Families
Screenings
The Early Learning Coalition (ELC) offers free hearing, vision, and developmental screenings to all School Readiness children between the ages of birth to five years old.
Hearing Screening Services
The ELC’s free hearing screen starts with placing a small probe into the child’s ears. The probe sends a sound into the ear and, if the ear is working properly, the ear produces a soft “echo”. The ear probe can hear this sound and displays a “pass” or “refer” result.
Vision Screening Services
The ELC’s free vision screen looks for common vision problems in children, such as near- and farsightedness, astigmatism, and unequal power between the eyes. To administer the screen, a handheld device is held at eye level and away from the child’s face. The Vision Screener can print the screening results for families to take with them to a vision doctor if referred.
To request a hearing or vision screening, email us at resources@elcbigbend.org.
Developmental Screening
The ELC’s free developmental questionnaire screens a child’s development in five areas: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social skills. In cases where a child needs help, the ELC creates an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) for the child’s care provider. The ILP provides the care provider with activities to promote development in the areas where the child scored low.
Need Help Filling Out the Questionnaire?
The Florida Division of Early Learning (DEL) has created a YouTube video that outlines how to complete the Developmental Screening Questionnaires. You can watch it by clicking here. Still have questions? Call to speak to an ECE Specialist: (850) 385-0504.
Screening Results
The ELC can immediately print results of all development, hearing, and vision screenings. If the screening results show any concerns, an Early Intervention Specialist assists the family and care provider with intervention services.
If you have trouble accessing or understanding the results, DEL has created a YouTube video that outlines how to view screening results in the Family Portal.
Ages and Stages Questionnaires, third edition (ASQ-3)
ELC offers ASQ-3 developmental screenings for children two months to five years of age to identify possible delays in a child’s development. We know how critical the first five years of life are; the sooner we identify a delay or disability, the sooner we can help connect children with needed services and supports. Law requires ELCs to complete ASQ screenings for children aged birth to five years who are currently enrolled in the School Readiness program. The ELCBB accepts ASQs for non-School Readiness children if the caregiver has consented to the screening by signing a Warm Line Permission Form (see Warm-Line Services at the bottom of this page).
ASQ-3 developmental screenings are completed on the child by the caregiver annually and address:
- Communication: addresses vocalizing, listening, and understanding
- Gross Motor: focuses on arm, body, and leg movements
- Fine Motor: focuses on hand and finger movements
- Problem Solving: focuses on learning and playing with toys
- Personal-Social: focuses on social play and self-help skills
Online ASQ Screening:
Ages and Stages Questionnaires® Social-Emotional, 2nd Edition (ASQ-SE2) (Highly Recommended)
The ASQ-SE2 is a screening tool that is designed to identify children 3-months through 66-months of age whose social-emotional development may require a further evaluation. An ASQ-SE2 is completed when a concern has been expressed by either the caregiver or the child care provider. Simple to complete questionnaires are given to the child’s caregiver that address behaviors such as:
- Self-Regulation: ability to adjust to the environment
- Compliance: ability to follow rules and directions
- Affect: the ability to demonstrate own feelings
- Interaction with people: the ability to respond appropriately in a social situation
Online Screening:
- Ages & Stages Social-Emotional Questionnaire (English)
- Ages & Stages Social-Emotional Questionnaire (Spanish)
For more information, contact the ELC’s Early Care & Education team at resources@elcbigbend.org
Other Screening & Assessment Tools
Teaching Strategies GOLD
The Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region has adopted the Teaching Strategies GOLD® online assessment instrument. This assessment instrument enables educators to track a child’s developmental progression from birth to five years of age. The online instrument allows educators to document daily observations in its online system and link them to Teaching Strategies’ Objectives for Development & Learning.
The ELC maintains a yearly subscription with Teaching Strategies. Preschools that choose to use Teaching Strategies GOLD® under the ELC’s subscription receive:
- Free GOLD subscription for every child enrolled in the School Readiness program
- Free ongoing training for administrators and teachers
- Free ongoing technical assistance by phone, e-mail, and in-person
- 50% off subscription cost for children not enrolled in the School Readiness program
- Mentoring/Coaching for all teachers using the instrument
Learn more by visiting the Teaching Strategies website.
Interested in Going For the GOLD, email us at resources@elcbigbend.org.
Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders (children ages 9-18 months)
Warm-Line Services
Warm-Line services are available to any child aged birth to five years old in an early care and education setting. Children are not required to receive School Readiness or VPK services to be eligible. A permission form is required before any services can be provided to a particular child. All services provided by the Warm-Line are free of charge.
Forms for Warm-Line services:
For more information, please contact the ELC’s Early Care & Education team at resources@elcbigbend.org or (866) 973-9030.
