Success after screening

Best practices for better follow-up

“When parents complete the ASQ, it’s like checking a child’s temperature,” explains Kimberly Murphy, a research assistant at the University of Oregon. Ms. Murphy coordinates several studies for the authors of ASQ-3™ and ASQ:SE and speaks often with parents.

She likens the ASQ to a thermometer, often the gauge that pushes a parent to seek medical consultation or not. “The screening is a first step that tells parents whether their child’s development is taking place on schedule for that age, or if it’s time to investigate further and seek professional help.”

Regardless of the child’s scores, it’s important to ask parents about their concerns.

Step 1: Determine the type of follow-up needed

After scoring a child’s ASQ-3 or ASQ:SE questionnaire, it’s time to assess the Information Summary sheet to determine whether the scores in each area are above, below, or close to the cutoff. The following general cutoff criteria give a framework for making referral decisions, but should be considered along with other factors, as well as your program’s established referral processes. Additional detail can be found in Chapter 6 of the ASQ-3 User’s Guide ASQ-3 User’s Guide and chapter 4 of the ASQ:SE User’s Guide ASQ:SE User’s Guide.

Cutoff criteria for the ASQ-3

• Scores close to the cutoff: This is the “monitoring zone.” You may want to rescreen at a shorter set interval (e.g., 1–2 months) or even refer if several of the child’s scores are in the lower end of this gray area, close to the cutoff. In all cases, suggest that parents engage in developmental learning activities Developmental Learning Activities that target the area(s) of concern.

Cutoff Criteria for the ASQ:SE

• Scores above the cutoff: The reverse of ASQ-3, scores above the cutoff in ASQ:SE indicate a problem. You may refer for diagnostic social-emotional or mental health assessment or provide parents with information and support and monitor the child through rescreening.
• Scores close to the cutoff: These scores may indicate a problem. Your program may want to designate your own “questionable” range and account for any substantial parental concerns. Possible actions may include referring for diagnostic social-emotional assessment or providing information, support, and continued monitoring.
• Scores below the cutoff: These indicate there is no problem. You may still want to rescreen over time and provide parents information and support if they need it. If you still have concerns, administering ASQ:SE with another caregiver or using a professionally administered tool may be appropriate.

What are some best practices for determining follow-up?

Regardless of which screening tool you use, here are a few basic best practices that will help you make confident follow-up decisions. Of course, these are to be considered along with the recommended cutoff and referral criteria.

• Look at the big picture. Results are never “black and white.” It’s important to understand how the environment, development, health, and family/cultural factors may have influenced a child’s score. Big-picture consideration is very helpful when scores are near a cutoff point.
• Address all parent concerns. If a parent reports a concern during conversation or on the questionnaire—even if it isn’t reflected in the scores—take appropriate follow-up action, whether it be providing information or a referral. For guidance, see Table 6.3 from the ASQ-3 User’s Guide or page 45 in the ASQ:SE User’s Guide.

Step 2: Sharing Results with Parents

• Screen and rescreen: If a child is near a cutoff area, or you suspect outside factors affected a child’s score, rescreen in a few months to look for growth or changes before referring.

“A child who exhibits challenging behaviors may also have strong motor skills, talents in music or arts, or other unique interests such as dinosaurs or whales,” says Danielle Jennings, Ph.D., Florida’s State Coordinator for Inclusion and Developmental Screening. “Shift your focus to the whole child and highlight the child’s strengths and special qualities.”

Dr. Jennings is with the Florida Office of Early Learning. She’s also a researcher seeking to understand what factors in the screening process lead to completed referrals. Her office has established best practices for follow-up with families, which they share at professional conferences and with the 30 early learning coalitions that administer the state’s screening programs.

Dr. Jennings stresses that with every family discussion, even if the child’s scores don’t indicate a problem, it’s important to ask parents about their concerns. What have they or others noticed and what have they done about it?

“This approach is beneficial for all,” she explains. “It can reveal concerns that may not be reflected in scores, and it also allows you to align screening results with parents’ observations, which can make the discussion more productive and leads to an ongoing conversation about their expectations for their child’s overall development.”

What are some best practices for sharing results with parents?

Dr. Jennings offers additional tips that can be helpful across the board:

• Share results in person, by phone, or in writing (paper or email) in a family-friendly tone.
• Highlight child strengths first and then any areas of concern.
• Provide parents with ideas for games and activities to support their child’s needs and interests.
• Tell them when another screen will be administered.
• Review the purpose of screening.
• Expect questions even with typical results.

When we read advice on how to talk to parents about screening results, it’s easy to assume it mostly applies to children whose scores indicate a need for further monitoring or assessment. “That’s a big concern of mine,” says Ms. Murphy, “It’s important to remember that most parents—especially the ones who sought out screening on their own—are concerned about their children’s development. All families should be spoken to the same way, with interest, empathy and positivity.”

• Make them feel as part of the team.

Best Practices in Action

Take a peek at the Florida Office of Early Learning’s developmental screening process, and learn from their tried-and-true best practices.

While there are certainly best practices for discussing referrals, be sure that the parents are truly informing and directing the process. With your professional guidance, parents should decide what and when specific follow-up actions should be taken. Then you should adjust the type of assistance offered based on the family’s unique resources and needs.

“This is unlikely to be welcome news for parents,” says Dr. Jennings. “Many may even downplay the concerns.” She suggests being flexible if parents resist referral right off the bat. “Give them options,” she advises. “Perhaps rescreening in a few months will help validate the assessment and improve the chances that the parent follows through on the referral.”

“A lot of blogs and websites people find on their search for more info are written in ways that emphasize concerns, and the information may not be the most accurate or may not provide the appropriate context, such as a reference to the range of age in which a behavior is expected to appear,” says Ms. Murphy. “Participants in the online ASQ studies are offered resources from non-profit sites with information that is researched and written by professionals in a positive, educational tone specifically for parents.”

The ASQ user’s guides have a lot of guidance on how to work through the referral process. Dr. Jennings also shares a nice summary of her team’s approach to establishing trust and strengthening communication with parents:

• Find a private setting to talk with parents confidentially.
• Ask family about their concerns about their child.
• Review results using terms related to cutoff scores.
• Discuss influencing factors such as health, language, or environment.
• Explain that screening does not assess or diagnose their child.
• Provide specific, non-judgmental examples of the concerns noted.
• Provide information about referral services and options.
• Determine if parents will contact the referral or if they prefer you take the initiative.
• Emphasize parents’ skills and resources to work with their child.