Scottish Government launches national parenting strategy

The Scottish Government has launched its national parenting strategy, which aims to provide Scotland's parents with easier and better access to information and support.

In the strategy, the Government makes a number of commitments, including:

• Investing £18 million (2012-15) to improve access to information, advice and support for parents throughout their children’s lives.
• More help for families going through relationship difficulties, including a new website and £500,000 towards family counselling and mediation.
• Offering parenting programmes to parents of young children with behavioural problems.
• Reviewing the delivery of foster and kinship care across Scotland.
• Making policies and services more Dad-friendly.
• Promoting family friendly working through encouraging employers to adopt more flexible working practices.

Minister for Children and Young People Aileen Campbell said:

“We know parents or those with a parenting role are the greatest influence on children, so if we’re serious about improving children’s life chances and making Scotland the best place to grow up, we must ensure parents and carers feel empowered, valued, supported and confident in their abilities, while at the same time knowing help is out there if they need it.”