To the Editor:

In 2008, Andrew was born five weeks early, and instead of being able to take enough leave from work, I had to resign my position as a special education teacher. Over the course of his childhood, I had to take numerous days of unpaid leave due to illness, no nursing coverage and hospitalizations.

Fast forward to 2022. We go on our first vacation as a family of five to New Hampshire. The last day there, unbeknownst to me, an infection was making its way through Andrew’s bloodstream. Three days later, while home, I began to get really worried as Andrew was now to the point of being lethargic.

We arrived at the hospital by ambulance and were taken almost immediately to the critical-care room where we learned that Andrew had sepsis. The trauma of this 30-day hospital pediatric ICU stay is something that my family and I will be working through for a long time. Especially considering we were back at the hospital for a 25-day stay just 10 months later.

As a mother of three, it is very difficult to save up my paid time off due to sickness, doctor’s appointments, school events and just everyday life. Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) – Rhode Island's paid family leave program – has been an invaluable resource for me since its inception.

I am fortunate enough to live in a household with two working parents and a great family support system, so taking TCI at the current rate may be challenging, but we are able to make our budget stretch and work, even if we have to dip into what little savings we have.

I am a staunch advocate of increasing the percentage rate of what TCI will pay caregivers because it is so hard to meet the demands of today based on the needs of children and families in this economy. Family is so important and vital to good mental health that when you have to stress about working versus ensuring that your loved one is safe, healthy and well cared for, everyone suffers.

As we near the end of this year’s legislative session, I encourage others who have experienced the benefits of TCI to connect with policymakers and move the needle forward for TCI in Rhode Island.

Tara Hayes
Warwick