Baby face qualitative Evaluation

Early identification of developmental delays 
The program plays a significant role in identifying potential developmental delays, as mentioned 
by 19 parent educators and eight supervisors. Identification of developmental delays and physical 
or mental disabilities was largely a result of the health and development screenings being conducted 
as part of the program; but the increased awareness and knowledge parents had of developmental 
milestones and the presence of parent educators in the home on a regular basis also contributed 
to identifying potential delays.
If a potential delay was identified either through a formal screening or simply suspected by the 
parent or parent educator, parent educators took multiple approaches to work with the family. In 
some cases, parent educators provided recommendations on additional activities parents could do 
with the child. Other times, children were re-screened or referred to other resources. As several staff 
members mentioned, without this early identification, the developmental delay may not have 
been caught until the child entered kindergarten, at which point the delay would have been 
exacerbated.
The screenings play a big role in early intervention for things like hearing problems or if there are 
any vision problems, even social-emotional problems. All are very good at detecting for early 
intervention before the child gets to school. 
Just finding children who had some delays, they were red-flagged. Then having activities with the 
parents that they could do with their children. They were able to see the assessment themselves.
We can catch if there is a delay in a child. We can catch it early enough to be able to work on it. And if 
there are resources in the community, we can get them to help them with their child. 
I think the screenings pick up a lot of developmental delays. And then traumatic injuries. They are 
then able to intervene at a much younger age. Otherwise the screenings don’t begin until they are 
five years old. So it begins at a much younger age, and we are able to begin doing something 
about it. 

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