Health Services: Developmental Screening

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Developmental Screening:

ELCPBC’s Developmental Screening department administers the age-appropriate developmental screenings for each child through their contracted child care providers on a semi-annual basis.  Providers are then responsible for communicating to parents/guardians in writing, the results of each screening conducted.  They believe that by identifying any developmental delays early on…parents and child care providers can work together to track a child’s progress and ensure any additional services are provided if necessary.  For additional details about the Developmental Screening Process, please review the  ELCPBC Developmental Screening Manual Click Here.

The  School Readiness program  requires that all children receiving School Readiness funds ranging in age from birth to five years-old be screened for their growth and development.  Because your child’s first five years of life are crucial for his/her development, they want to help provide the best start for your child.

If a concern exists, parents/guardians are given the opportunity to have their child receive a more  in-depth, FREE,  comprehensive evaluation  through a Healthy Beginnings referral to their community partner,  HomeSafe. Click Here for their website. For more information about Healthy Beginnings Referrals and/or other local community resources relating to Special Needs, visit  our  Early Intervention and Inclusion Department page. Click Here

To screen your child, please be sure to sign the Consent Form available on the Parent Documents & Forms page on their website. Click Here. Please consult with your child care provider if you have any questions or need assistance in completing the screenings.  Upon completion of the  ASQ-3  and  ASQ-SE2  questionnaires, please return them  with your Consent Form  to your child care provider. Providers are then responsible for submitting this information back to ELCPBC’s Developmental Screening department each month.

The Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County offers an  informational video on the ASQ-3  which discusses what the tool is, how to engage parents in completing the tool in a manner consistent with how and why it was developed. Click Here to watch the video. Click Here for their website.

Ages and Stages Questionnaires®, 3rd Edition (ASQ-3):

ELCPBC offers ASQ-3 developmental screenings  for children, 2-months to 5-years of age, to identify possible delays in a child’s development. Simple to complete questionnaires are given to the child’s parent/guardian every  six months that cover a wide range of skill areas including:

  • Communication  – addresses vocalizing, listening and understanding
  • Gross Motor  – focuses on arm, body and leg movements
  • Fine Motor  – focuses on hand and finger movements
  • Problem Solving  – addresses learning and playing with toys
  • Personal-Social  – focuses on social play and self-help skills

Ages and Stages Questionnaires®, Social-Emotional, 2nd Edition (ASQ-SE2):

An important area in a child’s development is the ability to regulate their emotions and manage their social interactions. The ASQ-SE2 is a screening tool which is designed to identify children 3-months through 66-months of age whose social-emotional development may require a further evaluation.

An ASQ-SE2 is completed when a concern has been expressed by either the parent or the child care provider. Simple to complete questionnaires are given to the child’s parent/guardian that address behaviors such as:

  • Self-Regulation  – ability to adjust to the environment
  • Compliance  – ability to follow rules and directions
  • Affect  – ability to demonstrate own feelings
  • Interaction with people  – ability to respond  appropriately in social situations

Written by: Maria Gutierrez, BSW Inclusion Manager Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County

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