June 27, 2023 – The Global Initiative to Support Parents (GISP) is excited to launch its new global platform which provides research and evidence-based practices for parent and caregiver support, connects the global parenting support community and advocates for sustainable investment in universal access to parenting and caregiving support interventions.
The digital resource is no ordinary parenting website. It brings together evidence-based practices and tips from parenting and caregiving research over the last two decades showing effectiveness in child health, child and parental mental health, socio-emotional development, safety, and abuse prevention for children and adolescents. It recommends actionable steps to help children cope with the fallout of political and military conflicts, natural disasters, and other crises and hardships.
In addition to serving as a resource hub for policymakers, researchers, civil society partners, parents, caregivers and other intervention partners, the website provides opportunities for them to share knowledge and participate in events to advocate for universal access to parenting and caregiving support.
GISP is an interagency collaboration formed during the COVID-19 pandemic to highlight the urgency for parenting support during and beyond the public health crisis. GISP works to support country-led efforts so that every family receives the help they need. It calls on governments, donors, and other partners to invest in universal access to parenting support programs to all families. Its founding partners include UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO), Parenting for Lifelong Health at the University of Oxford, the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), and the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
We know from research that responsive and nurturing care helps children throughout their lifetimes, including physical, social and emotional developments. It is absolutely critical to invest in parent and caregiver support through evidence-based interventions, inter-agency collaboration, education and advocacy to ensure children can benefit from the many positive gains from effective interventions.
ShEKUFeh zonji, global technical lead at Ecdan
“This new global platform to support parents and caregivers provides the evidence-based solutions that are needed to drive collective action and strengthen the investment case for the scale-up of positive parenting programs that we know prevent violence and enhance child and parental well-being,” said Dr. Howard Taylor at End Violence Partnership.
“Parenting for Lifelong Health is delighted to be partnering with Global Initiative to Support Parents colleagues on this new website which will support our mutual aim of scaling up evidence-based, freely available parenting solutions for every parent, everywhere,” said Dr. Jamie Lachman, Director of Parenting for Lifelong Health at the University of Oxford.
“Our research showed that just a quarter of all 157 countries surveyed said they are reaching all parents who need support,” said Sabine Rakotomalala, Technical Officer, Prevention of Violence Unit at WHO. “As a partner of GISP, WHO is committed to advancing access to parenting interventions that can lead to substantial gains in lifelong health, safety, and wellbeing of children.”
“The parental relationship from 0–3 years is the most impactful learning environment for the child. Children have a deep connection with a parent for learning, safety, and love, and when it’s not present, they interpret it as a threat. The parenting program is a very doable intervention that has amazing evidence of having an impact on promoting nurturing care, playful parenting, and learning, as well as breaking the intergenerational transmission of trauma. The role of GISP is to globally advocate for universal access to parenting and to support governments and community-based organizations in gathering evidence, conducting research, and scaling up parenting interventions. Parenting programs should be universally available,” said Benjamin Perks, Head of Advocacy at UNICEF.
With the support of the LEGO Foundation, GISP has not only broadened its reach and influence but also collaborated with partners in several countries to provide parenting support. In addition, thanks to their funding, GISP will be launching a new website.
ABOUT GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT PARENTS
GISP was launched in 2021 by UNICEF, WHO, Parenting for Lifelong Health at the University of Oxford, the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), and the Global Partnership to End Violence around an urgent agenda to ensure every parent and caregiver around the world has access to parenting support. The initiative is calling on governments, donors, and other partners to invest in universal access to parenting support programs for all families that need it.
On June 27, the GISP website will be launched during a global parenting townhall virtual event.
Visit the GISP website for further information. Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on GISP.
Media Contacts: Caroline Mochoge, [email protected], +254708712888 | Katherine Shek, [email protected], +1 703-362-0803
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