About

 About Bright Futures
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If you are new to the Bright Futures Guidelines, this 2-minute video provides information you need to get started using the Bright Futures recommendations in your health promotion and disease prevention practices and with programs and families in your community.

Bright Futures Implementation Goals

The primary goal of Bright Futures implementation is to support primary care practices (medical homes) in providing well-child and adolescent care according to Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Settings for Bright Futures implementation include private practices, hospital-based or hospital-affiliated clinics, resident continuity clinics, school-based health centers, public health clinics, community health centers, Indian Health Service clinics, and other primary care facilities. 

A complementary goal is to provide home visitors, public health nurses, early child care and education professionals (including Head Start), school nurses, and nutritionists with an understanding of Bright Futures materials so that they can align their health promotion efforts with the recommendations in the Bright Futures Guidelines. This objective will ensure that patients receive information and support that is consistent from family and youth perspectives. 

Academic health institutions, health professional organizations, state agencies, and health insurance companies are equally committed to helping health care practitioners and other professionals who work with children, youth, and families achieve the above goals. These combined efforts support parents in their role as health promotion experts for their family and allow them to partner effectively with all of their health professionals.​​​​​

 Background: The Origins and History of Bright Futures

Nearly 25 years ago, a multidisciplinary group of pediatric health care experts and family representatives were asked to imagine our country's health picture if every child in America could look forward to a bright future—regardless of race, religion, background, income, politics, or any other factor. This group, convened by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Medicaid Bureau (part of the Health Care Financing Administration, now the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS]), expressed its vision in the Bright Futures Children's Health Charter, which set the stage for the 1st Edition of the Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents in 1994.

The 2nd Edition of the Guidelines was released in 2000 and updated in 2002, under the auspices of the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health at Georgetown University. By this time, its use in the field was growing. The Guidelines were being embraced by physicians, pediatric residents, nurse practitioners, and others who care for children, including families. State agencies, in particular Medicaid agencies responsible for administering the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) programs, were integrating the recommendations into covered services for infants and young children.

In 2002, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) established the Bright Futures National Center (BFNC) to spearhead implementation efforts and update the Guidelines for a third time. Since the release of the 3rd Edition of the Bright Futures Guidelines in 2008, implementation in clinical practice, public health, and many other settings in the community, such as school health centers, child care settings, and home visiting programs, has steadily increased. Family Voices, a national grassroots network, has been an important partner over the years, translating the health supervision Guidelines into family-friendly materials to encourage the integral partnership between families and their health care providers as promoted by Bright Futures.

In 2010, 16 years after the 1st Edition of the Guidelines was released, the vision of pediatric preventive care for all was recognized in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA includes a critical provision to ensure that ALL children enrolled in individual and group non-grandfathered health care plans receive, without cost-sharing, the "standard" of preventive care screenings and services as recommended by the AAP/Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 3rd Edition.

Now, as the ACA continues to be implemented, the AAP and Bright Futures published Achieving Bright Futures, resources  for insurers, lawmakers, regulators, health care providers, and other stakeholders to guide the appropriate coverage, reporting, and reimbursement for covered pediatric preventive services.

The BFNC at the AAP continues to provide the leadership to put the Guidelines and related tools and resources into practice across the country. It provides technical assistance to states and communities to facilitate implementation, offers additional tools and resources to encourage use in different settings and by different disciplines, and promotes the use of Bright Futures Preventive Services Measures in clinical practice and in quality improvement efforts. The BFNC also is coordinating the effort to update the Guidelines by 2015 with the contributions of leading experts in many fields under the guidance of the Bright Futures editors and the Bright Futures Steering Committee members.

In cooperation with the Academic Pediatric Association (APA), the BFNC at the AAP also supports the Bright Futures Young Investigator Award (YIA) Program, funded by HRSA's MCHB. This program funds projects aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and evidence base for health supervision in primary care, consistent with the Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision for Infants, Children, and Adolescent, 3rd Edition. To learn more about this funding opportunity and recent accomplishments, visit the Young Investigators Preventive Services Research​ page.

Bright Futures Advisors

  • Bright Futures Guidelines, 4th Edition Editors and Expert Panels

    ​ ​Bright Futures Co-Editors
    Joseph F Hagan Jr, MD, FAAP
    American Academy of Pediatrics
    Hagan & Rinehart Pediatrics, PLLC

    Judy Shaw, EdD, MPH, RN, FAAP
    Academic Pediatric Association Representative
    Executive Director, Vermont Child Health Improvement
    Research Associate Professor of Pediatrics & Nursing, University of Vermont

    Paula Duncan, MD, FAAP
    Bright Futures Steering Committee Member and PIAC Member

    Expert Panels

    Infancy
    Co-Chairpersons
    Deborah Campbell, MD, FAAP
    Barbara Deloian, PhD, RN, CPNP, IBCLC, FAANP

    Members
    George J. Cohen, MD, FAAP

    Tumaini Coker, MD, MBA

    Elizabeth P. Elliott, MS, PA-C

    Penelope Knapp, MD, FAAP, FAPA, FAACP

    Dipesh Navsaria, MD, MPH, MSLIS, FAAP

    Beth Potter, MD

    Rocio Quinonez, DMD, MS, MPH, FRCDC

    Karyl Rickard, PhD, RD, FADA

    Melissa Clark Vickers, MEd


    Early Childhood
    Co-Chairpersons
    Donald Middleton, MD

    Cynthia Schaffer Minkovitz, MD, MPP, FAAP

    Members
    Joseph M. Carrillo, MD, FAAP

    Nan Gaylord, PhD, RN, CPNP

    Peter A. Gorski, MD, MPA, FAAP

    Manuel E. Jimenez, MD, MS

    Christopher Andrew Kus, MD, MPH, FAAP

    Francisco Ramos-Gomez, DDS, MS, MPH

    Madeleine Sigman-Grant, PhD, RD

    Middle Childhood
    Ed Goldson, MD, FAAP
    Bonnie A Spear PhD, RD

    Members
    Scott Cashion, DDS

    Paula L. Coates, DDS, MS

    Arthur Lavin, MD, FAAP

    Robert C. Lee, DO, MS, FAAP

    Beth A. MacDonald

    Eve Spratt, MD, MS

    Anne Turner-Henson, DSN, RN,FAAN

    Jane A. Weida, MD, FAAFP

    Adolescence
    Co-Chairpersons
    Frances Biagioli, MD

    Martin Mandell Fisher, MD, FAAP


    Members
    Pamela Burke, PhD, RN, FNP, PNP, FSAHM

    Shakeeb Chinoy, MD

    Arthur B. Elster, MD, FAAP

    Katrina Holt, MPH, MS, RD

    M. Susan Jay, MD, FAAP

    Jaime Martinez, MD, FAAP

    Vaughn I. Rickert, PsyD

    Scott D. Smith, DDS, MS

  • Bright Futures Project Implementation Advisory Committee (PIAC)

    ​​Paula Duncan, MD, FAAP
    Professor of Pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine

    Christopher M. Barry, PA-C
    American Academy of Physician Assistants

    Martha Dewey Bergren, DNS, RN, NCSN, FNASN, FASHA
    National Association of School Nurses

    Gregory S. Blaschke, MD, MPH, FAAP
    Oregon Health & Science University
    Doernbecher Children's Hospital

    Laura Brey, MS
    National Association of School Based Health Centers

    Paul Casamassimo, DDS
    American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

    James J. Crall, DDS, ScD
    American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

    Michael Fraser, PhD, CAE
    Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs

    Sandra Hassink, MD, FAAP
    Thomas Jefferson University
    A I DuPont Hospital for Children

    Seiji Hayashi, MD, MPH
    Chief Medical Officer
    Health Resources and Services Administration
    Bureau of Primary Health Care

    Christopher Kus, MD, MPH, FAAP
    Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs

    Sharon Moffatt, RN, BSN, MS
    Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

    Richard Rainey, MD, FAAP
    Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association

    Beth Rezet, MD, FAAP
    Association of Pediatric Program Directors

    Bonnie Spear, PhD, RD, LD
    American Dietetic Association

    National Association of Community Health Centers, Representative​

    Myrtis Sullivan, MD, MPH, FAAP
    National Medical Association

    Felicia Taylor, MBA
    National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

    Modena Wilson, MD, MPH, FAAP
    American Medical Association

    PIAC Federal Liaisons
    Stephen Holve, MD, FAAP
    Indian Health Service

    Ruth Perou, PhD
    National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • Bright Futures Steering Committee

    ​​Members

    Family Voices Representative​

    Edward S. Curry, MD, FAAP
    American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Practice & Ambulatory Medicine
    Kaiser Permanente

    Paula Duncan, MD, FAAP
    Professor of Pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine

    Mary Margaret Gottesman, PhD, RN, CPNP
    National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

    Joseph F. Hagan Jr, MD, FAAP
    American Academy of Pediatrics
    Hagan & Rinehart Pediatrics, PLLC

    Judy Shaw, EdD, MPH, RN, FAAP
    Academic Pediatric Association Representative
    Executive Director, Vermont Child Health Improvement Program

    Jack Swanson, MD, FAAP
    American Academy of Pediatrics
    McFarland Clinic

    Federal Liaison to Steering Committee
    Lynn Van Pelt, DMD
    CAPT, United States Public Health Service
    Maternal and Child Health Bureau
    Health Resources and Services Administration


FAQs

  • How can I demonstrate that use of Bright Futures is making a difference in my practice or in my state?

    ​Measurable implementation is essential to Bright Futures. Learn more​ about the Bright Futures measures and how to use them in quality improvement projects at the clinical practice and state level.

  • What changes were made in the 2014 update of the Bright Futures/American Academy of Pediatrics Periodicity Schedule?

    ​Bright Futures/American Academy of Pediatrics Periodicity Schedule​ ​

    ​Changes to Developmental/Behavioral Assessment

    • ​Alcohol and Drug Use Assessment—Information regarding a recommended screening tool (CRAFFT) was added.
    • Depression Screening—Screening for depression at ages 11 through 21 has been added, along with suggested screening tools. 
    Changes to Procedures
  • How can I arrange for a presentation about Bright Futures for my state or my organization?

    ​Please complete our contact form to request assistance from the Bright Futures National Center. The BFNC, in conjunction with state departments of health, local AAP chapters, and Bright Futures leaders, has conducted numerous workshops to assist with the implementation of the Bright Futures approach. Visit the states and communities section of this Web site for examples of work to expand these efforts.

  • How can I receive Bright Futures highlights and news?

    ​​​​​​​​​You can find out about the latest Bright Futures developments by signing up​ to receive our eNews​​. Extensive information is always available at workshops at the annual AAP National Conference & Exhibition held each year in October and at exhibit booths at national meetings of pediatricians and other professionals who work with children and families.

  • Are there any Bright Futures Mobile apps?

    Yes. The Bright Futures VisitPlanner app for health care professionals helps pediatric professionals track their patients' health supervision needs and services. It contains previsit questionnaires and patient handouts to customize well-child visits and export reports for efficient use of time and documentation.

    The AAP Child Health Tracker gives families access to their children's health information and providers. It also provides AAP guidance consistent with Bright Futures Guidelines, 3rd Edition, on the vaccinations and milestones for each birthday. Also included are parent handouts and other tools for each health supervision visit.

  • Are any Bright Futures materials available in Spanish?
    ​​Yes. The following materials have been translated into Spanish:
  • Are any new Bright Futures materials being developed or updated?
    • The current edition of the Bright Futures Guidelines is being updated by leading experts in the field. The AAP will post a draft of the 4th Edition for public review and comment in 2015. Availability of the 4th Edition for public review will be announced on this Web site and sent to Bright Futures eNews subscribers. Publication of the 4th Edition of the Guidelines and Pocket Guide is anticipated in 2015.
    • The Bright Futures Tool and Resource Kit will be revised on the basis of the 4th Edition of the Guidelines.
    • Bright Futures EQIPP (Education in Quality Improvement for Pediatric Practice) is a Web-based educational program that enables clinicians to use quality improvement strategies to collect, analyze, and measure data over time and to tests small changes, using their patient data. Bright Futures EQIPP is being revised. However, many other available EQIPP courses address recommendations contained in the Bright Futures Guidelines such as Oral Health in Primary Care, Immunizations, and Newborn Screening. For more information, visit EQIPP at the AAP.

  • How do I get a license for the Bright Futures Toolkit and how can I integrate these tools into an Electronic Medical Record System?

    ​To incorporate forms into an Electronic Medical Record System or to make multiple copies of specific items, please contact aapsales@aap.org.

  • Where can I find the most current Pediatric Preventive Services Codes and information on what’s changed?

    ​The AAP provides coding Webinars, newsletters and fact sheets that outline the various codes for patient visits. View the Bright Future and Preventive Medicine Coding Fact Sheet. 

    Achieving Bright Futures, released in March 2014, includes coding information for all health supervision visits to help pediatric practices implement Bright Futures in clinical settings. This resource is designed to guide insurers, regulators, lawmakers, and other stakeholders on services recommended by Bright Futures and as required by the provision of the ACA. View this Webinar for more information.

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