A public health approach to enhancing safe and supportive family environments for children

Families are the mainstay of safety and support for children's positive development (Bowes, Watson, and Pearson, 2009). Although families can be the source of harm (e.g., from child abuse, neglect or exposure to domestic violence), they can also be the most important source of protection from harm for children when they provide a sense of security, foster self-esteem and respond appropriately to children's needs