While probably not in your diary, the second of October 2017 is the fifth anniversary of the Scottish Government’s National Parenting Strategy.

Other initiatives and events took precedence during this extraordinary period in Scotland’s history. But, when launched, the Strategywas not a trivial, ‘off the cuff’ public policy. After an extensive consultation process, the Scottish Government proposed dozens of actions under the rubric ‘Our commitment to Scotland’s parents’.

A year later, NHS Health Scotland’s detailed Outcomes Framework supplemented this Strategy. It offered three ‘logic models’ to monitor, assess and report upon the National Parenting Strategy’s impact. Parents were also highlighted in the Child and Young People Act 2014, as well as in the official implementation guidance.

So, what actually happened with those ‘commitments’ and desired outcomes? More important, what progress has Scotland made to better prepare and support all the mothers, fathers, carers and others having parental roles and responsibilities for our next generation?

[For more on this story by Dr Jonathan Sher, go to https://www.holyrood.com/artic...-parents-need-oxygen]