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
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
State | Outreach and Training Website |
Alaska | Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Infant Learning Program |
Arkansas | First Connections |
Colorado | Assuring Better Child Health & Development |
Connecticut | Ages & Stages United Way of Connecticut |
Florida | Florida Early Steps |
Idaho | Idaho Child Care Program |
Iowa | Iowa First Five Initiative |
Kansas | Help me Grow Kansas |
Louisiana | Louisiana Early Steps |
Maine | Maine Act Early |
New Hampshire | Early Intervention Information for Families |
New Jersey | New Jersey Health Early Intervention |
Oregon | Developmental Screening for Young Children Guidance Document |
South Carolina | Help Me Grow South Carolina |
South Dakota | South Dakota Family and Child Development |
Tennessee | Screening Your Child for Autism and Other Disorders |
Utah | Utah Baby Watch |
Virginia | Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia |
West Virginia | West Virginia HealthCheck |
National | Healthy 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.