Bright Futures

What is Bright Futures?

Bright Futures Bright Futures has long been an important initiative of the federal Maternal & Child Health Bureau (MCHB) and several partners, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and Family Voices. Bright futures is designed to promote children’s current and future health.

The purposes of Bright Futures are to:

  • Increase health care professionals’ knowledge, skills, and practice
  • Promote social, developmental, and health outcomes of children
  • Foster partnerships between families, health care professionals, and communities
  • Increase family knowledge, skills, and participation in health-promoting and prevention activities
  • Address the needs of children and youth with special health care needs through improved identification and services
  • The importance of families as partners in promoting the health of their children is central to Bright Futures. As the initiative has evolved, families have taken their place alongside professional partners in substantive roles.
Featured Resource:
 Bright Futures Family Pocket Guide: Raising Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents (2nd edition - 2012)
Bright Futures Family Pocket Guide: Raising Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents (2nd edition – 2012)

Developed for families by families, in partnership with the AAP and other professionals, this convenient, attractive resource is based on the AAP’s Bright Futures: Guidelines for the Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents (3rd ed.).

For details & ordering (including bulk orders) go to: Family Voices Website

Resources for Families

Bright Futures
The main Bright Futures website links to the AAP’s Bright Futures site as well as the many collaborating federal- and state-funded Bright Futures projects.

Bright Futures for Families Website
A national initiative of Family Voices, with support of the federal government’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Bright Futures for Families encourages families and communities to promote and improve the health and well-being of children of all ages. Bright Futures for Families offers resources for families based on the Bright Futures initiative.

Bright Futures AAP Website
This website is geared towards health professionals who care for children, including pediatricians, nurse practitioners, school nurses, public health workers, family physicians, nurses, physician assistants, dentists, child care workers, and others. People in all of these groups use Bright Futures materials for training, to promote child health, and to standardize care. Bright Futures publishes guidelines, toolkits, PowerPoint presentations, and more to help them supervise and promote child health.

Check out the interactive video page at Bright Futures to explore many Helpful videos >>

Mental Health and Emotional Well-being Theme

Health includes both physical and mental well-being. Families, friends, health providers, teachers, coaches, and others can contribute to a child’s self-worth, self-confidence, and sense of joy. Learn about children’s emotional and social development so you will know what to expect, when to be concerned, and where to find resources.

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Safety & Injury Prevention Theme

Children need safe environments to grow and thrive. Parents oversee safety for babies and young children. As children grow, friends, childcare providers, teachers, coaches, and other also help to keep children safe. And older children and teens begin to learn to take charge of their own safety. It can be hard for parents to know when to let go. Try to be one step ahead of where your child is developmentally – know what your child can do and what is reasonable to expect.

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Child Development Theme

Children grow and develop in so many ways and change quickly from babies to toddlers to teens. As parents, we provide love and support. And, just as our children change, our role as parents changes too. We must learn when to help, when to set limits, and when to stand back as they take steps towards adulthood. Every child is different and develops at his own rate.

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