Behavioral Observation and Screening (BOAS)

What are sound tools?

- reliable - valid - free of bias

How to do you Share Results with the Parents?

1. Prepare for the meeting. 2. Begin the meeting with a brief overview of the program's observation and screening processes. 3. Present a blank sample of the specific tool(s) that were used. 4.Present the child's results in writing. 5. Be an active listener while parents share their concerns and questions. 6. Keep the meeting positive. 7. Talk about the program's role. 8. Make an appropriate referral and provide information. If the parents display a strong emotion when results are shared, the best way to support them is to stay calm, focus on the facts, and be compassionate. Once you have shared the results: -Continue to provide individualized, developmentally appropriate care, -supply parents with information -participate in the child's invention team -be the parent's knowledgeable partner Be willing to share your expertise as long as you haved written parental consent.

What are the Early Signs of Abuse and Neglect/ Helping with abuse or neglect?

Abuse falls into three categories: Physical, sexual, and emotional. The signs of child abuse fall into two categories, Physical signs are observable in the appearance of a child Behavioral signs are observable in the way a child acts. Physical signs of a child abuse include bruises, welts, burns, wounds and other injuries. Behavioral signs include resist to go home, wariness of adults, strong startle response, depression poor memory, the child may be aggressive, or passive, seek attention indiscriminately, or withdraw from others. Child neglect is defined by Florida Law as failure to provide things necessary to sustain life, such as adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, hygiene, and supervision. Physical signs of neglect include untreated medical conditions (major to minor), inadequate clothing, consistent hunger, or poor hygiene. Behavioral signs include fatigue, disinterest, stealing food, inability to trust, self-destructive behaviors, poor self-control consistent absence or tardiness, or trying to take on adult responsibilities for other children. As a child care provider, it is your duty and your legal responsibility, according to chapter 39 of the Florida Statutes, to report any suspected case of child abuse or neglect. To help children who are victims of abuse or neglect by observing and screening them: -observe regularly for signs of abuse or neglect -WATCH for changes of behavior -Document professionally and immediately -be familiar with the Florida abuse hotline -provide appropriate support sessions Be aware that some developmental dalays and disiablities can MIMIC the signs of abuse and neglect.

What age should a child be screened?

According to, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be screened at 9,18, and 24, or 30 months; and more often if the child is at risk of developmental disability or delay screening are conducted to monitor a child's process of gaining skills,they may be completed more frequently answer questions and allows time for everyone to ask questions.

What should you do after you review the screening results?

After reviewing screening results, a child care professional may encourage the family to refer a child, report suspicions of abuse and neglect, or do neither of these.

What is Assessment?

Assessment is a process whereby an agency or organization gathers and reviews mulitiple sources of information about a child's suspected or confirmed developmental delay or disability and uses data to improve outcomes.

Why is observation and Screening important?

Child care professionals observe and screen children so they can facilitate the growth and development of EVERY CHILD in their program, detect early signs of developmental delay or disablity, and identify signs of child abuse or neglect.

Observation, Screening and At Risk Children

Childcare Professionals Do: Not Diagnose Identify and document Indicators Report them as required by law Observe and screen regularly Speak and write in ways that help them communicate with other professionals and with parents. This is especially important when the documentation they create may be used by another professional to arrive at a diagnosis for disability or begin an investigation for possible abuse or neglect. They: use people-first language use terms related to their profession and at-risk children expertly construct concisely-written sentences with care. Who is at RISK? According to the CDC, children who are at the highest risk for developmental disabilities tend to be male and living in POVERTY genetics and physical environment play a role in putting children at risk for a developmental delay or disability Children who are at risk of abuse or neglect tend to have parents who live in poverty, did not finish high school, abuse alcohol or other drugs, and/or do not have supportive relationships, be born prematurely, have chronic illness or disability, and or possess a characteristic identified by a parent as undesirable, live in communities that have high rates of poverty and violence and/or a cultural acceptance of abuse and neglect. .

How is Screening used?

During a screening Session, trained adults identify and measure specific skills and abilities as indicated by a screening instrument. Screening takes place recurrently using an instrument that is proven to be valid, accurate, and reliable. Family members are always involved in screening, sometimes as active participants. Like observation, screening hould take place in a natural enviroment and when he or she is at her best.

Observation

During an observation session, a trained adult monitors a child as he or she demonstrates identified skills or abilities within a developmental domain. Observation sessions should be performed by a familiar person in the child's natural environment at a time when he or she is at his or her best. in a quality program, results are carefully documented following set guidelines and written procedures.

Benefits of observation:

Facilitate curriculum development. Guide developmentally appropriate practice. Assist providing individualized care. Help share information with parents and others. Reveal signs of abuse and neglect.

What does child care professionals do?

Focused child care professionals dedicate themselves to observation or screening sessions, and give each child their full attention.

Involving Familes in the process

For screening to achieve its maximum benefit, family involvement is necessary. They provide the important document, such as permission to the screen, enrollment information, results of previous screenings, and health records. The role of families in the screening process is to: -Be fully aware of the screening program and understand its purpose. -Give written consent for their children to participate -Pursue the intervention services when they benefit the child -Participate in the observation and screening process appropriately. To guide families through its screening and observation process, a program should have written Policies and Procedures, A plan for orienting families to the process, a developmentally appropriate screening schedule for each child, a system for documenting parental permission to screen, a strategy for communicating results to the parents,knowledge about how and when to make referrals, and to who. Confidentiality!!!!

What are the Guidelines for Observers and Screeners and how are they used?

Four guidelines for observers and screeners of children: 1. Be informed 2. Be objective and accurate 3. Be honest and fair 4 Be focused The first guideline is to be informed. They: Review appropriate general developmental information Study the child's file Read the instructions for the observation or screening tool BEST PRACTICE #1: Review appropriate general information immediately prior to an observation or screening this includes: - Developmental domans and milestones -Information about the child's abilities and unique needs. Best Practice #2: Study the child's file. Look at: -Results of previous observation and screening sessions -Notes recorded by staff members -Samples of child's work Use DAP when observing and screening a child. Best Practice #3: Know how to use the observation or screening tool Before attempting to use it. Be sure to: -Read the instructions before the session begins -attend observation and screening training opportunities. -Keep up with changes in policy and procedures -Never interrupt a screening to read an instruction as a question about the tool. Objective, accurate child care professionals create documentation coworkers and other professionals can use to help children grow and develop their full potential. Guidelines 2 Best Practice #2: Set aside personal beliefs and consider only FACTS. Use DAP for each child, follow the LAW, and honor a professional code of ethics. Best Practice #3: Document all relevant information Best Practice #4: Ensure Documentaion is correct and complete. Guideline #3 The third guideline is, to be honest, and fair. They: -Document children's development over time -Observe or screen when children are at their best -Conduct sessions in the child's natural setting with familiar staff -Never observe or screen with the intent of confirming suspicion Best practice #1: Document Children's development over time. Best Practice #2: Observe and screen when children are at their best. Best Practice #3 : Conduct sessions in the child's natural setting with familar staff. Children are most likely to demonstrate their skills: -With a person they know -In a familar place -Using materials they seen before. Best Practice #4: Never observe or screen with the intent of confirming a suspicion of delay, disability, abuse of neglect. Instead, watch for developmental milestones, document them as instructed, take action required by their program's written policies and procedures

What is H.A.L.T?

H.A.L.T. Stands for -Hungry -Angry/Anxious -Lonesome -Tired

Benefits of Screening:

Identify specific areas of concern. Determine if further assessment or evaluation may be necessary. Provide a basis for referral. Empower parents with information to make decisions. Present a basis for necessary and ongoing communication with parents and others.

What is observation?

Is an ongoing process in which child care professionals recognize and document identifiable developmental milestones as they appear using tools such as checklists, anecdotal records, and running records.

What is screening?

Is an ongoing process in which child care professionals use specialized observation and documentation tools to identify, document, and monitor typical development or possible developmental delay.

What do they do?

Observation, screening, assessment, and evaluation are interrelated processes. Child care programs should support families by observing and screening children through and ongoing, systematic process.

What are the six developmental domains?

Physical Health. Motor Development. Cognitive Development & General Knowledge. Language & Communication. Approaches to Learning. Social & Emotional.

Observation and Screening

Provide an opportunity for communication between parents, staff, and child development specialists because they include written evidence of a child's grown and development over time.

What is quality screening and how is it used?

Quality screening instruments are easy to use. They should be able to read the materials in their primary language, use familiar materials quality screening instruments are accurate before it can be used they make sure to test it, Quality screening instruments are affordable, they are readily available they are also reliable. Quality screening have specific components they include - A record keeping system - Documents to record basic information -Scoring and interpretation guides They are endorsed by individuals, agencies, and organizations that are respected within the early education or early intervention communities. Quality screening instruments using technology should be user-friendly, meet accessibility requirements and fit program needs and complies with the requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Child care professionals select screening tools based on specific quality considerations to ensure they will meet the needs of the children, their families, and the program.

What is documented evidence?

Refers to a written Data collected by the programed example, there may be a file note stating when a child could stand on one foot.

What are the 3 A's?

Tell if a typical child is feeling well, look for all the three A'S of health: Appetite, Appearance, and Activity.

Why are observation and screening important?

The three main reasons child care programs observe and screen children are to foster growth and development in EVERY child, detect early signs of developmental delay or disability, and identify signs of abuse and neglect.

How do you Help Children with Disabilities?

To use observation and screening to help children with developmental delays or disabilities, child care professionals: -Observe and Screen regularly -Watch for signs and changes -document professionally over time, using a variety of methods -are familiar with Central Directory and Child find -refer when appropriate -provide appropriate support during sessions Child care providers have specific responsibilities under the Americans with the disabilities act (ADA), a federal law that prohibits discrimination of. people who are disabled. Specifically, they must: -Make reasonable modifications in policies, procedures, and practices -Remedy barriers to mobility and communication' -provide auxiliary aids and services necessary to communicate with children and disabilities. Offer to: -Share results of your observation and screening sessions -provide expertise related to the children's activities at the program - be on the child's intervention team

Who conducts?

Your role as a child care professional is: Observation, Screening, and Referral. In observation and screening processes, your main responsibility is to document the child's skills and abilities fairly, objectively, and accurately and work with families to refer children for futher assessment and evaluation. Remember, if data causes you to suspect child abuse or neglect, you must report it.

What is a developmental disability?

is a chronic condition that is diagnosed in childhood and substantially limits major life activities in adulthood and impacts a child's abilities to perform activities in one or more developmental domain.

What is Autism?

is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social impairments, diffculties and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior

What is a Checklist and what does it do?

is a list of skills and abilities to be observed. Use a checklist when the goal is to note the presence or absence of demonstrated skills and abilities. Conversations are word-for-word accounts of what children said while being interviewed by a provider., body language is also recorded.

What is an anecdotal record?

is a narrative account of the event written shortly after it occurred. It tells what a child did when he did it, and how he did it and what happened afterward.

What is Evaluation?

is a process that determines a child's eligliblity for federal, state, and local programs and services.

What is work sample?

is a product created by that becomes a documentation of the development of a skill an example is a photograph or a video of a child building a block tower, or a recording of one singing a song or telling a story, this allows others to observe children or their work for themselves.

What is a running record and what does it do?

is an account of what a child is doing as it is happening. They are also used to document how children are responding to their environment. For example, children's actions are recorded as they move between chosen activities. Use a running record to track a child's choice of activities or behaviors over a short period of time.

What is a rating scale and how is it used?

is used to measure behavior, skill, or ability based on a series of quality points.

What is a developmental delay?

occurs when a child does not display the skills and abilities typically seen in peers in the same age range. Delays can occur in the Language and communication and social and Emotional domains.

What is a Frequency Count and how is it used?

records how often a behavior happens. It can be used almost in any aspect of the programs that involve human behavior, whether it occurs in a child, a staff member, an entire classroom, a group of staff, or any of these combined. Use this method to identify behaviors to be encouraged and those which may need to be addressed or accommodated.

What is a time sample and what does it do?

records what activities a child chooses to do during a given time period, which is usually a half hour. when a child abandons one activity and begins another, the time is noted. Use this to document children's attention spans, social interactions, or see how equipment and materials meet their needs. Standardized tests are used to document a child's ability to compare and contrast, solve a problem, classify objects, and put things in sequential order, arrive at conclusions, other skills.

What is documentation?

refers to everything in a child's file then, documentation refers to records that help identify a child who may be at risk of maltreatment, delay, disability, or relay suspicion of child abuse or neglect.