For immediate release

Parents get some well-deserved recognition for their role in child development.  While childcare is being widely debated nationally, the Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs (FRP Canada) sends a message emphasizing the importance of strong parent-child relationships.  In a series of three posters titled “Parents Matter”, FRP Canada launches a public service announcement reminding us of the critical role of parents in society.

As the Canadian Government pledges direct financial aid for childcare, Ottawa based FRP Canada identifies the importance of support for parents with its poster series.   Executive Director, David Young, says, “This is a great step towards promoting healthy families and supporting parents to do the most important job in Canada – raising Canada’s children.  Parents have the greatest single influence on a child’s healthy development, but they are often overlooked.  FRP Canada is trying to expand the focus on child development to include and embrace the child’s primary social and developmental support –  parents.”  The first poster of the “Parents Matter” series was launched in February, 2006 when Gallop+Gallop donated national advertising space to help bring family resource programs to parents.  The poster was subsequently picked up by Alberta Parent as a public service announcement for its readers.  “It takes parents to raise children,” adds David Young, “This campaign sends a message that promotes and encourages communities in which parents are valued, families are supported, and children are nurtured.   Family resource programs provide exactly that type of environment and helps parents cope with life’s demands - and succeed with their children.”  FRP Canada hopes that the campaign will attract other media sources that may publish or broadcast this public service announcement.

FRP Canada is a national non-profit charitable organization providing leadership in social policy, research, training, and resource development for those that enhance the capacity of families to raise their children.   It supports and represents over 400 family resource programs in Canada and collaborates with similar organizations throughout Canada, in the USA and Japan.  For more information or to participate in the “Parents Matter” campaign, please contact Jim Jeang at 1-866-6-FRPCan or [email protected].