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

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Abstract
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.