Early Childhood: Child Find

School districts are mandated to locate, identify and evaluate children with disabilities within their attendance area. To assist in the this child find process, districts have developed "informed referral networks" consisting of physicians, birth to three programs, Head Start programs, child care programs, parents, public health, social services, and others in the community that come in contact with young children. This community network refers children who may have exceptional educational needs (EENs).

With the development of informed referral networks, districts are moving away from the traditional "kindergarten screening" to a more collaborative approach of screening that focus on an informal and proactive approach of developmental review. The Child Development Days (CDD) model developed in CESA 10 is an example of this new type of screening. CDD involves an interagency collaborative effort to provide parents with 1) educational information concerning normal child growth and development; 2) an awareness of community resources; and 3) an opportunity for their child age 2 to 4 to participate in a developmental screening. Members of the informed referral network collaborate to implement the model. Parents are sent a Child Development Review to complete prior to the developmental on-site screening. As children are screened through the process of an observation during play, parents remain in the same room and converse about normal child growth and development with the program staff. In addition to the observation and vision and hearing screening, the parent has the opportunity to talk to psychologists, counselors or early childhood educators concerning the current status of the child's development. Following the interview process, parents and children are able to learn more about resources available in the community.

School districts which have trained and supported their referral sources with ongoing and up to date information regarding eligibility criteria find that the frequent communications with these community contacts facilitate more peripheral interventions. CESA 6 has compiled a guide of strategies for districts interested in this type of screening.

Wisconsin Resources

• Informed Referral Network in Wisconsin Communities is a guide and website developed by CESA 6. Topics include: the informed referral network, collaborative connections, public awareness, legal and ethical issues, inventory of child find and screening resources. Go to the website or contact Barbara Behlen, CESA 6, P.O. Box 2568, Oshkosh, WI 54903.

• Child Development Days Model: For further information or to purchase a resource guide contact, Arlene Wright, CESA 10, 725 West Park Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729, (715) 723-0341.

For questions about this information, contact Jill A. Haglund (608) 267-9625

Last updated on 2/25/2008 9:07:47 AM