About Us

Positive Parenting Newsfeed—a Child Trends project—is a research-to-practice program that works to translate and effectively communicate research parents and caregivers can use to improve outcomes for children and youth. This project focuses on reaching Latino parents and those less likely to have access to this information through alternative sources.

The Climate Resilient Parenting campaign of the Positive Parenting Newsfeed will engage parents through social media and local TV news, together with a grassroots community education initiative in partnership with Latino community organizations (Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors and Hispanic Access Foundation). Positive Parenting videos reach tens of millions of under-resourced and diverse families with actionable science-based parenting information.

Positive Parenting Newsfeed is a partnership between Child Trends, Ivanhoe Broadcast News, and Televisa Foundation. Our partnership with the Inner Space Center ensures our messages will be tailored and disseminated among the climate education community. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation. This video explores what we have learned regarding best practices for communicating and engaging with Latino parents through short messages on research-informed parenting practices.

What is the Positive Parenting Newsfeed?

Positive Parenting Newsfeed consists of three components:

Short-form content posted on social media,
News reports for commercial news media,
Research projects with TV news audiences and parents, and
Partnership and collaboration with media partners, community partners, climate education partners, and external evaluators.

Expanding Latino Parents’ Access to Child Development Research through the News Media

Positive Parenting Newsfeed

Local TV is still the main source of information for most people. Positive Parenting reaches millions of parents throughout the country with monthly news reports in both English and Spanish. These short (less than 90 seconds) reports feature findings from rigorous research publications and highlight research-based recommendations for parents. This project is expanding to short-form content posted on social media.

Watch videos from the newsfeed.

Research

Child Trends is conducting audience research to identify how to best communicate climate change research to parents. We are engaging Latino parents in surveys, focus groups, interviews, and community-based workshops to ensure that their perspectives, needs, concerns, and questions inform the project’s knowledge building, communication messaging, and other products.

Learn more about our groundbreaking research.

Partnership and Collaboration

Positive Parenting is very proud to work in partnership and collaboration with groundbreaking and impactful organizations working towards uplifting youth and their families. Child Trends partners with an interdisciplinary collaborative of media partners, community partners, climate education partners, and external evaluators. We also work closely with thought leaders who provide guidance and expertise.

Explore our Partners and Thought Leaders.

Why focus on climate change research?

Climate change impacts children’s development, including their physical and mental health, well-being, and education. Children are more vulnerable to climate and environmental shocks compared to adults. From the anxiety sparked by witnessing natural disasters to the distress caused by uncertain futures, the psychological effects on children can be profound. They grapple with fear, sadness, and a sense of powerlessness. Parents, in turn, find themselves navigating uncharted territory as they strive to support their children through these emotional challenges. Yet, many parents lack the necessary resources and guidance to address their children’s concerns effectively.

Why focus on Latino parents and children?

Low income and under-represented people of color, especially Latinos, are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and are more likely to want to do something about climate change. Additionally, as Latinos represent an increasingly larger share of the future work force, the nation needs to maintain a focus on their positive development.

Previous work for this project

This is the fourth grant funded by the National Science Foundation. In previous iterations, this project conducted research and produced videos on child development. Additionally, Child Trends was funded by the Institute of Education Sciences to broaden access and exposure to actionable education and special education research among parents and teachers.