To: Board of Supervisors
From: Shannelle Scales-Preston, District V Supervisor
Report Title: POSITIVE PARENTING AWARENESS MONTH IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY JANUARY 2025
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
See Resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
See Resolution.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
None.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
.IN THE MATTER OF
JANUARY 2025
POSITIVE PARENTING AWARENESS MONTH
IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
WHEREAS, raising children and youth to become healthy, confident, capable individuals is sacred work and should matter to all of us; and,
WHEREAS, the quality of caregiving, starting prenatally, is one of the most powerful predictors of children’s future social, emotional, physical, and behavioral health; and,
WHEREAS, families in California come in different dynamics, 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, and health clinics; and,
WHEREAS, despite how essential parenting is for the health of children and our collective society, there is a lack of value placed on parenting; and,
WHEREAS, the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory "Parents Under Pressure", reports 41% of parents and caregivers said they are "so stressed they cannot function" most days, and nearly 50% said their stress completely overwhelms them compared to other adults (20% and 26%, respectively); and,
WHEREAS, according to the 2024 U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents, “We must recognize the importance of parenting and reflect it in how we prioritize resources, design policy, shape work environments, and approach our conversations with parents.”; and,
WHEREAS, families in Contra Costa County can receive support through evidenced-based programs like the Triple P - Positive Parenting Program, available thanks to key partnerships between C.O.P.E. Family Support Center and Contra Costa County’s Health Services Agency, Employment and Human Services Department, Contra Costa County Office of Education, Child Abuse Prevention Council, First 5 Contra Costa, and other partners.
WHEREAS, research confirms that positive parenting creates positive childhood experiences (PCEs), and children and youth who experience safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments can reduce the effects of depression associated with ACEs by as much as 44%; and,
WHEREAS, through our individual actions and with the support of community groups, schools, faith organizations, employers, health and social service systems, and policymakers, we can create opportunities for parents to come together and build communities of mutual care and connection and intentionally strengthen parental well-being; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Candace Andersen, Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, hereby proclaim January 2024 to be the 6th Annual Positive Parenting Awareness Month in Contra Costa County, California, and commend this observance to the people of this county.