Illinois Targets Developmental Screening as a Model for Coordinating Services

Illinois has a long history of engaging in efforts to ensure that all infants and toddlers have developmental and social emotional screenings and receive follow-up supports and services. In 2003, the Commonwealth Fund launched its second phase of the Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD II), a national initiative designed to assist states in improving the delivery of early childhood development services for low-income children and their families. Through this initiative, Illinois analyzed state Medicaid policy to identify policy changes that could promote better coordination, improve screening delivery, and connect families with services through referrals. Policy changes included adjustments to physician billing for screening during well-child visits, clarification of Part C early intervention eligibility for physicians, the use of both the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional (ASQ-SE) as valid and reliable tools for screening, and flexibility for physicians to screen the mother in order to identify perinatal depression. Ultimately, all changes were made administratively, and no legislation or state plan amendments were necessary. Illinois was also a recipient of an ABCD III grant in 2009, which allowed the state to continue its work to strengthen linkages across screening, referral, prevention, and treatment programs. A particular focus was improving the connection between early intervention and health care providers. This work continues to be expanded throughout the state, and additional progress has been made in sharing information through electronic transfer of information and more timely communication.

In Illinois Quality Rating and Improvement System, ExceleRate Illinois, a key element of a high-quality program is ensuring that children and families obtain screenings and referrals for services. To support programs in achieving this requirement, Illinois has developed a screening resource guide and sample agreements with early intervention and local education agencies. Universal and periodic developmental and social emotional screening is also at the center of a number of statewide strategic plans related to community systems, mental health, and health. All of these efforts advance the states goal of ensuring that a coordinated system exists so that all infants and toddlers and their families can have their needs identified and addressed early.

This description of Illinois’ work is highlighted in ZERO TO THREE’s publication A Place to Get Started: Innovation in Infant and Toddler State Policies.

Read the full brief at http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy

A provider resource is available here. (updated January 2015)

For more about ExceleRate, the Illinois Quality Rating website: http://www.excelerateillinois.com/