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Children and Youth Well-Being

While ensuring safety and permanency for children is critical in child welfare practice, the field is increasingly focusing on the importance of well-being and the interventions that promote the well-being of children and youth. If you would like to learn more about indicators and ways to improve child and youth well-being, use these resources.

21st Century Child Well-Being System
Casey Family Programs
Offers resources related to reforming the child welfare system into one that begins with valuing, investing in, and supporting families to help parents and children thrive. By addressing the needs of families before there is a crisis, the child welfare system can help reduce involvement with child protective services.

Child Well-Being
Rand Corporation
Provides resources and information on a variety of topics related to child well-being, including child abuse and neglect, trauma, access to social services, coping skills, and more.

Common Indicators of Social-Emotional Well-Being in Early Childhood
ChildTrends (2018)
Presents service providers with 130 common indicators of social-emotional well-being in early childhood, a social-ecological framework for prevention, and additional well-being resources such as worksheets.

Early Development & Well-Being
Zero to Three
Provides materials on bonding, healthy development, and other indicators of well-being for children ages three and under.

Key Indicators of a Child's Well-Being
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Children’s Bureau (2020)
Provides a definition of child well-being and reviews indicators of child well-being around physical health, safety, mental health, emotional development, education, learning, relationships, and social behavior.

Supporting Child, Caregiver, and Family Well-Being in Times of Crisis: Strategies to Promote Effective Virtual and Phone Engagement

Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway, Child Welfare Capacity Building Center for States
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 370KB)
Year Published
2020
This bulletin for child-serving professionals outside of child protective services discusses ways to support children and their caregivers and connect them with appropriate resources that may mitigate any risks for harm during crisis situations. This document is organized by the five protective factors that build on family strengths to foster child and youth well-being and development. Each section contains questions that professionals can address with parents/caregivers and with children/youth in the course of their work with families, with an emphasis on content appropriate for virtual visits.

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The webpages listed below act as a guide for where to find additional information on indicators of child and youth well-being. 

Assessment

  • Assessing Child Well-Being/Behavior
  • Screening and Assessing Child Mental Health

Safety & Security

  • Housing Services 
  • Transition to Adulthood and Independent Living

Behavioral/Emotional Functioning

  • Behavioral Health and Wellness Resources for Children and Families
  • Trauma-Informed Practice

Physical Health and Development

  • Health Services
  • Services to Child and Youth with Disabilities

Educational Stability

  • Education Services
  • Employment & Training Services

Relationships/Social Functioning

  • Helping Children and Families With Separation and Loss

Find more information about how to support overall child well-being by choosing a topic below.

  • Connecting Children and Youth in Out-of-Home Care to Services
  • Positive Youth Development
  • Services and Interventions for Youth

Spotlight On

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation

2021 Kids Count Data Book: State Trends in Child Well-Being

Annie E. Casey Foundation (2021)

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