Published online April 1, 2005
PEDIATRICS Vol. 115 No. 4 April 2005, pp. 1185-1187 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2825Q)
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SUPPLEMENT ARTICLE

Building Healthier Communities for Children and Families: Applying Asset-Based Community Development to Community Pediatrics

Richard J. Pan, MD, MPH*,{ddagger}, Diane Littlefield, MPH*, Sara G. Valladolid, MD*,{ddagger}, Peggy J. Tapping*,§ and Daniel C. West, MD*,{ddagger}

* Communities and Physicians Together, Sacramento, California
{ddagger} Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California
§ Sacramento Engaging Neighborhood Resources for Improving Children's Health, Education, and Safety, Sacramento, California

Social capital is the power of social networks and relationships, which constitute the social environment. Social capital has been associated with many measures of health and development. Asset-based community development (ABCD) provides a framework to increase social capital and build stronger, healthier communities for children. ABCD is a strength-based approach to community building that emphasizes bringing together community assets including individual community members, voluntary associations, and institutions. How pediatricians can apply ABCD to child health is described.

Key Words: social environment • health promotion • community medicine • pediatrics • medical education

Abbreviations: ABCD, asset-based community development

Accepted Dec 22, 2004.