Ensuring Young Children Identified on Developmental Screening Receive Follow-Up: Lessons From A Community-Based Approach Engaging Primary Care, Early Intervention, and Early Learning System Providers

Abstract

States across the country have made improving the proportion of children who receive developmental screening in the first three years of life a priority. While critical, screening itself does not address the risks identified. Addressing the pathways that connect children from screening to services is complicated, as it involves connecting systems that are traditionally in siloes, including Primary Care, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Early Intervention (EI), Early Learning, Public Health, and others. A majority of children identified at-risk on developmental screening tools are not referred to follow-up service. Providers report they are unclear and unaware which children to refer …