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

WHEREAS, Positive parenting is a protective factor that strengthens family relationships, increases parents’ confidence, and drives children’s social, emotional, and relational health and development; 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, Research confirms that positive parenting prevents, buffers, and fosters healing from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including abuse, neglect, and household challenges, which impair lifelong health and well-being and occur in the context of adverse community environments that lack equity; and

WHEREAS, Research also confirms that positive parenting creates positive childhood experiences (PCEs), and children and youth who experience safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments learn empathy, impulse control, anger management, communication, and problem-solving skills that help 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, and family members, and supported by other caregivers in a variety of settings such as schools, family childcare, early childhood education centers, health clinics, and home visiting programs; and

WHEREAS, Families can benefit from a “toolkit” 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, family resource centers, and parent leaders; and

WHEREAS, Governor Gavin Newsom recognized, acknowledged, and identified the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program in the May Revision as one of the evidence-based parent education programs to build supports for children, youth, and parents; and

WHEREAS, The Governor’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health highlights investments to address urgent mental health supports for children and youth especially in underserved and marginalized communities; and

WHEREAS, The Governor’s master plan creates an inclusive framework for supporting prevention and early intervention of mental health challenges, including the importance of providing more resources for parents to build their knowledge, tools and capacity to support the behavioral health of their children; and

WHEREAS, Parent education is an effective early intervention and prevention tool to mitigate ACEs, support parent-child needs to improve behavioral health, and destigmatize and normalize seeking support; 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 leverage 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, provide essential services that support the physical, social-emotional, and behavioral health of children and families; and

WHEREAS, California must continue to ensure that accessible and culturally responsive family support programs are 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