Transforming Early Intervention Screening, Evaluation, Assessment, and Collaboration Practices: Increasing Eligibility for Children Impacted by Trauma

Abstract

In this program description, the authors describe outcomes of a 2-year project influencing programmatic changes to screening/assessment practices and increased collaboration with Child Welfare (CW) in an early intervention (EI) program. The EI professionals reviewed how they assessed children who have been abused/neglected. Based on their findings, they revised the eligibility process and assessment tools utilized. Objectives of the programmatic changes were to increase the number of children substantiated as abused/neglected to become eligible for EI services and improve identification of social emotional delays. A summary of overall outcomes is presented aling with implications for policy and practice.