Case Studies in Implementing the Essentials for Childhood Framework in Two States
Child maltreatment constitutes a significant public health issue, yet research shows it is preventable. Ensuring that children experience relationships and environments that are nurturing, safe, and stable is essential for optimal development. Community efforts to foster such conditions contribute to improved health outcomes, reduced expenditures, and decreased involvement in complex systems. The Essentials for Childhood (EfC) framework was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) using a public health approach to provide strategies and goals for communities to help children and families thrive. There are four identified goals within the framework, and while each is important in and of itself, when they are all implemented together, they are more likely to establish the conditions for strong supportive environments and nurturing relationships.
Grounded in the belief that safe, stable, and nurturing relationships are crucial to preventing childhood adversity and helping children reach their full potential, the Essentials for Childhood framework is designed for anyone working to promote child and family well-being.
Funding to support state implementation of the Essentials for Childhood framework began in 2013, aligning with the framework’s official launch. This financial support has continued, and in 2023, the CDC provided funding to twelve recipients to advance EfC-related initiatives. The initiatives are designed to prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Promote Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). The select states and tribes receiving this funding are referred to as “funded” states. Several states implement these efforts without funding from the CDC and are known as “self-supported” states.