Skip to main content

Developmental Screening Information

Baby PlayingThe Department of Health, Child Guidance Service entered into a partnership in 2008 to promote access to developmental/behavioral screening for young children. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) received a federal grant for funding from SAMHSA to transform the infrastructure of the mental health system in Oklahoma. With this grant money ODMHSAS directed funds to promote developmental screening in primary care settings. The Child Guidance Service supported this effort through an agreement with ODMHSAS to be a partner in this initiative. Other key partners in this effort included the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) and The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) Child Study Center.

Throughout the time of the initiative, validated developmental screening tools were purchased by ODMHSAS and distributed to primary care practices through staff provided by OSDH. The OHCA facilitated notification to Sooner Care primary care providers on the availability of these tools while the OUHSC Child Study Center was very instrumental in the design, development, and  evaluation of the implementation process of the developmental screening initiative. This initiative supported the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2006 Policy Recommendation that children receive periodic developmental screening during well child visits. Screening children in the primary care setting has been found to increase the likelihood of earlier identification of delays and linkages to local resources.  

Child Guidance and partners in this initiative continue to be committed to supporting the implementation of developmental screening in primary care by providing several informational resources and links as supplied on this web site.   

Child Guidance Service
Oklahoma State Dept. of Health
1000 NE 10th Street
Oklahoma City, Ok.  73117-1299
(405) 271-4477

PHB seal
Back to Top