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SILVERTHORNE - Through early detection, children with development problems can be treated at a young age and be more prepared or caught up before they start school, officials said.
"The earlier the better," said Georgette Contos, Early Childhood Connections coordinator. "Seventy percent of children under 3 can be treated for the problem and have no problems after (that age)."
Currently, Child Find, which is a collaboration between Summit School District, Early Childhood Connections and public health, is taking appointments for a free development and growth screening Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Summit Education Center.
Parents should call to schedule a time if they have questions or concerns, a "gut feeling" or have heard concerns from a child care provider or pediatrician, Contos said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 17 percent of children have a development or behavioral disability and many are not being identified early. Less than 50 percent of these children are evaluated before staring school and by that time opportunities for treatment have been missed, the CDC said.
A team that includes a motor therapist, speech therapist, early childhood educator and public health nurses will take about a half hour to assess development at the screening. They will look at speech and language, motor abilities, vision and hearing, learning abilities and social-emotional development. A new camera that is able to detect six different vision disorders will be used and could help prevent future learning problems, Contos said.
"It's good to get these things early on," she added referring to vision and hearing.
At the end of the session, the team will discuss their findings and let parents know where the child is at and if they need further assessment. If that is the case and the child is under the age if 3 years, parents can set up a home visitation with Early Childhood Connections. They will also discuss resources in the county if the child needs some extra help in any area of development.
"We're so rich in resources here in Summit County," Contos said. "We can usually plug a child in to what they need."
Child Find holds screenings quarterly through the year. The next one will be in April.
Lory Pounder can be reached at (970) 668-4628, or at lpounder@summitdaily.com.
Child Find is offering a free screening to assess child growth and development in newborns to those 5 years of age. It will be held Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Summit Education Center, 465 Brian Ave. Anyone interested should call (970) 668-3011 to schedule an appointment.
"The earlier the better," said Georgette Contos, Early Childhood Connections coordinator. "Seventy percent of children under 3 can be treated for the problem and have no problems after (that age)."
Currently, Child Find, which is a collaboration between Summit School District, Early Childhood Connections and public health, is taking appointments for a free development and growth screening Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Summit Education Center.
Parents should call to schedule a time if they have questions or concerns, a "gut feeling" or have heard concerns from a child care provider or pediatrician, Contos said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 17 percent of children have a development or behavioral disability and many are not being identified early. Less than 50 percent of these children are evaluated before staring school and by that time opportunities for treatment have been missed, the CDC said.
A team that includes a motor therapist, speech therapist, early childhood educator and public health nurses will take about a half hour to assess development at the screening. They will look at speech and language, motor abilities, vision and hearing, learning abilities and social-emotional development. A new camera that is able to detect six different vision disorders will be used and could help prevent future learning problems, Contos said.
"It's good to get these things early on," she added referring to vision and hearing.
At the end of the session, the team will discuss their findings and let parents know where the child is at and if they need further assessment. If that is the case and the child is under the age if 3 years, parents can set up a home visitation with Early Childhood Connections. They will also discuss resources in the county if the child needs some extra help in any area of development.
"We're so rich in resources here in Summit County," Contos said. "We can usually plug a child in to what they need."
Child Find holds screenings quarterly through the year. The next one will be in April.
Lory Pounder can be reached at (970) 668-4628, or at lpounder@summitdaily.com.
Child Find is offering a free screening to assess child growth and development in newborns to those 5 years of age. It will be held Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Summit Education Center, 465 Brian Ave. Anyone interested should call (970) 668-3011 to schedule an appointment.
