Background: Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) are multidisciplinary swallowing assessments led by speech-language therapists (SLTs). The purpose of oesophageal screening in VFSS is to guide further diagnostic assessment and treatment of possible oesophageal abnormalities. Yet, internationally standard protocols and clinical pathways for…

The pediatric medical home is a model to provide quality health care to a child that is coordinated and overseen by a team of professionals who are grounded in family-centered practice (Cleveland Clinic, 2012; Munoz, Nelson, Bradham, Hoffman, & Houston, 2011). The medical home can be a centralized, consolidated, and comprehensive approach to…

Integration of multitiered academic, behavioral, and social-emotional efforts, such as the implementation of a Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-Tiered (Ci3T) model of prevention, is critical for supporting student development across domains of functioning. In particular, universal behavior screening has been shown to predict outcomes across these…

Mental health screening is a pivotal practice for promoting the social-emotional-behavioral (SEB) health and well-being of youth in schools. However, some aspects of traditional mental health screening practices may inadvertently perpetuate structural racism and unintentionally facilitate oppression and SEB disparities. We address this issue…

This phenomenological study sought to develop an understanding of school-based mental health programming through the shared experiences of elementary principals throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. More specifically, this study examined the programs, screenings, interventions, and personnel that support the mental health needs of…

Learning collaboratives (LCs) have often been used to improve somatic health care quality in hospitals and other medical settings, and to some extent to improve social services and behavioral health care. This initiative is the first demonstration of a national, systematic LC to advance comprehensive school mental health system quality among…

Behavioral and social-emotional challenges experienced in childhood are risk factors for negative educational and health outcomes. Universal social-emotional screening in schools has been identified as an effective approach to identifying children at risk for mental health and behavioral challenges and is congruent with tiered frameworks for…

Inclusive education has long been implemented in regular educational settings in many jurisdictions including New Zealand (NZ). Since many children with special educational needs (CSEN) are not identifiable in a family environment, to ensure all CSEN are supported in a timely manner, early identification should be an integral component of the…

Part C IDEA regulations define "evaluation" as "the procedures used by qualified personnel to determine a child's initial and continuing eligibility..." and "assessment" as "ongoing procedures used by qualified personnel to identify the child's unique strengths and needs and the early intervention services…

All children need access to equitable opportunities for developmental screening. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in gaps in well-child visits, and greater inequities in overall health. Young children who show signs of a delay or disability need effective screening practices so that prevention and/or early intervention can begin as soon as…

Background: Equitable healthcare outcomes are compromised in the absence of strong medical care and social services linkages. In May 2019, Children's Health, the largest health system for pediatric care in North Texas, initiated a three-pronged social determinants of health (SDOH) quality improvement (QI) project that included: (1) baseline and…

As educators have become increasingly aware of the impact of trauma on the school success of children and youth, they have been investing in professional development about how to address childhood trauma in schools. However, evaluation to support evidence of impact are lacking. This Guide describes how to integrate trauma-informed approaches into…

Services to children are often provided through a transdisciplinary model, particularly when students are receiving special education services and supports. Given the individual and diverse needs of these children, professionals often work collaboratively in evaluating students, interpreting results, and making recommendations for appropriate…

California's longstanding efforts to promote child development and kindergarten readiness have paved the way for focusing greater attention on the role Medi-Cal, the State's Medicaid program, can play in realizing the full strength of these initiatives. As a state with a large and diverse population, California's reach and potential influence are…

This paper presents a set of strategies and options that California can use to leverage Medi-Cal, the State's Medicaid program, to move toward an equitable, advanced health delivery system for its children. Close to five million children are enrolled in Medi-Cal, more than two-thirds of whom are Black and Brown children. California's program alone…