All parents and caregivers need help sometimes. That’s perfectly normal. Yet sometimes when we can’t handle everything ourselves, it can feel like we’re failing.
It’s important for parents to understand that knowing when, how, and who to ask for help is actually a sign of strength and resilience. It’s not a sign of failure.
If we as individuals and communities can provide support to families when we’re able to, we can help normalize the healthy interdependence families need to thrive.
Here are three ways to help:
Be prepared with resources to share
Check out and bookmark these resources. You’ll find help for issues ranging from custody and co-parenting support to crisis services for runaway kids and grants for single moms.
Know where to go locally
Get to know your community’s resources (2-1-1, food distribution sites, diaper banks, and employment, housing, medical, mental health, social, educational, or legal services. etc.). Share about one each week on social media. Encourage families in your life to seek help when they need it and talk openly about times you’ve received help.
Make a plan
If you know of an unmet need in a family, offer to help problem-solve with the parent or caregiver. Work together to come up with some concrete ways to meet the need — like a list of agencies to call, people to ask for help, expenses to cut, etc.