Letter:Break the taboo on teaching parents how to do better
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: There is no shortage of parent support initiatives. They have been spearheaded by the voluntary sector for at least 15 years. Excellent programmes are available for supporting parents throughout the child-rearing cycle and for those parents facing specific challenges with their children, such as poor behaviour or criminal propensities.
Yet there is no priority given to parent support work and excellent voluntary organisations struggle to keep afloat. Preventative work with families is not seriously covered by the resources within the criminal justice system nor any other distinct budget.
Under the chairmanship of Jean Corston MP, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Parenting has addressed the lack of co-ordination between government policies which daily, badly affect the lives of parents and children.
If only commitment to implement policies followed the rhetoric, programmes helping parents could be running on a nationwide basis very soon. Two things are needed immediately: a central point from which all the available programmes can be disseminated and frankly marketed; and a national training base from which professionals can begin the task of becoming preventionists rather then interventionists.
It is vital that the health service and local authorities invest in professional adaptation programmes for their staffs. Then, health visitors and social workers will be seen as parent and family supporters and not child-abductors. Without this, scarce resources are wasted as parents avoid contact with the very services that can make a difference.
CAROLYN DOUGLAS
Executive Director, National Parenting Development Centre
London W11
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments