Parents are the most important source of information about a child’s development. When there are concerns for a young child’s development, parents take the lead.
Steps in Screening and Evaluation
Parents are the most important source of information about a child’s development. Checking early development at well-child visits or using a parent-completed screening measure is a first step that helps families learn about early milestones and the skills to expect at each small age. Parents can be reassured that development is taking place on schedule and get answers for concerns. When there are concerns, parents take the lead in deciding any next steps such as further evaluation. Parent concerns and results of evaluation determine if early intervention services or therapies may be needed to support a child's development.
Check your child's development. Go to Oregon Screening Project Parents / primary caregivers of children ages 1 month to 6 years can check a child's development at no cost. The site does not ask for names or addresses. Parents fill out an Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) and receive a copy of their pdf with their child's results, and play & learning activities for their child's age. Early screening and support help children enter Kindergarten ready to learn.
Concerns About Development?
- 1. Get a screening Results show OK or if support may be needed.
- 2. Get Evaluation Call your early intervention provider if further evaluation is needed.
- 3. Service Plan If services are needed, discuss a plan that will work for your family.
- 4. Accept Services Child gets therapies or treatment to support early development.
Any parent, any time can call their early intervention provider if there are concerns about their child’s progress. Screening, Evaluation and Services, if needed, are no cost to all families. To find you local Oregon early intervention provider go to Providers by County.
All steps in the evaluation process are made with parent’s knowledge and signed consent.
- Parent or primary caregiver calls their Early Intervention Provider to schedule a screening or evaluation.
- Parent, together with child, meet with a specialist and answer questions about what a child can do and how a child interacts with people he or she knows. Child is screened or evaluated. Parent shares any concerns about their child’s health or progress. This takes place in the child’s home, at the child’s day care or at the early intervention provider’s office.
- The specialist reviews the results of the evaluation together with the parent or caregiver. When results show that a child needs services or therapies to support their progress, the specialist writes a plan for the services. This plan (Individual Family Service Plan or Individual Education Plan) is reviewed together with the parent. The parent can let the specialist know if family work schedules, transportation or other concerns should be considered.
- Parent accepts the services plan. The child’s schedule of services may include a special pre-K classroom, therapies such as speech or physical therapy, and activities to do at home. The specialist may also want to work with a child’s health care provider if there are medical or health concerns.
What if I have concerns but my child isn’t offered services?
Parents can...
- Ask to be put on a monitor schedule with their early intervention or health care provider.
- Ask for learning activities to do at home to support a child’s continued learning.
- Ask for referrals to community supports such as parenting groups or parent education, and other free or low cost clinics.
- Schedule another development checkup with their early intervention provider in 6 months.
Steps May Repeat in a Cycle – Follow-Up is Important
Early Development does not always take place evenly as a child grows. There may be dips in learning or progress between the ages of birth to school age for many reasons. Parents can re-check their child's development at any time during the ages of birth to 6 years.
- Sometimes a child needs support but services are not yet available.
- Sometimes a child gets services for a while when they are 1 month to 3 years old and then needs services again when they are 3 to 5 years old.
If there are concerns for a child but services are not offered at the time of evaluation, parents can ask to re-screen and evaluate again, 6 months later.
Parents can talk with their health care provider and ask about community supports to help them with their child's learning and needs. A child's day care provider or teacher may also be able to suggest community resources. Different resources may be needed as a child grows.
Parents take the lead. When a child is receiving services, parents can ask for an update on their child's progress. When the child is a little older, they can request another evaluation to see if new or different services are needed.
Do You Have Concerns? (PDF)
Learn more about what is available through Oregon’s Early Intervention services.
Follow-Up Guide (PDF)
Next steps after screening. What parents can do to support their child’s early learning needs.