What to Expect and When to Seek Help

The What to Expect & When to Seek Help: Bright Futures Developmental Tools for Families and Providers support the following principle: 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. Based on Bright Futures in Practice: Mental Health, the four developmental tools offer a framework for providers and families to begin a conversation together about how best to support healthy social and emotional development in children and teens. The tools gently encourage families who have any questions or concerns about their child's development to "check it out" – and offer a number of tips for when, where, and how to seek help through local, State, or national resources.