Developmental Screening Practices
Intentional screening transforms how parents observe and discuss their child’s development, as well as how providers partner with families in care.
Waypoint helps providers apply a screening approach that yields high family engagement and successful resource connection.
Ready to start screening?
Waypoint reviews your needs and forms a plan for each element of effective screening: process, messaging, referrals, and staff training.
Already screening?
We recommend strategies to enhance quality or efficiency – to build parent buy-in, improve parent report, or increase referral success.
Waypoint supports screening activities at both the family service and broader system levels.
The following supports are available individually or in combination.
Screening Process Development
Define staff roles, data collection, and action steps aligned with your program structure and resources.
Referral Protocols
Embed administrative and family communication activities into your screening protocols.
Family Communications
​Shape written and verbal messaging for families where and when your staff need it.
Staff Training
Tailor training to their baseline knowledge and role in screening. E.g: Tool use, logistics, discussing concerns.
Program Pilot & Replication
Waypoint braids your assets, objectives, staff readiness, and stakeholder roles into an actionable plan for pilot launch, expansion, or replication.
You Gain
-
A clear operational plan for pilot or replication, informed by your team members' unique roles and vantage points.
-
Guided workflow and process development, from staff roles to administrative or data processes
-
Cultivated staff readiness to refine program practices during and beyond Waypoint's involvement.
-
A narrative of program development activities and the critical pilot lessons and impacts.
​
Pilot & Replication Approach and Scope
​Waypoint's Approach
​
Pilots must balance on-the-ground feasibility, program-level objectives, and agency- and partner- expectations.
Waypoint meets with program staff, agency leadership, and essential partners to identify and scaffold necessary program processes and practices.
Scope
​
Clients include local, state, and national organizations who deliver or coordinate services for families. Waypoint supports their efforts to:
- Pioneer tangible collaboration across early childhood service providers
- Leverage a soft launch to hone protocols and messaging
- Design mutually beneficial activity with external partners
-
Distill key learnings from their early success to apply to expansion or replication efforts
-
Adapt promising practices to their unique organization or community setting
Staff and Partner Training
Training for direct service staff, program administrators, or community and funding collaborators.
Sample Topics
-
Social determinants of healthy child development
research- and community-informed knowledge base for policy makers, funders, or family-facing staff
-
Developmental screening mechanics and best practices
for program managers, direct service providers, or funders developing a unified strategy
-
Client referral processes and relationships
workshop with cross-agency teams to develop a bidirectional referral pathway; session with internal staff to define quality client referral practices and ensure consistency among teammates
Staff Training Approach
​Waypoint's Approach
​
Your staff are your greatest asset. Their continued growth and engagement enriches program development and enhances service delivery.
Select an existing webinar or workshop, or request a session tailored to your organization's knowledge and application needs.
Additional consultation or planning resources available on select topics to support knowledge integration into program activities.
You Gain
​
-
Increased staff readiness to implement new practices or reflect fruitfully on their work
-
Increased staff, partner, or leadership buy-in to key research or best practices
-
Certificates of completion available for documenting continuing education.
-
Washington State: STARS credit available (DCYF's MERIT system) for trainings in all 8 competencies, levels 1-4.
​