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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–

	We could identify the strengths that children need to thrive?
	We could provide guidance and support to all parents and caregivers on how to nurture these strengths?
	We could give every child the opportunity to participate in quality early childhood development activities to foster their unique assets in safe, loving environments?
	We could galvanize communities to invest in programs and policies that foster child well-being?

 

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.

	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Universal: The Center is committed to ensuring that everyone has equal access to information and support.

 

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.