Bright Future's Children's Health Charter
Principles developed by advocates for children have been the foundation for initiatives to improve children's lives. Bright Futures participants have adopted these principles in order to guide their work and meet the unique needs of children and families in diverse communities across the country.
Every child deserves to be born well, to be physically fit, and to achieve
self-responsibility for good health habits.
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Every child and
adolescent deserves ready access to coordinated and comprehensive
preventive, health-promoting, therapeutic, and rehabilitative medical,
mental health, and dental care. Such care is best provided through a
continuing relationship with a primary health professional or team, and
ready access to secondary and tertiary levels of care.
•
Every child and
adolescent deserves a nurturing family and supportive relationships with
other significant persons who provide security, positive role models,
warmth, love and unconditional acceptance. A child's health begins with the
health of his parents.
•
Every child and
adolescent deserves to grow and develop in a physically and psychologically
safe home and school environment free of undue risk of injury, abuse,
violence, or exposure to environmental toxins.
•
Every child and
adolescent deserves satisfactory housing, good nutrition, a quality
education, an adequate family income, a supportive social network, and
access to community resources.
•
Every child
deserves quality child care when her parents are working outside the home.
•
Every child and
adolescent deserves the opportunity to develop ways to cope with stressful
life experiences.
•
Every child and
adolescent deserves the opportunity to be prepared for parenthood.
•
Every child and
adolescent deserves the opportunity to develop positive values and become a
responsible citizen in his community.
•
Every child and
adolescent deserves to experience joy, have high self-esteem, have friends,
acquire a sense of efficacy, and believe that she can succeed in life. She
should help the next generation develop the motivation and habits necessary
for similar achievement.