Parents across the country are struggling, and local governments can help. In August 2024, Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued an advisory on the mental wellbeing of parents. The report, Parents Under Pressure, shares that caregivers and parents are experiencing elevated levels of stress.
41% of parents and caregivers are “so stressed they cannot function” most days and nearly 50% said their stress completely overwhelms them.
Today’s parents face a complex landscape of challenges, including traditional concerns like financial security and safety, as well as emerging stressors like social media pressures and multigenerational caregiving. These stressors are compounded by social conditions, like family violence, poverty and discrimination, that can increase the risk for mental health conditions, with women and marginalized groups facing greater challenges.
How Cities Can Help Parents
Many studies have shown a bidirectional relationship between parental mental health and child outcomes. The mental health of parents and caregivers is closely tied to community wellbeing, with implications for healthcare costs and economic productivity.
“We know parents have one of the toughest jobs and the stress that comes with that responsibility cannot be ignored. We can and must do more to promote workplace practices and public policies that take a holistic approach to balancing work and life for working parents. Making childcare affordable and accessible for families is one of the ways we can help lessen the load, both financially and psychologically.”
– Councilmember Adriana Rocha Garcia, San Antonio, TX
The Surgeon General recommends six ways to ensure parents and caregivers are getting the support that they need.
1. Promote and expand funding for programs that support parents, caregivers and their families.
Programs that support parents, like childcare financial assistance and wraparound services, can help alleviate key stressors, improving caregiver wellbeing.
Example:
Mayor Michelle Wu is working hard to make Boston, MA a great city for families through prioritizing and investing in family-friendly programming, expanding access to high-quality Universal Pre-K and incorporating family voices.
Resource:
Child Development Network’s How Cities are Leveraging ARPA SLFRF to Support Young Children and Families reports on how four cities leveraged their ARPA funding to support young children and families.
2. Establish paid family and medical leave and ensure all workers have paid sick time.
The ability to take paid leave for personal or family care is vital for well-being and has been linked to positive effects on maternal health and family economic security. The National League of Cities supports a minimum of 12 weeks paid family and medical leave, as outlined in the 2024 National Municipal Policy and Resolutions.
Examples:
The City of Birmingham, AL is modeling best practices as an employer by implementing 12 weeks of paid family leave for their city employees.
Meanwhile, the City of Emeryville, CA has adopted paid sick leave ordinances for hospitality workers.
Resource:
NLC’s Paid Leave and Local Authority brief provides information on local authority and state requirements for cities.
3. Invest in social infrastructure at the local level to bring parents and caregivers together.
Cities should invest in social infrastructure, such as parks and community programs, to foster strong community connections, promote mental health, and improve overall well-being.
Example:
Cities participating in the 2023 Mayors’ Institute on Community Revitalization strengthened their cities’ social fabric through increased access to culturally relevant gathering spaces.
Resources:
Creativity and Collaboration for Healthier Cities explores how cities can collaborate with artists to achieve the goals of local government and increase social cohesion.
NLC’s Nature Everywhere initiative provides opportunities and concrete strategies for cities to increase equitable access to Nature Everywhere children live.
4. Address the economic and social barriers that contribute to the disproportionate impact of mental health conditions for certain parents and caregivers.
Financial strain and economic insecurity are top stressors among parents, and poverty has been found to be one of the strongest predictors of long-term well-being for families.
Examples:
Learn how cities in Ohio have addressed the benefits cliff to help all city residents thrive, including through data-driven approaches and practical strategies.
Resource:
How Cities Can Support Family Economic Security shares four ways that cities can support family economic security.
5. Ensure parents and caregivers have access to comprehensive and affordable high-quality mental health care.
Mental health care is a key part of supporting parents under stress. Cities can participate in or organize local coalitions and build partnerships to increase access to mental health care for their residents.
Examples:
The City of Fishers, IN developed the Stigma-Free Fishers Campaign to tackle mental health issues more openly across the community and reduce the stigma associated with mental health treatment.
Recognizing critical connection between mental health and employment, the City of San Antonio, TX is committed to fostering a culture of wellbeing through innovative mental health polices and practices.
Resource:
Addressing Mental Health, Substance Use and Homelessness explores city-level approaches and practices surrounding emergency response and crisis stabilization for individuals suffering from mental illness, substance use disorder and/or homelessness.
6. Promote visitation initiatives and reentry programming to support currently and formerly incarcerated parents and caregivers, as well as their families.
By promoting and partnering with local organizations on visitation initiatives and reentry programming, cities can help parents maintain stability, secure employment and improve their economic mobility, ultimately supporting successful reintegration into the community.
Example:
The City of San Francisco, CA’s Adult Probation Department teamed up with an array of community partners to provide comprehensive re-entry supports, including parenting skill-building offerings.
Resource:
Based on a landscape analysis, NLC’s The Challenge & Promise of Reentry in Municipalities resource offers several recommendations on next steps and new directions cities can take to leverage additional partners and resources to achieve greater impact.
How to Support Your Childcare Workforce
By investing in early childhood care, city governments also enhance the overall economic health of their communities, as a well-supported childcare sector contributes to workforce participation and long-term economic growth.
About the Authors
How Jacksonville is Building Partnerships and Supporting the Early Childhood Workforce to Create Quality Services
- Annika List
Use Your Remaining ARPA Dollars to Fund Workforce Scholarship Programs
Empowering Small Cities with the Nature Everywhere Community Action Challenge
- Melanie Robinson
- Andrew Moore
Lessons from the Cities of Opportunity Mayors Institute on Community Revitalization
On Your Mind: Commissioner Amber Sellers of Lawrence, KS Discusses How Early Childhood Investments Support Community Wellbeing
