Why Screen?

“Birth to five early childhood education for disadvantaged children is a cost efficient and effective investment in preventing downstream problems in education, health, social and economic productivity that place large burdens on local, state, and national budgets as well as weaken global competitiveness and security. A large body of economic, health and social science data makes it clear that early childhood education is more than a social imperative: It is an economic one that has far reaching implications for our nation.”
- James Heckman, www.heckmanequation.org, letter submitted to National Commission of Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (September 2010)

“Even the best pediatric practices cannot possibly expect to be able to meet all of the needs of children and families that must be met for children to reach their optimal health and developmental potential. Pediatricians must make effective use of the of all the resources in their communities that can help serve their patients."
- Edward M. Schor, MD, Pediatrics (Volume 114, No. 1 July 2004, pp. 210-216)

Ensuring that all children are screened using a Standardized Developmental Screening Tool at least three times before they turn three years old is an important way communities can strengthen local efforts to provide quality early care and education. Important ways communities can help initiate and sustain standardized developmental screening:

Organize and bring a wide range of stakeholders to the table so that implementing a standardized developmental screening program can be launched in a cohesive way that capitalizes on what is already being done.
Sponsor trainings on “How to get Started” and how to use standardized developmental screening tools and child development.
Provide outreach and technical assistance to health care practices and child care centers that want to implement a Standardized Developmental Screening Tool.
Champion strong “referral” and “closing the loop” activities in the community to be sure families and children are successfully connected with services they need and are entitled to.
Facilitate and strengthen relationships between community, health care and referral partners.
Ensure that families and children not found “eligible” in the screening process, but who are still in need of support are successfully connected with other valuable family assistance programs.
Assist in making sure that multiple screening programs in communities are cohesive and that screening results are always shared with pediatric primary health care providers.
Help shape policy and inform policy debates on the economic and social impact of quality local early childhood programs.