Behavioral Observation and Screening Module 6: Referral Process and Resources.
referrals from child care providers should be made to the following organizations:
The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System (FDLRS) the Florida Office of Early Learning Child Care Resource & Referral Network (CCR&R) The local Child Find office
Federal agencies to keep in mind as you are helping children and families are:
The U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Department of Education Centers for Disease Control National Centers for Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) System the Center for Parent Information and Resources and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA).
Knowledge Check: Child Find screens children for developmental delays.
True
Knowledge Check: If parents express financial concerns, let them know there are services to assist them through the process.
True
Knowledge Check: Once you have shared the results of a screening with parents, continue to provide individualized, developmentally appropriate care.
True
Knowledge Check: Prepare for meetings to discuss observation and screening results with parents by gathering key documents and reflecting on how the information should be presented.
True
Knowledge Check: The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System (FDLRS) is a statewide organization that conducts free developmental screening, primarily for young children.
True
Knowledge Check: The Florida Office of Early Learning Child Care Resource & Referral Network (CCR&R) helps parents find child care that best meets their children's needs.
True
Look for websites that represent a well-known agency or organization, such as
a governmental agency, a not-for-profit, or a professional association.
The key in preparing for a meeting is to let parents know that a matter needs their attention without conveying
a sense of emergency
Explain to parents how IDEA can assist a child who qualifies for IDEA benefits by
adapting materials, equipment, and activities.
Key Point: As families move through the assessment or evaluation processes,
adjust the child's learning experiences as new information emerges, and be willing to share your expertise (as long as you have written parental consent).,
Key Point: Child care professionals rely on local, state, and federal agencies and professional organizations to help them
assist parents appropriately and responsibly.
Best Practice #2:
Begin the meeting with a brief overview.
Child care providers seeking information about specific disabilities could start with organizations such as the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
the Florida Office of Early Learning Child Care Resource & Referral Network (CCR&R) helps parents find
child care that best meets their children's needs
The U.S. Department of Education is a good source of information regarding
children with special needs and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
After emphasizing the child's current strengths and skills, the CCP should then explain areas in which the child might benefit from
classroom interventions or further assessment
The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System (FDLRS) is a statewide organization that also
conducts free developmental screening, primarily for young children
Once you have shared the results of a screening with parents, take the following steps:
continue to provide individualized, developmentally appropriate care; supply parents with information upon request; and participate in the child's intervention team, if asked.
It is very important you do not interfere with the
decision-making process of the parents as they decide how to act on the information you provided
Some parents will be worried about the anticipated cost of assessment, evaluation, and possible interventions. If they are
describe IDEA Parts B and C, letting them know that this Act ensures intervention services are provided at no charge to children who have a disability
The last thing a CCP should do when presenting the results in writing is relate their
desire and willingness to assist and collaborate with the parents in deciding how to proceed.
CCP can keep meetings positive by staying calm and focused. This helps the parents
do the same
The local Child Find office would be a good agency to contact for
free screening and evaluation for hearing, vision, speech, behavior, and general development.
During the meeting it is very important to share results
in writing
Clarify how the program can best participate by sharing
information and providing individualized care.
search the Internet for
information you need
Let the parents know that the key to obtaining good outcomes is for them to make
informed decisions about their child, and then take action
When presenting the blank sample, the CCP should Clarify that the instrument is not an
intelligence test, nor is it an assessment or evaluation tool
If parents ask what you think the results mean, keep the meeting positive and tell them that you are not
licensed or trained to assess or diagnose children
The last thing a CCP should do during a meeting is encourage the parents to
make the first call to the assessment provider
To be Prepared for the meeting, the CCP should review the
materials.
You can keep the meeting positive by using
objective terms and avoid subjective ones
The brief overview should include the program's
observation and screening processes.
During the brief overview, the CCP should Talk about when and how the program conducts
observation and screening sessions, and describe how the program uses the information to help children learn and grow.
CCP should Relate the program's relationship to organizations that
perform assessment and evaluation, and explain how the program provides vital information to them
CCP can keep the meeting positive by refusing to speculate on
possible diagnoses or outcomes.
During the brief overview, the CCP should Avoid the use of
professional terms used in child-serving professions.
If the parents want you to share information about their child with others, ask parents to sign a
release of information form. Check for understanding before continuing.
The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System (FDLRS), the Florida Office of Early Learning Child Care Resource & Referral Network (CCR&R), The local Child Find office and their websites can also be used to obtain
resources you can use to provide individualized care and follow developmentally appropriate practice. They can also provide information suitable for sharing with parents.
If you do not completely understand what was said, or if you feel a person needs encouragement to continue, an active listener asks
respectful questions.
CCP can prepare for meetings by:
schedule a specific time to discuss results with parents when they are not dropping off or picking up their children.
If parents react emotionally when you share observation or screening results, remember to keep it positive by reminding them this is an opportunity to
share information that strengthens a family's abilities to help their child grow and develop to their fullest potential.
Key Point: If 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.
When presenting the child's results in writing, the CCP should emphasize the child's current
strengths and skills
Key Point: When the results of screening and observation sessions suggest a referral for assessment or evaluation might benefit a child, the program's role is to
supply appropriate information, resources, and support to the child's family while continuing to provide individualized care.
When the results of screening and observation sessions suggest assessment or evaluation might benefit the child, meet with
the child's parents
The CCP should assemble a packet of all the information the parents need. It should consist of:
the date of the screening, type of screen, name of the person who administered the screening, and results of the screening
If they ask you to make assessment arrangements, explain the benefits of
the family in seeking services themselves, but assure them that you are there to support them through this process
key documents to gather would include:
the screening instruments with results, a copy of the parents' written permission to screen their child, referral information, and parental support materials, to reference as needed during the meeting.
During the brief overview, first, define
the terms observation and screening, and state that these are routine processes in quality programs
When presenting the blank sample of the specific tool(s) that were used, the CCP should Explain
the tool, the skill areas it addressed, and its scoring system
During the brief overview, the CCP should Respond to questions as
they occur.
To keep the meeting positive, focus on what you know is ,
true, according to the results
When changing the topic of conversation or moving into a more complex discussion of it, an active listener checks for
understanding.
Active listeners Watch facial expressions and non-verbal responses for clues about
unstated thoughts or to gain a deeper understanding of what is being said.
When presenting the child's results in writing, the CCP should tell parents that the results of screening tools used by only one screener cannot be
used to determine the status of a child's development.
When presenting the blank sample, the CCP should Describe when and how the tool was
used with the child
To be prepared for the meeting, the CCP should Reflect on
what you need to say and the best way to say it.
Being an active listener means
Listening while parents share their concerns and questions. Listen very closely to what parents say and think before responding. Ensure everyone has a chance to speak without interruption.
Best Practice #8:
Make an appropriate referral and provide information.
Activity: Make a Referral?: You are screening a 14-month-old child for the first time, and despite your coaxing, he crawls to you instead of walking.
Neither encourage family to refer or report suspicion to the Child Abuse Hotline
Best Practice #7:
Talk about the program's role.
Knowledge Check: Supply parents with observation and screening information and results only upon their request.
True
The U.S. Department of Justice is a good source of information regarding
both general and technical questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
meetings should be held where you can maintain
confidentiality.
Key Point: After reviewing screening results, a child care professional may
encourage the family to refer a child, report suspicions of abuse or neglect, or do neither of these.
The meeting should be
face-to-face
Tell parents you can't assess or diagnose children, but you can help them by
providing information, resources, and the program's support.
The brief overview should Explain some of the
reasons why the program observes and screens enrolled children.
avoiding negative terminology or words parents could perceive as adverse, such as
"fail," "abnormal," "atypical," and "test."
Results should be shared in the meeting
As soon as possible
Best Practice #5:
Be an active listener.
Activity: Make a Referral?: You are screening a 10-month-old child. You have conducted four screenings over the past three weeks. You find that the child does not engage in play.
Encourage family to refer
Activity: Make a Referral?: You are screening a six-month-old child who does not acknowledge your presence in any way.
Encourage family to refer
Knowledge Check: If a child has a diagnosed disability, determine what specific course of action the parents should take and encourage them to do so.
False
Knowledge Check: If a meeting with parents is going to result in a referral for an assessment, begin by showing them the screening information and apologizing for having to convey bad news.
False
Knowledge Check: It is inappropriate for a child care provider to actively participate in a child's Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) intervention team.
False
Knowledge Check: It is not necessary to present screening and observation results in writing, unless they result in a referral for assessment.
False
Knowledge Check: The Center for Parent Information and Resources does not assess or evaluate children for developmental delays.
False
Knowledge Check: The Florida Office of Early Learning Child Care Resource & Referral Network (CCR&R) screens and assesses children for developmental disabilities.
False
Knowledge Check: The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the best source of information on technical aspects of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
False
Knowledge Check: The U.S. Department of Justice is the best source of information regarding both general and technical questions about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
False
Reflect on how you can control your own emotions and maintain professionalism if parents demonstrate one of these emotions after hearing the results of a screening:
Fear/Doubt Denial Sadness Helplessness Anger
When you find information on the internet, ask yourself three questions before using it as a resource:
Is this information provided by an expert? Can this information be verified by another source? Is this the most current information available on this subject?
Best Practice #6:
Keep the meeting positive.
Best Practice #1:
Prepare carefully for the meeting.
Best Practice #3:
Present a blank sample of the specific tool or tools that were used.
Best Practice #4:
Present the child's results in writing.
Activity: Make a Referral?: You are screening a child who has multiple injuries in several stages of healing and who appears depressed and anxious.
Report suspicion to the Child Abuse Hotline
Activity: Make a Referral?: You are screening a four-year-old who tells you her mother hit her on the back. You look at the child's back and see a bruise.
Report suspicion to the Child Abuse Hotline
