When Everyone Said “Don’t Start”: Implementing a Digital Parenting and Family Wellbeing Program Through Political Uncertainty in Mexico’s National Family Health System

Successful prevention initiatives in low- and middle-income countries depend on strong government–research partnerships, yet these collaborations are often tested by political volatility, limited service capacity, and competing institutional priorities. This paper describes the multisectoral coalition that co-developed and implemented Crianza con Conciencia+ (CC+), a digital parenting and caregiver wellbeing program delivered through Mexico’s national family health system. Multiple research institutions partnered with a UN child welfare agency and Mexican state and federal government to rapidly adapt, implement, and evaluate CC+ across four states during a period marked by election restrictions, natural disasters, and shifting institutional conditions. Guided by the EPIS and RE-AIM frameworks, partners used co-design, shared leadership, and flexible implementation structures to navigate these disruptions. We highlight three key lessons for future prevention partnerships: co-design and collective leadership strengthen ownership and resilience; trusted bridge institutions are crucial for navigating political and bureaucratic barriers; and partnerships and implementation plans must be intentionally designed for disruption rather than stability.