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Outreach and Training for Developmental Screening

Making developmental screening available to children requires that providers and families are familiar with screening tools, their use, and their value. Outreach and education are essential tools to ensure children receive appropriate screening and any indicated follow-up services. This page features examples of provider training resources and educational materials for families and caregivers.

Background

Outreach efforts for families and caregivers may include websites with information about child development, explanations of screening tools, and lists of resources for children with developmental delays. Provider training may be offered in-person in medical offices, through online toolkits, or through virtual seminars. These training sessions may meet requirements for continuing medical education credits or early intervention certifications. 

Visit the Office of the Administration for Children & Families’ Early Childhood Development Birth to Five: Watch Me Thrive! for research-informed developmental screening materials tailored for different audiences including families and providers. 

Resources are also available for multiple provider groups, such as behavioral health, early care and education, early intervention, home visiting, and primary care providers. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Learn the Signs Act Early offers additional resources about developmental milestones and training resources for early care and education providers.

For Providers

StateOutreach and Training Websites 
AlabamaResources & Tools for Alabama Pediatricians
ArkansasFirst Connections
ColoradoAssuring Better Child Health & Development
DelawareDelaware PEDS Online
District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia’s HealthCheck Training and Resource Center
FloridaFlorida Early Steps
Illinois

Illinois Care Coordination Provider Toolkit 

Illinois Health Care Provider Quick Resource Guide 

IowaIowa First Five Initiative
KansasHelp Me Grow Kansas
LouisianaLouisiana Early Steps
MarylandMaryland’s Early Care & Education Developmental Screening Program
MassachusettsBehavioral Health and Developmental Screening in Primary Care
MinnesotaDevelopmental and Social-Emotional Screening
New JerseyNew Jersey Health Early Intervention
North CarolinaNorth Carolina Assuring Better Child Health and Development
OklahomaOklahoma Health Care Authority Developmental Screening Initiative Resources
OregonDevelopmental Screening for Young Children Guidance Document
Rhode IslandChild Outreach Screening
TexasTexas Health Steps
VermontVermont Screening Provider’s Toolkit
VirginiaInfants and Toddlers Connection of Virginia
West VirginiaWest Virginia HealthCheck
WisconsinWisconsin Medical Home Initiative: Developmental Screening 

Notes

Georgia: All enrollees get an Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment

(EPSDT) manual and managed care organizations are required to educate providers.

Indiana: Managed care organizations do outreach to providers and members and follow up with members who have missed screens.

Montana: They do provider fairs (one in person, one online) for continuing medical education (CME).

Washington State: The Department of Children Youth and Families have a required online training through a separate portal.

For Families

StateOutreach and Training Website
AlaskaAlaska Department of Health and Social Services Infant Learning Program
ArkansasFirst Connections
ColoradoAssuring Better Child Health & Development
ConnecticutAges & Stages United Way of Connecticut
FloridaFlorida Early Steps
IdahoIdaho Child Care Program
IowaIowa First Five Initiative 
KansasHelp me Grow Kansas
LouisianaLouisiana Early Steps
MaineMaine Act Early 
New HampshireEarly Intervention Information for Families
New JerseyNew Jersey Health Early Intervention
OregonDevelopmental Screening for Young Children Guidance Document
South CarolinaHelp Me Grow South Carolina
South DakotaSouth Dakota Family and Child Development
TennesseeScreening Your Child for Autism and Other Disorders
UtahUtah Baby Watch
VirginiaInfant and Toddler Connection of Virginia
West VirginiaWest Virginia HealthCheck 
NationalHealthy Steps’ What’s Up: Age-Based Resources for Parents

Notes

Georgia: All enrollees get an EPSDT manual and managed care organizations are required to educate providers.

Hawaii: Managed care organizations do outreach to their members and the American Academy of Pediatrics provides information.

Indiana: Managed care organizations do outreach to providers and members and follow up with members who have missed screens.

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