The Child Welfare Information Gateway collected resources on an ecological framework for prevention is based on the following assumptions:

Children and families exist as part of an ecological system. This means that prevention strategies must target interventions at multiple levels: the individual, the family, the community, and society.

Primary responsibility for the development and well-being of children lies within the family, and all segments of society must support families as they raise their children.

Assuring the well-being of all families is the cornerstone of a healthy society and requires universal access to support programs and services.