child.
While the Paid Leave Navigator Pilot focuses on Mercer County to start, NJDOL funds community-based organizations across the state to increase workers’ awareness and access to their rights and benefits through the Cultivating Access, Rights and Equity grant program. The grant is currently in its fourth year of funding.
