The National Parenting and Family Support Strategic Leads Network
Parenting is an activity undertaken by those who bring up children. This includes mothers and fathers, foster carers and adoptive parents, step-parents, and grandparents. Local authorities also act as corporate parents for children and young people in their care.
Children in Wales has seen supporting parents and families as a key part of our work for many years. Young children are closely linked to a family unit, hence the UNCRC strongly recognises and supports parents and families and their crucial role and responsibilities for protecting and caring for children and helping them acquire values and standards (Articles 5 and 18).
It is widely agreed that it is important for families to be supported in ways that are appropriate to their needs in order to build and create resilience and self-reliance. By equipping families with the skills and support they need at the earliest stage possible and building on the strengths of parents we can help them create supportive and enriching environments for their children. This will give them every chance of reaching their potential in line with the Welsh Government's seven core aims for children and young people.
The seven aims summarise the UNCRC and form the basis for decisions on priorities and objectives nationally.