Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Second Edition, Revised

摘要

The world of Americas children and families has changed rapidly and extensively during the 20th century. As we begin a new century, it is now appropriate to take stock of the progress we have made and the distance we still have to travel. For many children and their families, each new day is an opportunity for further self-realization, enhancement of good health, and promotion of self-esteem. For millions of others, however, the future holds little promise; their health status is poor, their health risks are many, and their prospects for successfully overcoming these problems are limited. These children, and all our nations children, deserve the attention, the encouragement, and the intervention of health professionals from many disciplines to ensure that they develop the healthy bodies, minds, emotions, and attitudes to prepare them to be competent and contributing adults. Health supervision policies and practices have not kept up with the pervasive changes that have occurred in the family, the community, and society. It has become evident that a new health supervision is urgently needed to confront the new morbidities that challenge todays children and families. The goal of Bright Futures is to respond to the current and emerging preventive and health promotion needs of infants, children, and adolescents. To meet the complex challenge of developing new health supervision guidelines, the expertise and informed opinions of a large number of health professionals and consumers were elicited. Based on their wise suggestions, the guidelines are an exciting response to the needs of the times, a vision for the future, and, more importantly, a direction for child health supervision well into the 21st century. The next step will be to promote the implementation of Bright Futures in the great variety of settings and arrangements that provide opportunities for health supervision throughout this country. It is also important to further an in-depth exploration of the science of prevention and health promotion and engage health professionals, educators, and families in this venture. It is time to walk into that bright future.