Before You Begin - Ages and Stages
Before You Begin
The planning phase lays the critical groundwork for a successful screening and monitoring program. Navigating these important first steps with a great collaborative team can help you sidestep common challenges when your system is up and running.
On this page, you’ll find resources to guide you through the planning phase, from determining your goals to choosing the screener that’s right for you.
Start your screening program by answering key questions. What’s your target population? What are the major goals and objectives of your screening program? What resources do you have, and what will you need? How will you get parents, providers, and community partners on board? Here are some resources to help you ask the right questions and determine your answers.
Discover Screening Resources
Screening Success Decisions Guide
Planning your screening program
Connecting Data Across Systems
Screening Tool Completion Methods
How They Did It
Alaska and ASQ Online: A case study
See the beginning of this story to learn how Alaska started their mission to strengthen their screening efforts, from choosing ASQ to devising an implementation plan. See the “Growing and Strengthening” section of this case story to learn how they trained staff.
Growing Strong with ASQ Online: HMG Michigan’s Statewide Screening Successes
In the “Why HMG chose ASQ Online” section of this case story, you’ll learn how southeast Michigan set up their universal and integrated screening system.
Choosing a screener consistent with your goals and resources can feel like an overwhelming task. There are many factors to consider, including cost, compatibility with your existing services, logistics of administration and scoring, and extent of parental involvement. Here, you’ll find helpful resources on selecting the screening tool that’s right for your program.
Discover Screening Resources
Birth to 5: Compendium of screening measures for young children
Why Parent Report?
Considerations When Selecting a Screening Tool
AAP Screening Tool Finder
How They Did It
LACOE Head Start
Many factors go into choosing the right screening tool. Here, the LACOE Head Start preschool program shares eight reasons why they chose ASQ.
After you choose your screener, you’ll want to set some guidelines. Determine your administration methods, figure out how often you’ll screen, and select your criteria for referrals. Here are a few practical resources to get you started.