Abstract
Demystifying child development is a defining element of pediatric care, and pediatricians
have long appreciated the profound influences that families and communities have on
both child development and life course trajectories. Dramatic advances in the basic
sciences of development are beginning to reveal the biologic mechanisms underlying
well-established associations between a spectrum of childhood adversities and less
than optimal outcomes in health, education and economic productivity. Pediatricians
are well positioned to translate this new knowledge into both practice and policy,
but doing so will require unprecedented levels of collaboration with educators, social
service providers, and policy makers. Pediatricians might recognize the negative impact
of family-level adversities on child development, but developing an effective response
will likely require the engagement of community partners. By developing collaborative,
innovative ways to promote the safe, stable, and nurturing relationships that are
biologic prerequisites for health, academic success, and economic productivity, family-centered
pediatric medical homes will remain relevant in an era that increasingly values wellness
and population health.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 13, 2015
Accepted:
May 29,
2015
Received:
March 16,
2015
Footnotes
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
