Child Mental Health Assessment

POLICY:

NOCAC Head Start will conduct, within 45 calendar days of the child’s entry into the program, a developmental screening to identify concerns regarding a child’s developmental, behavioral, motor, language, social, cognitive, and emotional skills

PROCEDURES:

DECA Assessment:

1. After 4 weeks of class, all children with regular attendance, teachers will complete a DECA assessment.
   1. The teacher will complete the assessments on the eDECA website or return the DECA form to the Disability Services Coordinator (DSC) for scoring. When completed online, teachers will communicate to the DSC when they are done. The score will be entered into ChildPlus under Health-Social/Emotional Screen by the DSC.
2. Results from screenings will determine the type of individualization the child will receive:
   1. Universal strategies
   2. Targeted strategies
   3. Expanded strategies 
3. Parents and teachers who score their children with low protective factors and high behavior concerns will meet with DSC to discuss individualization
   1. Parents and teachers will receive DECA information strategies in those areas of concern. These strategies will be linked with Conscious Discipline.
   2. If a child has concerns in 2 or more areas of the DECA, the DSC will determine if a referral to an MH Agency is necessary
   3. Children will receive individualization strategies for 60 Days.
4. For children who received individualization, teachers will complete a mid-year DECA assessment
   1. The teacher will return the DECA form to the DSC for scoring. The score will be entered into ChildPlus under Health-Social/Emotional Screen.
   2. the DSC will meet with teachers regarding scores from most recent assessment and work to adjust strategies for children who continue to show low protective factors and high behavior concerns
   3. Meetings with families will be scheduled as needed
   4. Children will continue with previous or updated individualization strategies for 60 days
   5. After 60 days, strategies will be reviewed and meetings scheduled as needed
5. At the end of the school year, teachers and parents will complete a post-year DECA assessment.
   1. The teacher will return the DECA form to the DSC for scoring. The score will be entered into ChildPlus under Health-Social/Emotional Screen.
   2. Teachers will receive a DECA P-2 Classroom/Group Profile based upon parent’s scores.
   3. Parents will receive a DECA Results Letter.

Forms and Additional Guidance:

Mental Health Referral form