Implementing ASQ in Your Program

	Because of the dynamic nature of development, programs that screen children at only one point in time may overlook children whose delays occur after the initial screen. Programs that screen children repeatedly but at infrequent intervals also risk missing problems in children. Effective programs screen children at frequent intervals.

The design of ASQ, featuring 19 questionnaires at different age intervals, gives various programs the flexibility to establish a monitoring system using those age intervals that are most appropriate for their program.

To establish a monitoring system using ASQ, programs will want to implement these three phases. (Sample forms to help establish a system—letters to parents, letters to physicians, demographic forms, evaluation forms, parent activity sheets, and more—are all available in The ASQ User’s Guide.)

		The questionnaires are very flexible and fit the needs of various programs. For example: Medical practitioners may use the 6–, 12-, and 18-month questionnaires that correspond to well-child visits. Public health providers may use the 4– and 8–month questionnaires that correspond to home visiting schedules. Head Start programs may be most interested in the 48–month questionnaire. Toddler programs may choose to use the 12–, 14–, 16–, 18–, 20–, 22–, 24–, 27–, and 30–month questionnaires.

1. Planning the Monitoring Program

The first phase is planning the monitoring program:

1. Establish goals and objectives of the monitoring program.
2. Determine resources to conduct the monitoring program.
3. Determine method of using the questionnaires.
4. Select criteria for participation in the program.
5. Involve parents.
6. Involve physicians.
7. Outline referral criteria.

 Using and Scoring the Questionnaires

The second phase of the ASQ monitoring system focuses on implementation—record keeping, step-by-step directions for scoring the questionnaires, and procedures for determining follow-up for children who are identified as needing further evaluation:

1. Assemble child files.
2. Keep track of questionnaires.
3. Use the questionnaires.
4. Score the questionnaires.
5. Determine appropriate follow-up.

Evaluating the Monitoring Program

The final phase is making sure your program is working the way you want it to. Completing evaluation activities on an ongoing basis helps to ensure that the program procedures are efficient and that the monitoring system is effective.

1. Assess progress in the establishment and maintenance of the monitoring program.
2. Evaluate the system’s effectiveness.

All of the instructions and advice you need to implement each of these phases is available in The ASQ User’s Guide.