WHEREAS, Raising children and youth in California to become healthy, confident, capable individuals is the most important job parents and caregivers have as their children’s first teachers; and

WHEREAS, All people have inner strengths or resources, yet many parents, caregivers, children, and youth of every age, race, ethnicity, culture, and social identity feel stressed, isolated, and overwhelmed at times; and

WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic, climate-related crises, and racial injustices have exacerbated economic insecurity, mental health challenges, domestic violence, discrimination, and other trauma experienced by many families, particularly Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and other families of color that already experience inequities rooted in structural racism; and

WHEREAS, The quality of parenting or caregiving, starting prenatally, is one of the most powerful predictors of children’s future social, emotional, and physical health; and

WHEREAS, Positive parenting is a protective factor that strengthens family relationships, increases parents’ confidence, and increases children’s social, emotional, relational, and problem-solving skills; and

WHEREAS, Research confirms that positive parenting prevents, buffers, and fosters healing from the effects of adverse childhood experiences, including abuse, neglect, and household challenges, and other individual, community, and historical trauma that triggers the toxic stress response and impairs lifelong health and well-being; and

WHEREAS, Research also supports promoting positive parenting practices as a social norm to mitigate violence in communities, and confirms that when children are raised in safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments created by their caregivers, they learn empathy, impulse control, anger management, and problem-solving, all skills that protect against interpersonal, family, and community violence; and

WHEREAS, Families in California come in many forms, with children who are raised by parents, grandparents, foster parents, family members, and other caregivers in a variety of settings such as schools, family childcare, and early childhood education centers; and

WHEREAS, Families can benefit from a “tool kit” of proven strategies and receive support from various positive parenting programs in many counties and tribes through numerous organizations and individual practitioners, thanks to local partnerships, including those between First 5 Commissions, community-based organizations, local government, tribal nations, health and human service providers, schools, libraries, higher education institutions, child welfare agencies, and parent leaders; and

WHEREAS, Counties may implement and encourage positive parenting through a population health approach so that all families have equitable opportunities to access information and support in ways that respect their unique beliefs, traditions, customs, interests, and racial, ethnic, tribal, and cultural practices; and

WHEREAS, Family support professionals and paraprofessionals, recognized for their excellence and compassion across California, have maintained continuity of essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic that support the physical, social-emotional, and behavioral health of children and families; and

WHEREAS, California must continue to ensure that accessible and culturally appropriate family support programs continue to be readily available to the millions of Californians that rely on these critical services; and

WHEREAS, Every individual, community group, business, public agency, nonprofit agency, and tribe in California has a role to play in raising awareness of the importance of positive parenting and supporting the health and well-being of children and families; now, therefore, be it