A report detailing the work of the Positive Parenting Taskforce over the last three years has been launched by the Ministry for Social Politics and Children’s Rights Michael Falzon.
The taskforce was created in 2019 with the aim of creating more awareness on what positive parenting does for children and how it can give more stability and a better environment for children.
In a press conference, details of the report were presented and how the need of more awareness about early intervention, which is the period of when the mother is pregnant to a year later, was important.
During this period, parents and mothers who needed psychological help because pregnancy left diverse emotions were reached, particularly after more investment in existing services at Mater Dei Hospital which was key for mothers and fathers who had mental health difficulties.
Falzon spoke about how the taskforce continued to strengthen work in this delicate sector through a campaign title ‘Breaking the News’, where professionals were given training on how they should tell parents about any news related to complications in pregnancy or that their child has a disability.
The chairperson of the Positive Parenting Taskforce Ruth Sciberras listed the work which the taskforce has done, with the participation of local and international professionals.
Factors which affect positive parenthood, such as the choice of one’s partner, and how they may affect children as a result were also listed.
“Parenthood brings with it a lot of responsibility and it is indispensable that children feel secure about themselves, even for the good of society,” Falzon said.
He said that the government is committed to helping parents with this responsibility, particularly families who, because of varying difficulties, including financial ones, need more help in raising their children.
In the last three years, he said, the government has led campaigns in favour of the positive upbringing of children and adolescents, along with other campaigns for during pregnancy.
He added that the need for national campaigns like these becomes ever clearer each time.