Essentials for Childhood: Promoting Healthy Outcomes From Positive Experiences

Development of family environments in which children thrive

In January 2014, the Centers for Disease Control held a kickoff meeting to begin implementation of Essentials for Childhood: Steps to Creating Safe, Stable, Nurturing Relationships in the state of Georgia. Essentials is a strategy designed to promote the “development of family environments in which children thrive” with four stated goals to:

• Raise awareness and commitment to promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships and prevent child maltreatment.
• Use data to inform actions.
• Create the context for healthy children and families through norms changes and programs.
• Create the context for healthy children and families through policies.