Evidence Tools
MCHbest. NPM 6: Developmental Screening

Strategy. Home Visiting Programs

Approach. Utilize Home Visiting/Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) programs to provide the Ages and Stages Developmental Screening tool to clients.

Return to main MCHbest page >>

Overview. There is growing evidence that using home visiting sessions to encourage parents to use the Ages and Stages tool may increase developmental screening rates. While there are limited number of studies that examine this intervention, it appears to be effective in this setting.^1,2

Evidence. Moderate Evidence. Programs based on this strategy are likely to work, but further research is needed to confirm effects. This strategy has been tested more than once and results trend positive overall. Access the peer-reviewed evidence through the MCH Digital Library. (Read more about understanding evidence ratings).

Target Audience. Parents/Caregivers.

Outcome. Receipt of developmental screening using a parent-completed screening tool. For detailed outcomes related to each study supporting this strategy, click on the peer-reviewed evidence link above and read the "Intervention Results" for each study.

Examples from the Field. Access descriptions of ESMs that use this strategy directly or intervention components that align with this strategy. You can use these ESMs to see how other Title V agencies are addressing the NPM.

Healthy Families Oregon is a free family support and parent education home visiting program that focuses on strengthening the parent-child relationship. Home visitors support parents in establishing and building a nurturing, positive relationship at each visit. An assessment of the program found that 93.8% of the children of the mothers assigned to the Healthy Families program received developmental screenings, compared to 86.5% of the control group.³

The Role of Title V. Title V agencies can support developmental screening via home visiting programs through a number of approaches:

• Support MIECHV and other state home visiting programs to provide developmental screening using the Ages and Stages Developmental Screening tool.
• Implement a Medicaid/CHIP reimbursement claim code for developmental screening activities at the provider level.
• Educate parents and caregivers about the utilization and importance of developmental screening tools.

Sample ESMs. Using the approach “Utilize Home Visiting/MIECHV programs to provide Ages and Stages Developmental Screening tool with clients,” here are sample ESMs you can use as a model for your own measures using the Results-Based Accountability framework (for suggestions on how to develop programs to support this strategy, see The Role of Title V in Adapting Strategies):

Note. When looking at your ESMs, SPMs, or other strategies: (1) move from measuring quantity to quality; (2) move from measuring effort to effect; (3) Quadrant 1 strategies should be used sparingly, when no other data exists; and (4) the most effective measurement combines strategies in all levels, with most in Quadrants 2 and 4.

Learn More. Read how to create stronger ESMs and how to measure ESM impact more meaningfully through Results-Based Accountability.

References:

^1,3 Green B, Tarte JM, Harrison PM, Nygren M, Sanders M. Results from a randomized trial of the Healthy Families Oregon accredited statewide program: early program impacts on parenting. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2014;44:288-298.

² Garcia S, Brown E, Strobino D, & Minokovitz C. National Performance Measure 6 Developmental Screening Evidence Review. Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health Programs. 2018. Women's and Children's Health Policy Center, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.