The Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education have established a website to promote early health and developmental screenings for children.
The effort – Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! – offers a “range of resources to assist families of young children and their healthcare providers.
Early screenings check developmental progress and can uncover potential developmental delays. Any child or young adult who is under 21 and enrolled in Medicaid is eligible for such services under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment program.
Watch Me Thrive resources include:
- A list of research-based developmental screening tools appropriate for use across a wide range of settings;
- Guides on how to use the screeners for a variety of audiences, from early learning teachers to doctors, social workers, and families;
- Toolkits with resources and tip sheets;
- Guidance on finding help at the local level; and
- A screening passport that allows families to track a child’s screening history and results.
Click here to access the site.