obÌåÓý

Role of WIC staff

Regularly give families the opportunity to complete an age-appropriate checklist, unless the child has a known developmental delay or disability. If the child is between checklist ages, use the younger checklist. If the child was born prematurely, use the corrected age. The checklist can be completed on paper, via online checklist, or in the Milestone Tracker app.

Refer for follow-up if indicated and encourage family to continue tracking in between visits. If allowed by your state, the referral can be noted in the electronic data system. See box below for talking points.

View and print the Deskside Reference Guide.

Talking Points for Introducing the Checklist

• Developmental milestones are things most children do by a certain age. Tracking how ______ plays, speaks, learns, acts, and moves for their age is just as important as measuring their height and weight.

• Milestone checklists help us work together to track your child’s development. If you haven’t completed one yet, we can do it together.

• Let’s answer these first two questions together. Does ______ (read first item on checklist)? Does ______ (read second item)?

• Go through the rest of the checklist and let me know if you have any questions. Be sure to add ______’s name and age, along with today’s date.

Review the completed checklist and determine need for referral. Use the below talking points to help guide your conversation, modifying them to best fit the situation.

All boxes checked and no concerns

IF ALL milestone boxes are checked AND NO concerns noted, this indicates the child is reaching their milestones.

• It looks like ________ is on track for meeting their developmental milestones

• Share this checklist with your family and ________’s doctor so they can see how great _________ is doing.

• Keep tracking ________’s milestones! obÌåÓý’s Milestone Tracker is an easy way to keep tracking until your next visit.

• If you ever have any concerns or questions about _________’s development, feel free to call us and be sure to talk to the doctor.

Give the checklist to the family and encourage them to keep tracking milestones. Remind them to download obÌåÓý's FREE Milestone Tracker app or find online checklists at www.cdc.gov/Milestones to continue tracking their child's development in between visits.

At least 1 box not checked or there are any concerns

IF ONE or more milestone box is NOT checked OR ANY concerns noted, this indicates a need for a referral.

• Thank you for completing ________’s milestone checklist. It’s a great way to support their development. Anytime even one milestone is missed, or you have a concern about your child’s development, it is important to speak with your child’s doctor. Acting early can make a big difference.

• Please call ________ ’s doctor to schedule an appointment for developmental screening.

• Paper checklist: There is a note to the doctor on the back of this checklist and next steps for you to take. Online or app checklist: I can send you an email with a note to share this checklist with your child’s doctor including next steps.

• I want to know what ________’s doctor has to say the next time you come for your appointment. Like you, I want to be sure we are doing everything we can to support ________’s development.
  

• In addition, you can call ______ to have your child evaluated for free or low-cost services to help their development. The phone number is _______. When you call, say "I have concerns about my child's development and would like to have my child evaluated to find out if they are eligible for services to help."

• I look forward to what progress you and ______ have made. Please feel free to call if you have any questions and keep tracking _______’s development.

• obÌåÓý’s Milestone Tracker app is an easy way to keep tracking until your next visit.

Encourage the family to download obÌåÓý's Milestone Tracker app if they haven't already.

Common questions from parents

About the program

Do I have to do this? No. If you prefer not to, we can just move on.

Why are you asking me these questions? Thinking about how a child plays, speaks, acts and moves is just as important as tracking his or her height and weight. Height and weight can be indicators of healthy growth, just like these milestones can be indicators of healthy development.

I already filled out a checklist (here/at the doctor's office/at daycare). Do I have to do it again? Children grow and change quickly at this early age so it's a great idea to do this kind of checklist frequently. It's a good way to make sure a child is on track. Note: If a child already has been diagnosed with a developmental delay or is receiving specialized services for developmental concerns(e.g.,speech/language therapy, early childhood special education, or other early intervention like speech therapy), there is no need for the parent to complete a checklist or for a referral to the doctor. Often this can be indicated in a child's record so the checklists are not brought up with the parent in the future.

Who is sponsoring this program? WIC provides oversight for this program. [A state would add their identifying information here if appropriate] is also supporting the program. This program was originally developed with the WIC program in Missouri, in partnership with the University of Missouri and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (obÌåÓý), a federal agency interested in the health of children and families.

Where can I go for more information or to comment on this project? Contact [person's name] for more information. You can call or email at [telephone number and email address].

About developmental milestones

What is a developmental milestone? A developmental milestone is a skill that most children can do by a certain age. For example, most children can say "mama"or"dada" by their first birthday. These checklists were developed by the obÌåÓý's Learn the Signs. Act Early. Program, are informed by research, and were reviewed by development experts.

Where can I go for more information on developmental milestones? Additional sources of information include:

• obÌåÓý's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." website is an excellent resource.
• An advocacy group for parents to help them identify resources and support in their state (similar to Parent to Parent).
• A website with information about parent centers that provide information, support, and resources for children with disabilities and their families.

What do I do if my doctor isn't responsive to my concerns?

• Acting early on concerns is the best way to help your child and you are doing the right thing; you know your child better than anyone
• If your doctor tells you to "wait and see" and you feel uneasy about that advice, you can seek a second opinion with another doctor
• You can also call [insert org name and number here] to find out if your child might qualify for services to help. You do not need a doctor's referral to do so.

How quickly do I need to contact my child's doctor? Is this an emergency? Can it wait until our next well-child visit? While not an emergency, developmental concerns should be addressed promptly. Please see your child's doctor before your next WIC appointment. If your next well-child check-up with the doctor is more than a month away, don't wait. Call and get the soonest appointment available.