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Bright Futures for Infants, Children, and AdolescentsLaunched by HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau in 1990, Bright Futures is a major initiative to improve the quality of health promotion and preventive services for infants, children and adolescents.
MCHB and the
American Academy of Pediatrics Partner to Implement Bright Futures Why Bright
Futures? Injuries are now the leading cause of death for children older than 1 year. In addition, a significant percentage of American children have mental and emotional disorders. Developmental problems, educational failure, too much risk taking, lack of supervision, and child abuse are also among these "new morbidities." Also, the population of children with special health needs due to illness or disability has grown. Activities
Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision for Infants, Children and Adolescents, cornerstone of the initiative, is a set of comprehensive health supervision guidelines addressing health promotion and disease prevention in infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. Through collaboration between the HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., the Bright Futures Guidelines were developed by interdisciplinary panels of experts from a wide variety of child health fields, such as dental care, nutrition, nursing, and pediatrics. Since 1995, more than 1.3 million copies of the document and related materials have been distributed throughout the Nation. Building on the Bright Futures Guidelines, Bright Futures in Practice is a series of publications that highlight critical health promotion issues. Topics include oral health, physical activity, nutrition and mental health. Each publication includes relevant health supervision guidelines; addresses the special issues, concerns, and common questions of parents; and provides tools and resources for health care providers and families. Through a variety of public-private partnerships, Bright Futures materials are developed, disseminated, and put into practice. So far, Bright Futures has partnered with numerous individuals, professional organizations, national voluntary organizations, as well as academic institutions and corporations. Some of these Bright Futures materials are pocket guides, anticipatory guidance cards, an activity book for children and families, videos, and interdisciplinary model curricula. How Bright Futures is Making a Difference California: 1,000 physicians of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an HMO serving 2.6 million people, adopted "Bright Systems," based on Bright Futures principles. New Jersey: Bright Futures training that focused on anticipatory guidance and family interviewing was provided for nurses statewide. New Mexico: Elements from Bright Futures in Practice: Nutrition were incorporated into the State Children's Health Insurance Program Screening and Risk Reduction Initiative. Tennessee:The University of Tennessee and University of North Carolina conducted a "train the trainer" for public health professionals in eight southeastern States. The project was titled, "Maximizing Resources for Better Results! Extending Bright Futures Through Community-Based Nutrition Planning." Massachusetts: The State created its own Bright Futures campaign and appointed a Bright Futures State coordinator. Washington: Whatcom County is implementing Bright Futures through a network of shared information among WIC, Health Start, pediatric practices and other community partners. Resources
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