A hand-painted advocacy rock reading "Hoosiers for Paid Leave" sits in a flower bed near the Indiana Statehouse. Coalition members decorated and placed rocks around the Capitol grounds as a creative way to keep paid family and medical leave visible to lawmakers and visitors. Photo courtesy of Erin Macey.

Across Indiana, families are too often forced to choose between earning a paycheck and being there for life’s most critical moments – taking time to care for a new child, recover from illness or support a loved one. For advocates working to advance paid family and medical leave (PFML), building momentum has required persistence – and new ways to break through with policymakers.

“There’s so much competing for lawmakers’ attention,” said Erin Macey, Director of the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute. “You have to find a way to put something in front of them that really sticks.”

In early 2026, a statewide coalition came together to push for an interim legislative study on paid leave, building on years of steady progress and partnership.

Erin Macey, Director of the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute, visits the Indiana Statehouse as part of ongoing efforts to advance paid family and medical leave policies for families across the state. Photo courtesy of Erin Macey.

Behind the coalition’s work is a broader ecosystem of support designed to help advocates strengthen their strategies and break through with decision-makers. Through technical assistance, expert consultation, and opportunities for learning and collaboration, Voices for Healthy Kids works alongside campaigns such as the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute to refine messaging, navigate state-specific dynamics, and test approaches that resonate with policymakers and the public.

“This is a group that shows up month after month, just continuing to move the work forward,” Macey said. “And the stories we’ve heard from families – that’s what keeps the momentum going.”

After securing bipartisan support from legislators to request the study, the coalition focused on how to reinforce their message at a key decision point. Instead of relying on traditional outreach, they chose a more tactile, creative strategy: a large, high-quality postcard designed to stand out.

Coalition advocates hand-delivered postcards to lawmakers at the Indiana Statehouse, using data and compelling visuals to highlight how U.S. paid leave policies compare with those of other countries. Photo courtesy of Erin Macey.

“We started asking, what will actually get noticed?” Macey said. “If you can physically put something in someone’s hand, they have to engage with it – even if it’s just for a moment.”

The postcard paired compelling data with a clear, relatable message. On the front, a striking visual compared U.S. policies to those in other countries.

“Every time we show that graphic, people react,” she said. “It really challenges the idea that government intervention to promote access to paid leave is unusual, because globally, it’s not.”

On the back, the message focused on shared experience and the broad array of supportive organizations backing the study.

“At some point, every family is going to need time,” Macey said. “Time with a new child. Time to recover. Time to care for someone you love. Those moments shouldn’t come with financial risk.”

To ensure the message landed, the coalition hand-delivered the postcards at the statehouse.

“I decided to go in person and deliver them directly,” she said. “It created the chance to have real conversations and make sure the message didn’t get lost.”

While lawmakers ultimately did not move forward with the study, the campaign helped shift attention and build momentum.

A paid family and medical leave advocacy postcard rests on a desk inside the Indiana Statehouse. The coalition's campaign used oversized postcards to capture lawmakers' attention and encourage support for an interim legislative study on paid leave. Photo courtesy of Erin Macey.

“Of course it’s disappointing,” Macey said. “But it sparked important conversations, and we know leaders are continuing to think about how to move this forward.”

The effort also elevated public awareness and accountability.

“It helped show people what’s being prioritized, and what isn’t,” she said. “That kind of visibility matters.”

For the coalition, the campaign reinforced the importance of trying new approaches.

“We have to keep experimenting and sharing what works,” Macey said. “That’s how you eventually find the strategy that breaks through. I want to see comprehensive paid family and medical leave for every Hoosier,” she added. “And we’re going to keep pushing until we get there.”