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.
•
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.