This resource from the U.S. Center for the Study of Social Policy presents recommendations highlighting strategies for improving the delivery of developmental screening and early intervention for children who become known to state and local child welfare systems.
"Child welfare agencies that are responsible for ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children and youth have a critically important role to play in assuring that the young children they serve are appropriately screened for developmental delays and related concerns and effectively linked to necessary early intervention services and supports. This work must happen in partnership with other developmentally focused programs such as EI, Medicaid, Head Start, Early Head Start and child care. It demands capacity-building for both the child welfare workforce and other key stakeholders, as well as an approach that ensures that all children have equal opportunity to receive early care and intervention as needed. State and local child welfare agencies can and should implement policies and accountability procedures to ensure that children in need of developmental screening, assessment and early intervention receive these services. In doing so, child welfare systems will better promote healthy development and child well-being."
