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ECS - Developmental Screening
Developmental screening is a brief, simple procedure used to identify potential health or developmental problems in infants and young children who may need a health assessment, diagnostic assessment, or educational evaluation. Screening in early childhood supports children's readiness for kindergarten and promotes positive child health and developmental outcomes.
The developmental screening instruments described here are recommended by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for use in comprehensive screening programs for children in Minnesota and are approved by the Minnesota Department of Education for use in the Early Childhood Screening Program.
Below is information about the use of developmental screening instruments in Minnesota's comprehensive screening programs. This page also includes a brief overview of each recommended and approved developmental screening instrument, responses to frequently asked questions, and the review process used by the Interagency Developmental Screening Task Force.
The information contained on this page is reflective of the interagency partnership between the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Overview
The screening process:
• Provides an opportunity for young children and their families to access a wide variety of services and early childhood programs; and
• Promotes and supports parents’ understanding of their child’s health, development, and learning.
The developmental screening instruments described here are recommended by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for use in comprehensive screening programs for children in Minnesota. These screening programs include, but are not limited to:
• Child and Teen Checkups/EPSDT (DHS, MDH)
• Early Childhood Screening (MDE)
• Follow Along Program (MDH)
• Head Start (MDE)
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) endorses the recommendations made by the Minnesota Department of Health.
Developmental Screening Program Requirements
Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC)
Minnesota Department of Human Services, Minnesota Department of Health
C&TC is Minnesota’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program. EPSDT, a federal program, provides for the coverage of comprehensive and periodic health checkup services to all Medicaid enrolled children from birth to 21 years of age.
• Requirements: Developmental screening is a required component of an EPSDT screening. DHS strongly recommends, but does not require, that a recommended/approved instrument be used for developmental screening. Selecting an instrument from the recommended/approved list is considered to be best practice for a developmental screening provider.
Early Childhood Screening
Minnesota Department of Education
Early Childhood Health and Developmental Screening was created to assist parents and communities improve the educational readiness and health of all young children through the early detection of children’s health, development, and other factors that may interfere with a child’s learning and growth.
• Requirements: Participation in screening is required for children prior to public school entrance. Minnesota school districts are required to offer Early Childhood Screening to young children before kindergarten entrance, targeting children 3 to 4 years of age. A MDE-approved developmental screening instrument must be used by school districts to receive early childhood screening reimbursement.
Follow Along Program
Minnesota Department of Health
The Follow Along Program is a developmental screening program targeted at children ages birth to 36 months. Children who are identified are referred for further assessment and services.
• Requirements: The Ages and Stages Questionnaire and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional are the only screening instruments allowed for use in this program.
Head Start
Minnesota Department of Education
Head Start promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision for health, education, nutritional, social, and other services to low-income children and their families.
• Requirements: Within 90 days of enrollment in the Head Start program, all children are required to have an up-to-date, age appropriate preventive health care checkup. The screening must incorporate the requirements of the schedule used by the state’s EPSDT/C&TC Program. In addition, within 45 days of enrollment, agencies must perform or obtain linguistically and age-appropriate screening procedures to identify concerns regarding a child’s development, sensory (visual and auditory), behavior, motor, language, social, cognitive, perceptual, and emotional skills.
Developmental Screening Instruments
Click on developmental screening instruments for more information about the recommended/approved instruments for Minnesota's comprehensive screening programs.
Instruments at a Glance
Click on Instruments at a Glance to view a matrix of developmental screening instrument characteristics and use in Minnesota's comprehensive screening programs, including the Early Childhood Screening Program.
Screening Instrument Comparison Grid
Click here for grid comparing the screening instruments recommended/approved for screening programs in Minnesota for children ages 0-5 years. Instruments include direct observation, parent report and social emotional.
FAQs
Click on frequently asked questions for more information about developmental screening instruments and the use of various developmental screening instruments in Minnesota's comprehensive screening programs.
Screening Instrument Review Process
Click on review process for a brief overview of the developmental screening process used by the Interagency Developmental Screening Task Force.