Strategies for Linking Up With Developmental Services
<p>Many young children are not identified with developmental problems until they enter school or, worse, until they demonstrate failure in the classroom. Studies show that most clinicians are missing opportunities to detect developmental problems, counsel parents about developmental issues, or link children to community-based services and support.<br><br>Two new reports available from The Commonwealth Fund explore strategies for improving the delivery of developmental services to children in their first three years of life.<ul><li><a href="/cnlib/pub/enews_clickthrough.htm?enews_item_id=25962&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecmwf%2Eorg%2Fpublications%2Fpublications%5Fshow%2Ehtm%3Fdoc%5Fid%3D430649%26%23doc430649">Beyond Referral: Pediatric Care Linkages to Improve Developmental Health</a>. <em>Amy Fine and Rochelle Mayer, Georgetown University.</em> Fund-supported researchers from Georgetown University have conducted the first study of how pediatric practices link young children and their families to community-based developmental services and support. Encompassing developmental, behavioral, and psychosocial health, the report describes promising strategies undertaken by a wide range of primary care practices from around the country, as well as by community and statewide programs that help providers identify children with developmental needs and link them to appropriate services. The authors also provide seven recommendations for enhancing developmental care linkages, along with "next steps" for implementation.</li><li><a href="/cnlib/pub/enews_clickthrough.htm?enews_item_id=25963&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecmwf%2Eorg%2Fpublications%2Fpublications%5Fshow%2Ehtm%3Fdoc%5Fid%3D434687%26%23doc434687">State Policy Options to Improve Delivery of Child Development Services: Strategies from the Eight ABCD States</a>. <em>Neva Kaye and Jennifer May, NASHP; Melinda Abrams, The Commonwealth Fund.</em> This report provides states with practical guidance on how to improve policy to promote developmental services. The report focuses on strategies to improve coverage, reimbursement, and performance by physicians and others who provide developmental services to young children. Since 2000, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) and The Commonwealth Fund have conducted two state learning consortia dedicated to improving the delivery of developmental services to young children enrolled in Medicaid. The work of the eight states participating in the Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD) initiative has shown that state policies, especially Medicaid policies, can make a real difference in the quality of preventive and developmental services.<br><br>For additional research and to learn about the ABCD Screening Academy, visit the <a href="/topics/topics.htm?attrib_id=11993">Child Health and Development section</a> of the Fund's Web site.</p>
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletters/ealerts/2006/dec/strategies-for-linking-up-with-developmental-services