Interdisciplinary Implementation of Early Childhood Screening Tool in Healthcare for the Homeless Clinic System

In 2016, an HCH clinic implemented a collaborative project between county and community partners, initiating sustainable developmental screening and referral protocols for early childhood patients utilizing the ASQ-3.  The clinic partnered with Minneapolis Public Schools to coordinate services for families in need of early intervention. In the first six months of implementation, 94 children were screened and 31 children were referred for further evaluation. Families experiencing homelessness can be difficult to engage in services, thus a community-based primary care clinic is a critical place to offer screening and early intervention so all children can be successful in school.