# Screening Success Decisions Guide

#### A successful screening and monitoring program is supported by thorough and comprehensive planning.

#### Use this checklist to make sure you consider key questions as you plan your program.

## Key questions to answer

Who is the leader of your screening program? *Who will staff turn to with questions or issues?*

What staff will be involved in the screening program? What are their responsibilities? *Who will prepare the materials needed for screening? Who will score the screening tool? Who will share results with parents?*

What training will staff receive? *Will the screening program leader train staff? Will staff receive training from your local technical assistance providers?*

### Who will you screen?

*Will you screen all children in the 3-year-old class? Will you screen all children within the tri-county area? When will you not screen a child (e.g., if a child has an identified disability)?*

What screening tool will you use? *Will you use a developmental screening tool and a social-emotional screening tool?*

### When will you screen?

*Will you screen at a particular age, (e.g., 12 months), at a time of the year (e.g., September), or within a given time period after program entry (e.g., 90 days after program entry)?*

### How often will you screen?

*Will you screen infants and toddlers more frequently than older children?*

How will you administer the screening tool? *Will parents complete the screening tool electronically or on paper? Will providers also complete a questionnaire for the child?*

How will you manage the screening program? *Will you use an online management system to track upcoming screenings and store results? Will you create a tracking sheet?*

How will you introduce the screening program to parents? *Will you hold a parent information night? Will you send a letter home?*

What will you do if parents do not return the screening tool? *How will you follow up with parents?*

How will you share screening results with parents? *Will you discuss results in a face-to-face parent conference? Will you mail letters if the results are typical?*

How will you continue to support children’s healthy development in between screenings? *Will you create a bulletin board with developmental milestone information? Will you share learning activities with parents?*

What are your referral criteria? *Do the referral criteria differ for different ages? Are the referral criteria the same for girls and boys?*

### Where will you refer children?

*Are the referral agencies different for infants/toddlers and children older than 3 years of age? What community resources, such as parenting groups, exist for parents?*

How will you record screening results? *Will you enter results into an online management system? Will you file paper questionnaires or only the score sheet?*

Will you share results with health care providers or other community partners? *Will you share results electronically? Will you give parents a paper copy to share with other professionals?*

How will you evaluate the success of your program? *Will you solicit parent feedback on the screening program? Will you analyze screening completion rates and referral rates after a period of time?*