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 2024-25 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 2024-25 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 prior cohorts, Rainbow Family League had 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 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