Mexico: Crianza Con Conciencia Positiva
Parenting for Lifelong Health is scaling a blended-digital parenting and mental health curricula - Crianza Con Conciencia Positiva (CC+) - delivered by government staff through family support centres and parent-teacher associations.
In the Design phase, this programme was adapted and user-tested for the Mexican culture and service delivery context through user-centred design workshops with government, community, and family stakeholders. In 2024 we piloted CC+ in 4 Mexican provinces for 292 families with positive results across all core outcomes of interest. We are now entering the Scaling phase in which delivery of the CC+ intervention is being replicated in the Guerrero province (i.e., from one to four states) with wider scaling of a digital-only version of the chatbot.
By leveraging our local partnerships, we aim to expand the reach of CC+ from 2,290 families in 2024 to more than 300,000 in 2025 with a targeted reach of more than 2 million families by 2030 (10% of total child population).
The Problem
According to UNICEF, “in Mexico, there is a harsh reality for 52.8% of children and adolescents between the ages of 1 and 14, as they have experienced violent disciplinary methods in their homes, which has left serious consequences for their development” (UNICEF México, 2020). Also, “six out of ten people between the ages of 1 and 14 have experienced some form of violent discipline in their homes” (UNICEF México, 2018). Addressing these issues is crucial to improving child well-being and preventing negative social outcomes.
The Solution
Given the significant challenges faced by families in Latin America, such as the widespread use of violent discipline and its long-term effects on child development and mental health, positive parenting strategies provide an effective solution. These strategies foster healthier, non-violent relationships between caregivers and children, encouraging emotional well-being and better communication.
The Crianza Con Conciencia Positiva (CC+) programme directly addresses these challenges by providing caregivers with play-based activities and practical tools that can be easily integrated into daily routines.
Delivered through 15-minute daily WhatsApp sessions, CC+ ensures accessibility for families. In addition to promoting positive parenting practices, the programme novelly embeds support for caregiver and adolescent mental health and wellbeing.
Drawing on a transdiagnostic approach, CC+ offers accessible strategies to manage stress, build emotional regulation skills, and boost protective psychological factors such as social support, strengths, and self-efficacy. By embedding universal mental health support within the programme, CC+ provides transformational support in strengthening family relationships and fostering healthier, more supportive home environments.
Crianza Con Conciencia Positiva is highly relevant and timely, providing a scalable, cost-effective solution to prevent violence, enhance well-being, and support long-term positive outcomes for both children and caregivers across Mexico.
“
I am very happy and satisfied with this CC+ programme. It has taught me to be patient, tolerant, to set boundaries with my daughter, to understand her, and to comprehend that the education and treatment of my two daughters is very different.
- Caregiver from Mexico City
393
caregivers reached
83%
completion rate
896
facilitators trained
Impact
Caregiver Mental Health
Caregivers showed significant improvements in mental health, with noticeable reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Additionally, there were improvements in emotional well-being, gratitude, and self-efficacy, which contributed to healthier family dynamics.
Parenting Practices
Caregivers became more actively involved in positive parenting practices, fostering stronger and more supportive relationships with their children.
Reduction in Violence
There was a significant decrease in general violence, including both physical and emotional abuse, creating safer home environments for children.
Child Well-being
During the pilot programme, children showed improvements in mental health, with reductions in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and behavioral problems, contributing to overall emotional stability.
Our Partners
Scaling Strategy
We are working with the Mexican government and local partners to transfer ownership of our tech-based products, develop national standards of delivery, and build systems capacity so that the solution can be sustained within existing services. We are also aiming to improve the scalability and impact of CC+ by
Enhancing accessibility to areas with low internet-connectivity through our offline-first ParentApp
Strengthen the gender approach to enhance impact on reducing violence against women and children
Expand content to cover early childhood development, particularly ages 0-2
Integrate content on online safety and preventing online child sexual exploitation and abuse
Test the effectiveness of CC+ in a randomised controlled trial
“
Personally, I have shared it with 10 people, including family, friends, and grandparents who take care of children and teenagers, and they have thanked me for helping them in this way. In general, we have all learned a different way of raising our children.
- Caregiver from Mexico City