What are Developmental Screenings?
- A developmental screening is a brief and simple process (sometimes a short test or questionnaire that you complete), that takes a closer look at how your child is developing and can tell if he or she is learning basic skills or if there are delays.
- The tools used for developmental screenings are formal questionnaires or checklists that ask about a child's development, including language, movement, thinking, behavior, and emotions. Developmental screenings can be done by a doctor, nurse, or other professionals in healthcare, community, and child care center or preschool/school settings.
- A developmental screening is a regular part of some of the well-child visits to health care professionals. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a developmental screening for all children during regular well-child visits at these ages: 9 months, 18 months and 24 or 30 months of age.
- As a parent/guardian, you must consent to allow for a developmental screening. It must be sensitive to your family and child's cultural and linguistic background.
- If you want to find out where to obtain a developmental screening outside your child's health care professional, contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency (CCR&R). They will connect you with a local Child and Family Connections (CFC) office, and will know if other community screenings are going on in your area.
Partners who work around developmental screenings initiatives:
- The Child Find Project by the Illinois State Board of Education, promotes developmental screenings in communities and records information about resources, public awareness materials, and data from screenings.
- The Illinois Learning Project through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Education website is another project funded by the Illinois State Board of Education and provides parent friendly information about reasons and explanations about developmental screenings.
- Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services promotes enrolled physicians to follow set guidelines for performing Developmental Screenings on infant/toddlers in their care. (KIDS provider's manual).
- The Illinois Department of Public Health provides information regarding Newborn screenings.
* Need help navigating this website? Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency (CCR&R).
