Bright Futures uses a developmentally based approach to address children’s health needs in the context of family and community. Bright Futures is a set of principles, strategies, and tools that are theory-based, evidence-driven, and systems-oriented that can be used to improve the health and well-being of all children.

The centerpiece of Bright Futures is a comprehensive set of health supervision guidelines developed by multidisciplinary child health experts – ranging from providers and researchers to parents and other child advocates – that provide a framework for well-child care from birth to age 21. These guidelines are designed to present a single standard of care and a common language based on a model of health promotion and disease prevention.

Bright Futures is based on the idea that successful child health promotion and care is rooted in a partnership of families, communities, health care providers, and public health officials. So in addition to developing programs and materials for families, Bright Futures materials are used by 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 you supervise and promote child health. Click here to see the range of Bright Futures materials available online, or here for the AAP Bookstore to order Bright Futures materials.

If you have a story about integrating Bright Futures into your program or if you have an idea to share, please Contact us.

For more information about Bright Futures, visit our Frequently Asked Questions.