Mental Health Manual GIM Revisions PY 15-16

Developmental Screening In close collaboration with all parents/legal guardians, the DA/CCP must annually administer the ASQ-3™ and ASQ:SE no earlier than 45 calendar days prior to and no later than 45 calendar days of the child’s start date. Once administered, the screening questionnaire is to be scored and the results and any follow-up plans discussed with the parents/legal guardians within 14 calendar days of the administration date.

Developmental Screening (cont.) All content area coordinators must track, monitor, and follow up on the ASQ-3 and/or ASQ:SE screening results are followed up within 14 calendar days of the date the needs are identified. When the ASQ-3 or ASQ: SE has been administered prior to the start of the program year, parents are to be provided with age appropriate developmental and social-emotional intervention activities (See ASQ User’s Guides), as a means of exposing their children to developmentally stimulating activities.

Developmental Screening (cont.) At a minimum, follow up is to include providing the child with developmentally stimulating activities at home and at school and re-screening the child, using a new ASQ form in its entirety within 60 calendar days of the initial administration date. Annual ASQ training is to be developed using the appropriate ASQ User’s Guide. Use the Greenspan Social-Emotional Growth Chart to complete the behavioral screening and re-screenings, as indicated, for infants who upon starting an Early Head Start program are ages 0-3 months.

Developmental Screening (cont.) (Note: This process must not delay a referral to the Lead Educational Agency, when a child is clearly in need of a special education assessment or when a special education assessment has been requested by the parent/guardian.) When through the screening process a child with an IEP/IFSP has a developmental area identified as “at-risk”, that is not addressed by the current IEP/IFSP, at minimum the follow up is to include providing developmentally stimulating activities to the parent for use at home, individualizing in the classroom, and making the IEP/IFSP team aware of the new area of concern. When the screening process of a child with an IEP/IFSP has an area of development identified as concerning that is being addressed by the current IEP/IFSP, at minimum follow up is to include providing developmentally stimulating activities to the parent for use at home.

Prenatal/Post-Partum Screening for Early Head Start Once properly trained in the administration and scoring of the PHQ-9, the MHSC or licensed nursing staff must conduct prenatal and/or postpartum mental health screenings for all pregnant women and new mothers (with children less than six months old) enrolled in EHS programs.

Timely and Effective Intervention The Devereux Early Childhood Assessments for Infants (DECA-I), Toddlers (DECA-T), and Preschoolers (Second Edition) (DECA-P2) will be used to measure program/intervention effectiveness and outcomes for children who have received mental health services to address identified mental health needs. The MHSC or consultants will administer the questionnaire, which can be completed by parents and/or teachers. An initial questionnaire (pre-test) will be administered, as a part of the assessment process within 30 calendar days of the referral date. A follow-up questionnaire will be administered at closure (post-test).

Parent Consent The MHSC or consultant must also sign the consent form, verifying that the elements of informed consent and confidentiality have been discussed with the parent/legal guardian.

Multidisciplinary Team Process The DA/CCP has 14 calendar days to schedule the staff- parent conference at which time the signature of the parent/legal guardian will be secured on the Intervention Planning form. Outside Referrals: …the initial follow-up to determine if the referral met the family’s need must be conducted within 30 calendar days of the date the outside referral was made. A minimum of 3 follow-ups are required, unless a parent has declined services or where confirmation of services has been received or disclosed during the first follow-up. Monthly follow-up is to continue until the child/family is linked or the program year ends.

On Site Availability Moreover, the MHSC or consultant(s) must conduct classroom observations for each class session (e.g., am/pm/twilight vs. full- day) at least twice during a school year—once in the fall, and again in winter/spring. This should be “class” to account for classrooms with am/pm Based on observations, any corrective actions that need to be taken must be completed within 14 calendar days of the finding (e.g., missing mental health resources, missing postings). The MHSC or consultants must clearly document any corrective action that would require additional time for completion. The MHSC or consultant(s) must also review available Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) results, using available ChildPlus reports, to ensure the classroom environment and staff- student interactions are developmentally appropriate and promote the social and emotional well-being of children.

On Site Availability (cont.) The MHSC or consultants must confer with education/child development service area staff as appropriate to address concerns raised either through review of CLASS results or direct observation. To document the on-site availability of a mental health professional, the DA/CCP MHSC and any consultants must use the Staff/Consultant Sign- In/Out form when visiting sites.

Parent and Staff Education No Changes

Tracking of Services and Record Keeping File contents: Copy of the ASQ-3/ASQ:SE Information Summary Confidential mental health files must be reviewed at least twice each program year, once within 30 calendar days of the date of the referral and at closure.

Qualifications Finally, the DA/CCP is to verify the qualifications of all consultants prior to the beginning of the program year and/or prior to the delivery of any direct mental health service by the consultant.

Qualifications (cont.) The following documentation must be maintained at the administrative office by the MHSC and kept at the DA/CCP for verification of consultant and staff qualifications: 1) current copies of contract/agreement; 2) license/certification (i.e., copy of the original and a current printout from the governing body confirming the license is in good standing); 3) resume/curriculum vitae; 4) documentation of relevant professional development hours, acquired during the previous program year, along with university agreement; 5) Responsibility Statements from clinical supervisiors and supervision logs; 6) transcripts (for trainees/interns), 7) proof of liability insurance, and 8) verification of fingerprint clearance.