Virginia is committed to ensuring all children and families will receive supports and services necessary to develop and maintain positive social-emotional (SE) skills and social relationships. Research has shown that a specialized social-emotional screening tool identifies more children who need further evaluation for social-emotional concerns than a broad developmental screener. Assessment tools specific to social emotional development help identify needed supports and services at all stages of the early intervention process.
In addition, the use of tools to identify family risk factors and trauma for children who experience adverse family circumstances, such as having a parent with a serious mental health condition or substance use disorder, family food insecurity, or a history of trauma assist in understanding factors that may impact a child’s development and that may be helpful in supporting the family to help their child develop and learn.
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