​
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
  • For information and guidance for health care professionals regarding COVID-19, click here​. 
  • For a list of frequently asked questions related to COVID-19 (including information related to 
    well-visits), click here. 
  • For families​, visit HealthyChildren.org​.
Bright Futures

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Bright Futures is a national health promotion and prevention initiative, led by the American Academy of Pediatrics and supported, in part, by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)​, Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)​. The Bright Futures Guidelines provide theory-based and evidence-driven guidance for all preventive care screenings and well-child visits. Bright Futures content can be incorporated into many public health programs such as home visiting, child care, school-based health clinics, and many others. Materials developed especially for families are also available.​  

 Features
  • For Professionals

    • Bright Futures Implementation Tip Sheets

      These NEW and UPDATED tip sheets offer practical advice to help you integrate the Bright Futures approach, tools and resources into your daily practice.Learn more

    • Bright Futures Tool and Resource Kit, 2nd Edition NEW!

      Completely updated Toolkit corresponding with the Bright Futures Guidelines, 4th Edition, with key documents that work as an integrated system to assist a health care professional carry out an efficient Bright Futures health supervision visit.Learn more

    • Bright Futures Guidelines

      At your fingertips, this manual provides the most respected recommendations for the top 12 areas of child development in 1 volume, along with the most up-to-date well-child supervision standards by visit. PDF versions are now available for reference.Learn more

    • Medical Screening Reference Tables

      The tables provide an easy-to-use reference table for each Bright Futures well-child visit. Each table compiles the relevant history, risk assessment questions, and action to take if the risk assessment shows a positive result.Learn more

    • Bright Futures Webinars

      Make sure to sign up for the latest Bright Futures webinars beginning in April 2017. Learn about the revised and updated Bright Futures Guidelines, 4th Edition from the editors themselves. Learn more

    • Bright Futures EQIPP Courses

      These courses are designed to help physicians interpret the Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children and Adolescents into everyday practice, with practical suggestions for implementation.Learn more

    • Implementing Bright Futures in Public Health

      Professionals can hear recorded audio stories of Bright Futures implementations and read highlights of how Bright Futures is being used by state agencies as the standard for well-child care and as essential content throughout many public health programs. Learn more

    • Performing Preventive Services

      Designed to accompany Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 3rd Edition, this manual provides effective ways to deliver the preventive services that are suggested in the Guidelines.Learn more
  • For Families

    • The Well-Child Visit: Why Go and What to Expect

      This NEW handout, The Well-Child Visit: Why Go and What to Expect, helps families prepare for their regular check-ups. This tip sheet is available in English and Spanish.Learn more

    • Bright Futures Activity Book—Available in English and Spanish

      To encourage parent-child interaction, the Bright Futures Activity Book provides a fun, informative, and interactive overview of the 10 themes from the Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 3rd Edition.Learn more

 Highlights and Announcements

  • April 6, 2020

    Three-Part Webinar Series: Intentionally Integrating Equity into SDOH Interventions

    First session: April 7, 2020 | 9am PT/ 12pm ET

    Addressing SDOH or social risks alone cannot be conflated with tackling inequity - and doing so can put interventions at risk of unintentionally perpetuating disparities. In this interactive webinar series, health equity champions from across the country will share their experiences integrating equity into SDOH interventions.

  • April 2, 2020

    ​World Autism Awareness Day

    The thirteenth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2020. More than 5 million Americans have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). On this day, we celebrate the talents, strengths, and contribution of individuals with ASD to our society. We also recognize that there is still work to be done to promote full inclusion of individuals with ASD in our communities. WAAD activities are planned every year to further increase world knowledge of children and adults who have ASD.​​​

    ​

  • March 30, 2020

    Identification and Screening of Social Determinants of Health Among Children with Special Health Care Needs in Medicaid 
    Developed by the National Resource Center for Patient/Family-Centered Medical Home in partnership with the National Academy for State Health Policy, this fact sheet highlights how state Medicaid agencies are working to incorporate social determinants of health (SDoH) screenings into their programs to improve health outcomes for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Opportunities for collaboration and partnership between Medicaid, Title V Maternal and Child Health / CYSHCN programs, and pediatricians are discussed. State-level case studies provide innovative, replicable strategies for implementing SDoH screening. ​

  • March 19, 2020

    New Tele-mentoring Program on COVID-19

    The AAP is launching a new ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) project, titled "AAP COVID-19 ECHO: Emergency Readiness & Response." Infectious disease experts and emergency readiness physicians will be connected by video with those providing care to children to discuss policies and procedures related to COVID-19. Recognizing that so much has changed in our world in a very short time, this ECHO will be a space to support one another while learning and working through challenges together. Meetings will be scheduled twice per month beginning the week of March 30. Please register by March 24.

    ​ 


  • March 16, 2020

     Virtual Match Day Celebration with the AAP Section on Pediatric Trainees – March 20th​

    The Section on Pediatric Trainees (SOPT) leadership has learned that many of the much anticipated Match Day celebrations are being canceled due to COVID-19. Therefore, SOPT would like to do everything we can to celebrate Match Day virtually with our 4th year medical students. This Friday, March 20th we will be posting messages of support and celebration. We would love to have as many of you participate with us as possible. We know this is a very busy time, so anything you can do is appreciated. Some ways you can celebrate with SOPT: 1) retweet/share messages from the SOPT Twitter/Facebook accounts; 2) post your own congratulatory message (use one of these posters); or 3) share a picture or story from the day you matched. Please use the following in your posts: @AAPSOPT, #FutureFAAP, #Match2020. Thank you for showing your support of our #FutureFAAP and what an amazing AAP family we have!

  • March 13, 2020

    “Early Child Nutrition: From Birth to Two Years" Webinar - Recording is Available

    The Healthy Childhood Weight Webinar Series webinar with Dr Heather Hamner (author of the article titled “Dietary quality among children from 6 months to 4 years, NHANES 2011–2016" published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)​​ is available as a recording. Dr Hamner highlighted key findings from the article and her other research work. Additional discussion focused on implications for pediatric care as well as policy implications.

    Faculty: Heather Hamner, PhD, MS, MPH (CDC), Sandra Hassink, MD, FAAP (AAP), Carol Dreibelbis, MPH (1000 Days)

    The recorded webinar is posted on IHCW website here.

  • March 11, 2020

    CDC Webinar to Discuss Caring for Children, Pregnant Women During COVID-19 Outbreaks
    Learn more about caring for children and pregnant women during outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) via a webinar Thursday. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experts will discuss infection prevention and control measures in inpatient obstetric health care settings as well as resources to care for pediatric patients from 2-3 p.m. EDT on March 12. The webinar will be available live, as well as on-demand afterward. To join the webinar at 2 p.m. ET Thursday, visit https://zoom.us/j/200932054 or call 646-876-9923 or 669-900-6833. The webinar ID is 200932054. It also can be viewed via Facebook at http://bit.ly/338PWuB. The webinar will be available on demand afterward at http://bit.ly/38EIrNk.




  • February 13, 2020

    NEW ONLINE COURSE – Milestones Matter: Don’t Underestimate Developmental Surveillance
    ​
    The AAP offers a FREE online     PediaLink course that highlights the importance of developmental surveillance as an essential component of the new recommendations in the clinical report titled, “Promoting Optimal Development: Identifying Infants and Young Children with Developmental Disorders Through Developmental Surveillance and Screening.”  This course will help pediatricians recognize the value of early identification and intervention when developmental delays are suspected, and to identify the key surveillance and screening steps to incorporate into practice. Participants are eligible for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and 1 Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part 2 points.​

  • February 12, 2020

    Conversations About Care Podcast – New Episode

    The Conversations About Care Podcast, created by AAP Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight in partnership with Bright Futures, highlights pragmatic and lively conversations between health care providers about important themes. They identify practical, practice related strategies associated with healthy childhood weight and share resources to support patient-centered care within the changing landscape of medicine and social norms.

    In this conversation Sandy is joined by Natalie Muth, MD, FAAP, a dual-board certified pediatrician, registered dietitian, obesity medicine physician and a lead author of the AAP policy titled "Public Policies to Reduce Sugary Drink Consumption in Children and Adolescents". Dr. Muth is also the current Chair of the AAP Section on Obesity. Sandy and Natalie discuss current recommendations and strategies for addressing sugary drink consumption with families in a primary care setting. They also discuss national policy and advocacy recommendations that are on the horizon.

    To listen, visit the podcast webpage https://ihcw.aap.o​rg/Pages/Podcast.aspx. ​

  • February 12, 2020

    Empowering Families to Make Healthier Food Choices through WIC

    As part of the Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight Webinar Series, we are excited to announce the “Empowering Families to Make Healthier Food Choices through WIC" webinar. The webinar will provide understanding of WIC and how it is related to obesity prevention, eligibility criteria, current data trends, as well as explain ways pediatricians can partner with WIC to facilitate enrollment and improve care for patients.

    Faculty for the webinar include Darlena Birch, MBA, RDN, Elisabet Eppes, MPH from the National WIC Association and Sandra Hassink, MD, FAAP as the moderator.

    The webinar will take place live on Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 1p.m. ET.

    If you are unable to attend live, recording of the webinar will be posted on IHCW website here.

    Registration link: https://aap.webex.com/aap/onstage/g.php?MTID=e215342f68d7108f30f282c6d61ba4395 ​

  • February 12, 2020

    2020 Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule Now Available

    The 2020 recommended childhood and adolescent immunizatio​n schedules have been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

    See the full AAP policy statement online in Pediatrics.


  • February 12, 2020

    Family Media Toolkit Offers Free Posters and Hand-outs on Media Use in Children

    Technology is a big part of families' daily lives, and parents are looking for realistic ways to manage media and devices at home. That's why the AAP, led by the Council on Communications and Media, developed the Family Media Use Plan Tool, to offer parents an interactive tool to help guide their children's media use. And in partnership with Common Sense Media, we are bringing those recommendations to pediatricians in a form perfect for waiting rooms and exam tables with the Family Media Toolkit. Please download, print and use these free resources, available in English and Spanish.​

  • February 12, 2020

    AAP 'Developmental Surveillance' Video, Free Resources on Learn the Signs. Act Early. Website ​

    Need help setting up systematic developmental surveillance in your practice? You and your team can learn more about surveillance from AAP's surveillance video as well as how to best integrate it into your practice from CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." resources. You can find the video and several FREE resources at www.cdc.gov/ActEarly/HealthCare. ​

  • February 7, 2020

    AAP recruiting for new E-Cigarette ECHO

    The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) E-cigarette and Vaping ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) serves as a forum for pediatricians, other physicians, and nonphysician clinicians from pediatric primary care practices to address youth e-cigarette use. Using evidence-based clinical interventions, this ECHO will help pediatric clinicians prevent youth initiation and support youth who are already addicted to e-cigarettes. Participating pediatricians will have the opportunity to earn American Board of Pediatrics Part 4 Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credit (pending approval) as well as continuing education credits. The program will meet monthly from April – September 2020. Pediatric practices who are interested in improving delivery of e-cigarette support services to adolescents in clinical practices must apply by February 28 .  For more information please see our E-Cigarette Project Flyer and to apply please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ecigC1. 

  • February 6, 2020

    AAP Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) ECHO​

    Join our learning collaborative to help implement and sustain best practices for addressing substance use in adolescents, ages 11 through 21 years.

    To register, please complete this online application by February 14, 2020.

    The American Academy of Pediatrics is recruiting primary care practices to join a 7-month learning collaborative aimed to educate and support primary care providers on adolescent substance use screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) approaches. 

    This program uses the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) modelTM, a telementoring platform that leverages video conference technology to connect subject matter experts with primary care teams in local communities, fostering an “all teach-all learn" approach. This Substance Use SBIRT ECHO will incorporate quality improvement work and will meet monthly from February-August 2020. Participating pediatricians will have the opportunity to earn up to 25 Part 4 Maintenance of Certification (MOC) points, 6 MOC Part 2 points, and 7.o AMA PRA Category 1 Credits​TM (available at no cost).​

    Please contact Shannon Limjuco, ECHO Manager at slimjuco@aap.org or Eileen Glasstetter, Substance Use and Prevention Initiatives Manager at eglasstetter@aap.org for any questions.

 BRIGHT FUTURES/AAP PERIODICITY SCHEDULE (UPDATED MARCH 2020)
​​

Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care in Practice​

 About Bright Futures Video

 CORE PRACTICE TOOLS
​​
   

Access Core Tools for Each Well-Child Visit

  • Previsit Questionnaires
  • Visit Documentation Forms
  • Parent/Patient Education Handouts
Learn More

 TXT4BABY


 

 Screening Time Online Course


 Subscribe to Bright Futures

​​

Subscribe to Bright Futures eNews to stay current on new information about Bright Futures by registering your e-mail address.

 Untitled ‭[1]‬
​HRSA Logo