Reports

Developing a public health approach to supporting parents

This report describes how a public health approach to supporting parents provides a route to improving outcomes in the first 1000 days and across the life-course. It presents the evidence, insights and approaches used to produce 3 outputs: a theoretical framework, a public health model of parenting support and a framework for action.

Centred on the core needs of babies and young children, the model explains the critical role parenting plays, during pregnancy and after birth, in giving children in Wales the best start in life. The model places a particular emphasis on the significant role psychosocial and structural factors play in creating an enabling environment that supports parents to thrive in their parenting role.

The paper ends by presenting implications for policy and practice in Wales as a result of the models development.