Overview
First Steps’ Early identification and Referral (EI&R) programs serve families with young children with suspected delays in development and coordinates public awareness for BabyNet services, acting as a local portal to connect families to community-based services they may need or desire to ensure the school readiness of their children.
- Provides early detection of developmental delays and health issues.
- Promotes services and activities that promote child development.
- Increases children’s school readiness and school success.
Components
- Screenings (developmental, vision, hearing) for children ages birth to 5 years with suspected delays in development.
- Referrals, based upon the screening results, to appropriate community resources. this could include the local BabyNet System Point of Entry office, the local school district, and/or support services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, and programs in libraries and other community resources.
- Parent information includes strategies to monitor growth and development.
Recent successes include:
- Screened 77 children using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire.
- Referred 58 families to community resources after screening indicated needs.