Research supports the importance of promoting the well-being of children and families, which includes cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social functioning as well as physical health and development. The adverse effects of child abuse and neglect can span across a child's lifetime, but certain interventions can reduce the behavioral, social, and emotional impacts of maltreatment. Therefore, a focus on well-being should be integrated into all aspects of child welfare services.

The federally mandated Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) help States improve safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for children and families who receive services through the child welfare system. When well-being outcomes are met, families can better provide for their children and children receive appropriate services to meet their educational, physical, and mental health needs. 

If you’d like to learn more about the importance of well-being and discover interventions that promote the well-being of children and families, use these resources. The following materials also include tools for assessing and measuring well-being in practice.

• Parent and family well-being
• Children and youth well-being
• Community well-being
• Measuring and assessing well-being
• Concrete supports to promote well-being
• Supporting young people during times of uncertainty