The Developmental Screening Initiative (DSI) New Mexico is a collaboration between the Center for Development and Disability and Envision New Mexico with input from many stakeholders across the state to promote best practices in developmental screening for children birth to five years of age. Dr. Sherri Alderman, developmental and behavioral pediatrician, is project director. The long term goal and mission of DSI is: To assure that no child reaches kindergarten with an undetected developmental condition.

The Initiative:

Develops promotional and training materials for standardized developmental screening,
Conducts community-based learning collaboratives targeting health care providers and the system of care for children within communities across New Mexico,
Utilizes Model for Improvement Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) training and on-going technical support for practice change that aligns with Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) goals
Promotes sustainable developmental screening practices, cross-agency community networking and earlier referral of children suspected of having developmental delays,
Reduces barriers impeding diagnosis of developmental delays and provides greater opportunities for earlier interventional services through learning collaboratives and on going support, and;
Advocates for policies that promote screening and earlier detection of developmental delays.

According to the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health, New Mexico has the 4th highest percent of children receiving a standardized screening for developmental or behavioral problems! Congratulations especially to everyone involved with the Developmental Screening Project.

Notable!

Sherri L. Alderman, MD, MPH, IMH-E, FAAP, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and Project Director of the Developmental Screening Initiative New Mexico (DSI), was recognized by New Mexico’s Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC), Parents Reaching Out (PRO), as their “Honored Partner of the Year” at the recent New Mexico Family Leadership Action Network (FLAN) meeting. The DSI in collaboration with PRO has developed the DSI Developmental Screening Booklet with information and tools that empower families for partnering with medical providers to advocate for the highest standard of care in developmental screening for their child. The booklet was unveiled at the FLAN conference April 3, 2009, with nearly 300 New Mexico families in attendance.

Research shows that:

70% of children with developmental delays or behavioral issues are not diagnosed until after entry into kindergarten
70-80% of such conditions can be identified by standardized developmental screening tools
TheAmerican Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children receive developmental screening using a standardized tool during their well child visits at 9, 18 and 30 months of age (July 2006 Pediatrics), and;
Only 30-40% of pediatricians use standardized developmental screening tools.

Background

The Early Childhood Action Network (ECAN), the Family Infant Toddler Interagency Coordinating Council, Envision New Mexico, Parents Reaching Out, New Mexico Pediatric Society and the Center for Development and Disability convened three different statewide forums between 2005 and 2006 to obtain information from critical early childhood stakeholder groups and families about what changes in policies, programs and practices are needed to ensure that no child reaches kindergarten with an undetected developmental condition. Funding from the Commonwealth Fund supported bringing expertise from the Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD) developmental screening project in North Carolina to New Mexico. The New Mexico Developmental Screening Initiative is an outgrowth of this work.

DSI creates the foundation for wide application of training and networking across disciplines throughout the system of care serving young children.

Educational Materials (Developmental Progress Clinical Posters)

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