Cope Family Center, which leads the Napa County Triple P (NCTP) Collaborative, announced that the California Legislature proclaimed January 2021 as Positive Parenting Awareness Month by the California Legislature for the second year in a row. Positive Parenting Awareness Month highlights the importance for parents and caregivers to develop warm, nurturing relationships with their children and teens and become more confident as parents.
“Every community in California benefits from a focus on raising healthy, happy kids,” said Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley), lead author of the statewide resolution. “Honoring Positive Parenting Awareness Month at the state level helps more parents and caregivers become aware of the tips and tools available to help them, especially during these challenging times."
“With multiple significant stressors on many families currently, it is critical, now more than ever, that families be provided with quality and effective parenting supports,” said Bradley Thomas, CEO of Triple P America. “I applaud this effort in raising awareness of such supports offered throughout the state and highlighting the importance of positive parenting. The more we do to reduce parental stress and build resilience in children, the more we can help reduce the impacts of the situation presently facing families.”
Positive Parenting Awareness Month was launched in Santa Cruz County nine years ago and is now observed in many counties across California. Extending the designation to cover the entire state of California, a total of 72 legislators signed on as co-sponsors of the 2021 proclamation, including Stone and Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters).
“This is an excellent initiative. For legislators in California to pass a resolution that specifically recognizes the crucial importance of positive parenting as a public health initiative is really fantastic,” said Professor Matt Sanders, founder of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, one of various positive parenting programs available in communities throughout California. “If counties through the state took up the challenges to implement and encourage positive parenting through a population health approach, it would have a major impact on mental health and wellbeing of both children and parents. The resolution clearly recognizes that equitable access for all also means respecting parents’ unique beliefs, traditions, customs, interests, racial, ethnic, tribal and cultural practices.”
Triple P has been available to families throughout Napa County since 2016. NCTP Collaborative agencies include: Cope Family Center (Lead Agency); Up Valley Family Centers; Child Start, Inc.; ParentsCAN; Napa County Public Health, Child Welfare Services, Self-Sufficiency, and Mental Health; Napa Valley Unified School District; Napa County Office of Education; Napa Emergency Women’s Services; and Queen of the Valley Medical Center. Major funding for the program is provided by Auction Napa Valley and the Napa County Health and Human Services Agency Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement Grant.
“The pandemic, recent wildfires, national turmoil and other stressors are taking a significant toll on families in our community,” said Michele Grupe, Executive Director of Cope Family Center. “So many parents are struggling with distance learning, job loss, isolation, fear and instability. The impact these disasters have on parents’ mental health is real and can impact children’s positive development. Cope is proud to work with our partners to help parent manage their challenges so their children can thrive. And we are grateful to the California Assembly for this statewide recognition of the importance of positive parenting, and the mental health benefits it provides for both parents and children.”
Napa County Triple P Collaborative members met with Assemblyperson Cecilia Aguiar-Curry in a virtual legislative visit on January 12.