Last year, the former Surgeon General released an advisory on parenting stress. It was intended to bring national attention to this growing issue but has received little fanfare in the months following its release. With looming cuts to vital support services and growing stressors, it is even more important now that we take this issue seriously and prioritize family wellbeing.
Parenting stress is not just an emotional burden—it’s a root cause of child abuse and neglect. When parents are pushed to their limits—juggling economic insecurity, inability to access mental health resources, and social isolation—their ability to provide safe, nurturing care is compromised. We know that the well-being of parents and caregivers is directly linked to the well-being of their children. The stress and trauma parents and caregivers face today is passed to children in both direct and indirect ways, impacting families and communities across America.
To be clear: this is not a failure of individual parents, but of a society that doesn’t adequately prioritize supporting parents. That's why our new strategic plan focuses on mental health and economic well-being as key preventative measures against child abuse and neglect. Our vision of a Massachusetts where all children grow up in thriving families and communities has a better shot of success when we support efforts that alleviate parenting stress.
Research shows that providing concrete supports—such as housing assistance, paid family leave, and access to affordable childcare—helps stabilize families and reduces the risk of abuse and neglect by easing parental stress. A study from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago found that low-income families facing even one material hardship, like difficulty affording housing, food, or utilities, are three times more likely to face a neglect investigation and four times more likely to be involved in a child abuse investigation. Financial investments in concrete supports are a preventative effort for future costs. Besides stabilizing families, we will also decrease unnecessary involvement of child protection services (CPS), all while preventing families from facing the lasting trauma of a CPS investigation.
Programs that support families are crucial in reducing parenting stress and fostering social and emotional connection. A study from Tufts University on the Healthy Families Massachusetts program, which pairs young, first-time parents with home visitors, found that participation led to a 36% decrease in parenting stress and a 32% reduction in subsequent reports of abuse and neglect. The relationship between parents and home visitors plays a critical role in combating social isolation, providing emotional support and guidance, helping parents feel less alone in their challenges, thus reducing stress. Unfortunately, low wages for home visitors is the top reason for turnover, resulting in parents losing long-term relationships. We need greater investment to recruit and retain dedicated home visitors and to expand and tailor services.
The former Surgeon General’s advisory is a call to action but has gone unanswered. Let’s expand funding and access to proven solutions that support families. Advocating for programs and policies that support the economic, mental, and emotional needs of families needs to be a priority for all of us. When parents have resources, tools, and communities of support, families thrive. Let’s answer this wake-up call and build a society where families can thrive. The future of our children, and our nation, depends on it.
