To help share the message that healthy, happy children and families provide the foundation for healthy, happy and resilient communities, the California Assembly has, for the second year running, officially recognized January as Positive Parenting Awareness Month (PPAM) throughout the State of California.

The declaration, along with practical support and evidence-based positive parenting help for families, comes at a time when a focus on optimism and potential is needed more than ever. Right now, so many parents and caregivers may be dealing with the current health, financial, and emotional challenges.

“Every community in California benefits from a focus on raising healthy, happy kids,” said Assembly member 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." 

The PPAM initiative began nine years ago in Santa Cruz County. It continues to gain traction as a valuable way of visibly supporting and encouraging parents and caregivers to develop warm, nurturing relationships with their children and teens and become more confident as parents.

The California Legislature officially passed HR4 on January 15, proclaiming January 2021 as Positive Parenting Awareness Month and highlighting important messages and concepts including:

• That positive parenting is a protective factor that eliminates risk, strengthens family relationships, increases parents’ confidence, and promotes the healthy development and well-being of children and families;
• That positive parenting increases children’s self-regulation skills, relational skills, problem-solving skills, and involvement in positive activities;
• That all parents have inner strengths or resources that can serve as a foundation for building their resilience and for passing these strengths on to their children;
• That many parents and caregivers raising children and youth feel stressed, isolated, and overwhelmed, no matter their age, race, ethnicity, tribe, or income level. This has been intensified by the health, economic, and social-emotional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic;
• That families in California come in many forms, with children who are raised by parents, grandparents, foster parents, family members, and other caregivers;
• That 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. This all thanks to local partnerships, such as between First 5 commissions, local government, tribal nations, health and human services providers, schools, libraries, higher education institutions, and child welfare agencies;
• And that every individual, community group, business, public or non-profit 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.