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CENTER
FOR CHILD WELL-BEING
A
Program of The Task Force For Child Survival and Development
The Center for
Child Well-being is dedicated to exploring ways to dramatically
improve the lives of children. From its inception in 1999, the Center
has looked beyond improvements in physical health that characterized
the twentieth century to envision a world in which all children
have the supports, the strengths, and the opportunities they need
to flourish in every aspect of life--physically, cognitively, socially,
and emotionally.
THE
VISION
What
if–
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We
could identify the strengths that children need to thrive? |
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We
could provide guidance and support to all parents and caregivers
on how to nurture these strengths? |
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We
could give every child the opportunity to participate in quality
early childhood development activities to foster their unique
assets in safe, loving environments? |
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We
could galvanize communities to invest in programs and policies
that foster child well-being? |
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ACHIEVING
OUR VISION
The activities
that the Center is conducting and will initiate over time fall into
the following three courses of action. Projects in these three areas
will be pursued with many other collaborating organizations.
Building
the knowledge base — gathering, synthesizing,
and expanding knowledge about what constitutes child well-being;
how best to foster it; what practices, programs and policies are
most effective; and how to measure improvement over time.
Applying
knowledge to practice — delivering information
and assistance to parents and those who have the greatest influence
on children, such as child care professionals and physicians;
to national organizations and policy-makers who influence sectors
of society that make decisions about the welfare and growth of
children; and to local organizations, such as schools, churches,
worksites, and civic groups that support families and children
in the context of their own missions.
Catalyzing
social support — galvanizing broad commitment
to change the way our country prioritizes the needs of children
and invests in supportive programs, policies, and science.
GUIDING
PRINCIPLES
Six principles
provide the framework for all activities of the Center. |
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Collaborative:
No one group or discipline can accomplish this vision alone.
This work requires the participation and collective knowledge
of children and parents, national and local groups in many areas,
and professionals and academics in such areas as education,
early childhood development, health, psychology, social services,
faith communities, civic groups, and many others. |
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Positive:
The Center focuses on a strengths-based model for child development
that will help children develop positive capabilities as well
as develop buffers against risks and prevent problems. This
approach allows for collaboration with other organizations that
nurture strengths in children in addition to organizations with
prevention and treatment models that incorporate strengths,
such as the development of self-worth, trust, attachment to
positive role models, creativity, or habits to promote physical
health. |
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Evidence-based:
The Center uses science and the evidence resulting from practice
to support program and policy development. This knowledge comes
from many disciplines, the integration of which will support
sound decision-making. |
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Developmental:
The work of the Center is focusing initially on ages 0 through
5, but takes into account how strengths that are developed during
this age relate to further development of strengths throughout
childhood, adolescence, and adult life. We believe that it is
critical to begin developing strengths from birth through the
first five years. |
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Ecological:
Interactions among parents, children, caregivers, community,
and the environment help shape children's well-being. The Center
integrates what is known about children's unique inherent capabilities
with what is known about how these capabilities can be influenced
by their interactions with people and their environments. |
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Universal:
The Center is committed to ensuring that everyone has equal
access to information and support. |
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CURRENT PROJECTS
Given this broad
charge, the Center's first steps were designed to initiate projects
that will create a solid base upon which to build and expand in
the future. Many of these projects have helped to identify the status
of the science base related to child well-being. Please
click here for descriptions and reports from our initial
projects.
THE
FUTURE
The future of
children can be greatly enhanced by increased attention at all levels
of society on efforts to improve child well-being. We believe that
increased efforts to develop strengths in children and to support
environments that nurture these strengths will be key to improving
the well-being of children and the adults they become. We will work
with others who care deeply about the future of children to accomplish
this vision.
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