Child Find, a good find
By Kathy Dunker
Child Find is a wonderful service provided by Douglas County. Part of the Early Childhood Education Program, Child Find’s goal is to identify any delays in children age birth to five years old. If delays are found, Child Find provides support to the child through any needed therapy. These services including the initial screening are free of charge to the families.
The most common concern that brings a family to Child Find is a question about their child’s speech. Often the child is late in talking or their speech is unclear. Sometimes, children have trouble with fine motor activities and, consequently, avoid the paper and pencil activities. Some children have a difficult time paying attention or have such a high activity level that parents worry about learning problems or hyperactivity. Even behavioral concerns such as hitting or biting can warrant a screening. All of these issues listed fall under the scope of Child Find’s expertise.
Each Child Find team includes professionals who evaluate the clarity of speech, the use and understanding of language, fine, gross and visual-motor skills, cognitive ability and behavior. A team member also reviews the child’s medical, health, and developmental history with the parents. Screenings are conducted in playrooms that are colorful, full of toys and very inviting to young children. Evaluators look at the child’s overall development to determine whether areas of developmental concern exist and if a need for formal evaluation is warranted. They assess cognitive, speech, language, fine motor and gross motor skills all through games and fun activities for the child. Children who show a significant risk for developmental delays may return for an evaluation.
If the child is found to need an evaluation, then the Child Find team takes a more in-depth look at the areas where the child is experiencing difficulty. The results from the evaluation are used to determine if the child will qualify for intervention services and to develop an appropriate service or educational plan. Services range from in-home therapy to group therapy to specialized pre-school.
If you have concerns about your young child’s development, get in touch with Child Find at 303-387-0800 or visit the Douglas County School District website at www.dcsdk12.org and click on the link for Early Childhood Education for more information or to schedule a screening.
