Maximizing the health and development of children and families in the U.S. is an urgent concern of the Administration for Children and Families. Making sure our youngest children are screened and given support as early as possible is a priority for the Departments of Health and Human Services and Education. They have partnered to launch the Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive program. It highlights the importance of general developmental and behavioral screening for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The initiative is geared toward teaching staff and experts in early care and education, including Head Start and Early Head Start; primary health care; child welfare, and mental health. Staff and experts learn to make sure all parents are aware of the importance of early screening and know where they can receive these services.

The initiative will bring the entire early childhood world together around common goals:

• Getting all children screened on a schedule
• Celebrating developmental milestones
• Promoting universal developmental and behavioral screening
• Identifying possible delays and challenges early
• Enhancing developmental supports

Launch materials include:

• A Compendium of Screening Measures for Young Children (pdf)
• A toolkit of informational resources and tip sheets
• Find Help Near You

Early identification of developmental delays is critical to providing children with services and support they need to thrive. As many as one in four are at risk for a social delay or developmental disability. Early identification allows communities to intervene earlier. It also leads to more effective and cheaper treatment during the preschool years rather than expensive special education services later. Studies have shown that intervention prior to kindergarten can have large academic, social, and economic benefits, including savings to society of $30,000 to $100,000 per child.

Follow this link to learn more about the Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive initiative.