Family Strengthening
Rainbow Family League
Rainbow Family League is a program that aims to help families have conversations about race, racism, gender, LGBTQ inclusion, diversity and standing up against unfairness.
The 2023-24 RFL Season is accomplished in partnership with Dr. Lori A Watson of Race Work and Napa Valley Unified School District.
Program Story
First 5 Napa County is committed to strengthening our community, parents, and caregivers with a lens of equity, respect, and social inclusion so that ALL our children are happy, healthy, and grow up with a sense of belonging.
Rainbow Family League (RFL) is a bilingual parent/caregiver education program that supports families in talking about:
- Self and family identity
- Recognizing similarities and differences
- Understanding fairness
- Understanding advocacy and allyship
Our facilitators support each “team” of families for a 6 month season through providing:
- Equipment (including diverse children’s books with discussion prompts and family activities)
- Coaching and practice opportunities
- Community building (teammates will have the opportunity to gather virtually and in person to work on a variety of projects around our league’s themes)
Program Scope
Rainbow Family League teams embark on a 6 month long “season” that includes up to 4 virtual “team practice sessions” and 2 in person practice sessions.
Participating families receive monthly “equipment bags” delivered to their home to practice the skills our team is learning with their families. Each equipment bag includes 2 diverse children’s books, a packet of family activities, and craft materials/supplies to complete the activities.
The practice session presentations and discussions paired with the children’s books and family activities aim to support parents/caregivers in becoming more confident and courageous when talking about race, racism, LGBTQ inclusion, and advocacy with their children.
Ultimately, we aim for these families to become actively anti-racist and join First 5 Napa County in creating a more inclusive community for all.
During the 2023-24 school year, First 5 Napa County is partnering with Napa Valley Unified School district to bring RFL to the district’s TK families!
Evaluation
During the 2022-23 school year, Rainbow Family League had 21 participating families from the City of Napa, Angwin, and American Canyon. First 5 Napa County distributed 294 diverse and inclusive children’s books to the families through the monthly “equipment bags.”
Because of their participation in Rainbow Family League 2022-23 participants reported:
- 90% Feel a sense of belonging in their community
- 80% Feel more civically engaged
Grown Up Impact
ALL Grown Ups saw growth in confidence in:
- Talking about diverse families with their child
- Talking about race/racism with their child
- Talking about race/racism with other adults
- Speaking up against unfairness and discrimination
ALL Grown Ups felt they have fewer biases around race after RFL
- 90% of Grown Ups reported a growth in their own knowledge around race/racism and understanding of LGBTQ and gender diverse children & adults.
Child Impact
88% of Families report after participating in RFL their child is:
- More empathetic
- Using accurate language to describe human differences
- Recognizing unfairness and has language to describe it
- Able to stand up for others in the face of discrimination