Decreasing Disparities in Child Development Assessment: Identifying and Discussing Possible Delays in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Katharine E Zuckerman, Alison E Chavez, Julie A Reeder
PMID 28520635WHAT IT FOUND
Oregon WIC staff often noticed or were asked about child development concerns, but most felt poorly connected to early intervention and pediatric providers.
Staff wanted more training and resources, and some said this was outside WIC's role.
Key findings
01Most staff reported noticing or being asked about child development concerns at least once per month, and very few reported never doing so.
02Staff averaged 8.9 correct answers out of 11 developmental warning signs, with no difference by job type.
0369.3% felt less than very connected to early intervention, and 74.3% felt less than well connected to pediatric providers; among staff noticing concerns more than once per week, 71.4% and 81.0% felt poorly connected.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
All data came from WIC staff self-report. No direct measurement was made of how often staff discussed development, made referrals, or whether referrals were appropriate. The survey items were created for this study. The developmental knowledge items were adapted from parent questionnaires but not validated as a set. The study sampled WIC staff only, so it cannot show what happened to children after staff concerns were raised. Results are from Oregon WIC staff in 2015, and staff training and family demographics may differ in other states.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that WIC staff can reliably identify or refer children with developmental disabilities. This was a self-report staff survey, not a patient outcome study. The knowledge items were not validated as a set, and the study did not measure whether referrals occurred, were appropriate, or led to child outcomes.