State Strategies that Support Effective Identification of Children At-Risk for Developmental Delay
In 2007, 19 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia came together to form the Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD) Screening Academy. They worked, with the support of NASHP, to improve identification of children with or at risk for or with developmental delays.
Screening Academy members worked to make both policy and practice changes to support the use of a standardized developmental screening tool as part of regular well-child care. This second in a series of state health policy briefings reports on their efforts to support practice change. Examination of their efforts found that these states used a variety of strategies to support practice change. While states vary in their approach, a consistent theme is collaboration between state agencies and primary care providers delivering preventive services.
Overall, members were more likely to use workshops (20 members), explanatory material such as brochures and posters (20 members), and in-office training (19 members) to support the adoption of validated screening tools in primary care.
The ABCD Screening Academy and this Briefing were supported by the Commonwealth Fund. This policy briefing is second in the series of Findings from the ABCD Screening Academy.
| State Strategies At Risk Children | 548.4 KB |
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
