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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Brianna Kopp, MPH¹, Debbykay Peterson, MS², and Penny Hatcher, MSN, DrPH¹. (1) MCH Section, Minnesota Department of Health, P.O. Box 64882, 85 E Seventh Place, Suite 500, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882, 651-281-9950, kopp0116@umn.edu, (2) Early Childhood Screening & Learning Readiness, Minnesota Department of Education, 1500 Highway 36 West, Roseville, MN 55113-4266

Despite availability of valid developmental screening instruments, many young children do not receive appropriate and timely screenings. Minnesota requires that children (3-5 years) receive a developmental screen through Early Childhood Screening (ECS) before entering public school. Head Start and Medicaid Early Periodic Screening (EPS) programs also require developmental screening. Providers in these programs raised concerns regarding the adequacy of developmental screening instruments and the lack of collaboration between screening providers.

The Minnesota Interagency Developmental Screening Task Force, convened in spring 2004, consisted of three state agencies (Departments of Education, Health, and Human Services) and the University of Minnesota, Irving B. Harris Center for Infant and Toddler Development. The purpose of the Task Force was two-fold: (1) to critically appraise developmental screening instruments; and, (2) to establish a list of instruments recommended for use in developmental screening programs statewide.

Information on screening instruments was gathered from several sources, including technical manuals and literature reviews. The Task Force established review criteria and evaluated each screening instrument based on its: purpose, developmental domains, reliability/validity, sensitivity/specificity, and practicality.

Twelve instruments met the review criteria and were recommended for use in Minnesota's developmental screening programs. A website was created to provide information on these instruments and a series of web-based education modules and training workshops were developed. The recommendations made by the Task Force reinforce best-practice in developmental screening statewide, while allowing flexibility in the selection of instruments based on individual needs of schools and communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss strategies to enhance developmental screening of young children statewide.
• Identify criteria and processes for recommending developmental screening instruments.

Keywords: Screening Instruments, Child Health

Related Web page: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/mch/devscrn/index.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation