May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it is more important than ever to recognize that supporting the mental health of parents is foundational to the health and wellbeing of children and families.
Parenting has never been easy, but the pressures on families today are especially intense. From the high cost of living and childcare to a lack of paid family leave and mental health services, families are expected to navigate complex challenges with minimal support.
As members of the Napa County Child Abuse Prevention Council, we were encouraged to see President Trump affirm the importance of preventing child abuse in his proclamation recognizing April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. We agree wholeheartedly with his statement that “… the most powerful safeguard against child abuse is a stable family with loving parents…”
But we must respectfully—and firmly—disagree with the narrow definition of what makes a family. Children thrive in many kinds of families, regardless of their caregiver’s gender, sexual orientation, or marital status. What children need most is safety, nurturing, and love—not rigid ideals of what a family should look like.
Villegas’ road to nursing wasn’t easy or speedy. It took grit, determination and turning to the Napa community for support to achieve her dreams. Looking back on her first year as a nurse at Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center, Villegas said she can’t help but think about the people who propelled her toward destiny.
Although Villegas knew she wanted to become a nurse, she said juggling multiple jobs to afford living in Napa made attending college nearly impossible. Then, in her 30s, Vilegas gave birth to twin boys, Zion and Kasai, which made going to school feel even more unlikely. That’s when the single mother turned to community resources, where she quickly found the Cope Family Center.
As advocates for children and families, we at the Napa County Child Abuse Prevention Council join our colleagues in the Greater Bay Area Child Abuse Prevention Council in expressing our deep concern about the harmful effects of developing immigration policies, particularly the proposed expansion of deportations and the "public charge" rule, on the well-being of children in immigrant families.
The Napa County Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) commemorates Child Abuse Prevention Month this April by bringing awareness and raising funds “to support families and keep children safe,” said a news release.
Led by Cope Family Center and comprised of representatives from other nonprofit organizations, the faith-based community, law enforcement and government agencies, CAPC coordinates Napa County’s efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect, said the release.
Every April, the Napa County Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) commemorates Child Abuse Prevention Month by bringing awareness to this important issue and raising funds to support families and keep children safe. Led by Cope Family Center and comprised of representatives from other nonprofit organizations, the faith-based community, law enforcement and government agencies, CAPC coordinates Napa County’s efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect.
Napa, CA – Cope Family Center and the Napa County Child Abuse Prevention Council are hosting Kids Day, a favorite community-wide event, for the third year in a row. This free family-fun event was held annually from 2001-2013 and was revived in 2021 after a nine-year hiatus. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, April 13 from 11:00am-2:00pm at Oxbow Commons Park on McKinstry Street. There will be over 45 booths with resources for parents, activities, and games for children, as well as food, music, entertainment, and live performances. City of Napa Vice Mayor Bernie Narvaez will be the event’s emcee.
NAPA, CA – Cope Family Center has earned a prestigious endorsement from Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc. (PATNC) as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate, making it one of the top-performing home visiting affiliates within Parents as Teachers’ international network.
Being named a Blue Ribbon Affiliate affirms that Cope is a high-quality member of the home visiting field, implementing the evidence-based Parents as Teachers model with fidelity. Families in the Napa community are positively impacted by the services delivered by this program.
For more than 20 years, Cope Family Center has been privileged to have the support of the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) which has contributed almost $5 million in that time. This generosity has transformed the lives of thousands of children and their families and helped build a stronger community for all. We are grateful to report that NVV recently announced their support will continue with a grant of $250,000.
On behalf of the entire board of Cope Family Center, I want to thank Michele Grupe for her dedicated leadership as she prepares to step away from the organization after 19 years of service. I have had the privilege of working with Michele since 2014 and have been a board member for the past six years working with Michele since she began her role as Executive Director. Michele has been an asset beyond all expectations for Cope and the community at large.
As a Social Worker for Napa Valley Unified School District, I get an intimate look at the role parents and caregivers play in preparing their children for the classroom. In supporting students through various challenges that prevent them from learning, I have seen firsthand how struggles in the home affect a child’s success in school. Parents play a vital role in their child’s academic success, and stressors in the home, such as divorce, mental health problems, insecure housing, and other economic instability can take a toll on students.
In honor of Positive Parenting Awareness Month, I want to share my story about how Cope Family Center’s parenting classes have helped transform my relationship with my daughter. Ten years ago, I was divorced and battling addiction, and I struggled to be present and committed in my daughter’s life. In fact, there were long periods when I wasn’t in contact with my daughter at all.
