What is Child Outreach?

Child Outreach is a free service sponsored by public school departments and the RI Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and offered through local school systems. Child Outreach is a screening program designed for ALL children between the ages of 3 and 5 years. Families receive information about their child’s development after their participation in the program. In addition, information about general child development and resources that are available within their community and the state of Rhode Island is offered.

 What Does Screening Involve?

First, your child will participate in a brief screening program conducted by trained personnel from the public school system. For most children, screening takes about 45 minutes to complete. It is a series of game-like activities that check development in the following four areas:

1. Vision – Most school systems screen vision using an eye chart like the one you may have seen in your own Doctor’s office. Your child does not need to know the alphabet because the screening is designed for preschool children and uses symbols or pictures instead of letters. Each eye is checked individually and then both eyes are checked together. Some school systems use the services of an organization called Saving Sight of Rhode Island to screen vision. Saving Sight uses a camera called the MTI  Photoscreener  so that young children do not have to respond in any way.

2. Hearing – Hearing is screened using a piece of equipment, either an audiometer/tympanometer combination or an Otoacoustical Emission Test. Both instruments not only provide information about your child’s ability to hear in both ears, but also the possibility of middle ear fluid, the main cause of hearing difficulties in young children. Your child will find hearing screening with the otoacoustical emissions test is like having his/her temperature taken.  Again, no response is needed from the child. The equipment does it all.

3. Speech and Language – This area looks at how your child expresses himself and understands language. Your child will be asked to say several words so that articulation or pronunciation of sounds that are appropriate for his/her age can be checked.  The screener will also do some talking activities with your child to see how he puts words together to express himself, understands and uses words, and understands the language spoken to him.

 4. General Development – This part of the screening looks at your child’s development in a variety of areas; gross motor skills (the use of arms and legs for movement and coordination), fine motor skills (the use of eye/hand and finger coordination), language, memory, and pre-academic skills. Your child will be doing activities such as jumping, balancing, manipulating small objects, copying shapes, counting, etc.  

 

Second, you will be asked to complete simple questionnaires about your child’s development as observed at home in everyday activities, such as playing and interaction with others. It is important for Child Outreach to know any significant medical/health history, as well, such as if your child has had tubes inserted in his/her ears or sees a doctor regularly for any visual difficulties

 

Where and When Does Screening Take Place?

Public school systems provide ongoing screening throughout the school year (September to June). Some school systems provide screening during the summer months as well. Screening is offered in many sites: Early Care and Education Centers (such as private pre-schools, child care centers,  public pre-school programs, Head Start),  licensed family child care homes, and other places in the community such as libraries, churches, public school buildings,  recreation centers and Public Health Centers.

 

What Happens Next?

Screening results are reviewed by professionals from the school system. Because it takes some time to put all the information together, the results of the screening are sent to families in the mail.  Most children’s development progresses along a typical path for their age.  Some children may need to participate in rescreening or “second look” in one or more of the areas. Because young children often show differences in their physical well-being and social skills from day to day, it is sometimes necessary to take a second look in order to obtain a more accurate picture of their development. This does not mean that a problem exists. Several factors including sleepiness, crankiness, a cold, or an off-day can affect the screening results.  A rescreening gives your child another opportunity to do the same activity on a different day.

If after the rescreening, concerns emerge in any area of development, an Early Childhood professional from the school system will discuss with you some options and help you in accessing assistance.  In some cases, further evaluation is recommended.   When a developmental challenge or medical condition is recognized when  children are young, they can get the help they need early to reach their full potential and enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

 

What Happens to Screening Results?

The results of the screening are kept confidential, between families and the Child Outreach Program, unless families indicate in writing on the screening consent form that they would like the information shared with the pre-school program,  child’s Doctor,  child care or other service provider.

 

What if my child speaks and understands a language other than English?

Every effort is made by school districts to screen children and communicate with families in their dominant language.  If your child communicates best in a language other than English, make the Child Outreach Coordinator from your school district aware of this beforehand, so a translator or a bilingual screener can be made available.

 

What if my child does not attend an Early Care and Education Program?

Children do not have to attend programs to participate in screening. Families can call the Child Outreach Office of their local school department to schedule a screening for their child at any time and screening will be scheduled in a timely manner.

 

What if I have concerns about my child’s development?

If you have any concerns about your child’s development in any area, contact your local Child Outreach Coordinator as soon as possible to schedule a screening appointment. Families do not have to wait until the Child Outreach Program visits their child’s program for a screening to take place.

 

When Should My Child Participate in Screening?

Families are encouraged to have their child participate in screening annually, at 3, 4 and 5 years old.  Because the activities are based upon what is appropriate for your child’s age and experiences at the time of screening, each screening provides families with an up-to –date check on their child’s status in vision and hearing, and progress in developmental areas.

 

Should I Accompany My Child to Screening?

Families are always welcome to attend screening with their child.

 

Why Should I Participate?

Families have many questions about their child’s growth and development.  The Child Outreach Program can help you to understand how your child is doing in several areas (vision, hearing, speech/language, fine and gross motor skills, social/emotional skills, etc.) and can help you learn about ways you can continue to help your child grow and develop.