family-to-family support) for the child and parent(s) and/or guardian(s) during pregnancy childbirth infancy childhood adolescence and young adulthood Providing and/or ensuring formal and informal support (e.g.Sharing honest and unbiased information with families on an ongoing basis and in ways they find useful and affirming.Ensuring flexibility in organizational policies procedures and provider practices so services can be tailored to the needs beliefs and cultural values of each child and family.Supporting and facilitating choice for the child and family about approaches to care and support.Recognizing and building on the strengths of each child and family even in difficult and challenging situations.Honoring racial ethnic cultural and socioeconomic diversity and its effect on the family’s experience and perception of care.Respecting each child and his or her family.» Pediatric Family-Centered Interventions and Practices (6) Communication and information sharing are open and objective.Everyone respects the skills and expertise brought to the relationship.As the child grows, s/he assumes a partnership role. Families and professionals work together in the best interest of the child and the family.Key to this partnership are the following principles: The foundation of family-centered care is the partnership between families and professionals. Develops policies, practices, and systems that are family-friendly and family-centered in all settings.Supports youth as they transition to adulthood.

Encourages family-to-family and peer support.

Promotes an individual and developmental approach.

Recognizes the importance of community-based services.

Honors cultural diversity and family traditions.

Supports the child in learning about and participating in his/her care and decision-making.

Acknowledges the family as the constant in a child’s life.

These concepts are important in measuring whether health care is high quality. The principles of family-centered care are now widely discussed in relation to both child and adult health care (where the ideas are referred to as “patient-centered care”). A definition and set of principles of family-centered care were created in 1995 by a team of family leaders and professionals under the guidance of MCHB. The concepts of “family-centered care” were first articulated by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs. » Principles of Family-Centered Care for children

During visits and in all forms of communication, strong family/professional partnerships ensure that a child/youth receives the highest quality of health care.

Health care visits for children youth and their families can be more than getting shots, having ears examined or getting treatment for the physical symptoms of an illness. Patient- and family-centered care is endorsed by the Institutes of Medicine (3) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (4), and is designated as a core component of a medical home by the American Academy of Pediatrics (5). Family-centered care improves the patient’s and family’s experience with health care, reduces stress, improves communication, reduces conflict (including lawsuits), and improves the health of children with chronic health conditions (1 2). It honors the strengths, cultures, traditions, and expertise that families and professionals bring to this relationship.

Family-centered care is a way of providing services that assures the health and well-being of children and their families through respectful family/professional partnerships.

Family focused care