106
Papers Topic - Developmental Screening
Session 2
P2.03 Learning From Families & Communities: Culturally Responsive Conversations About Child Development Presenting Author: Leslie Fox (USA) Affiliation: WestEd Co-Authors: Jamie Michaud, Jenine Schmidt Our paper details a 5 year project to enhance collaboration between United States Part C Early Intervention (EI) programs and community partners such as physicians, child welfare, and childcare providers. The purpose of this project is to increase the use of developmental screening tools and foster meaningful conversations with families about developmental concerns, emphasizing the rural, US military, and indigenous communities in Alabama, Montana, New Mexico, and Guam. our project strengthens early childhood cross-sector systems by gathering insights from families involved with EI, training community providers on consistent appropriate screening practices, and generating different ways to discuss concerns with families. Our findings show that the way professionals communicate about EI impacts families’ willingness to engage with EI services. Our paper proposes a four-part approach for meaningful conversations about child development and EI, focusing on perception, timing, relationships, and communication strategies. P2.04 Strengthening Child Find Systems: Addressing Gaps in Developmental Screening, Referral, and Follow-Up The project focuses on enhancing high-quality screening practices for timely identification of developmental concerns, identifying gaps in the referral system, utilizing data to inform decision-making, fostering meaningful family and community engagement, and promoting cross-sector collaboration. The presenter will share key strategies and resources that support the development of a sustainable child find system. Our project is centered around three demonstration sites in Connecticut —two urban and one rural—each addressing critical gaps in developmental screening, referrals to Early Intervention (EI), and follow-up with families when children are found ineligible for services. At one site, we identified gaps in developmental screening practices within childcare programs that lack standardized procedures. A second site has focused on challenges related to Pediatricians’ referrals to EI and the absence of consistent follow-up. The third site is currently in the strategic planning phase, with emerging data indicating a significant gap in identifying children who are not enrolled in any formal programs that support developmental monitoring. Each site has established targeted workgroups to address these specific gaps and includes a strong Parent-to-Parent component. Parent mentors are actively engaging families within their communities, promoting awareness about developmental screening and guiding them through the next steps when concerns arise. Additionally, we have identified a critical statewide systems gap: the lack of a centralized access point for referrals to Early Intervention, which hinders timely identification and support for children with developmental concerns. P2.05 Why is Early Identification Still So Hard When We All Agree on the Importance of Intervening Early? Presenting Author: Margaret Gillis (USA) Affiliation: SRI International Co-Authors: Howard Morrison, Mary Lee Porterfield Through Cross-Sector Collaboration Presenting Author: Bethanne Vergean (USA) Affiliation: University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Despite widespread agreement on the importance of early intervention (EI), states fall short of targets of children served, families report challenges accessing EI, and many children who would benefit from EI are missing from EI programs. This paper considers the many factors that create challenges for early identification, including lack of understanding and misconceptions about EI; insufficient outreach to find potentially eligible children, particularly those who are part of minoritized groups or who do not have a medical home; and inequities throughout the identification and enrollment process. We also discuss opportunities to enhance community networks to promote outreach to support early identification and considerations for ensuring EI is responsive to all families.
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