The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) provides rich data on multiple, intersecting aspects of children’s lives—including physical and mental health, access to quality health care, and the child’s family, neighborhood, school, and social context. A revised version of the survey was conducted as a mail and web-based survey by the Census Bureau in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Among other changes, the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health started integrating two surveys: the previous NSCH and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN). The percentage of Connecticut families completing standardized screening was impacted by Covid-19 and access to Primary Care providers. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, our primary care system has seen drops in visit volume, decreased revenue, challenges with rapidly adapting to telehealth, and provider burnout.

These data are current as of year end 2021. New survey data is expected in 2023.

Connecticut Department of Public Health; State Department of Education; Connecticut Department of Social Services; Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services; Connecticut Department of Developmental Services; Connecticut Office of Early Childhood; Connecticut Department of Children and Families; Commission on Children; community health centers; school based health centers; primary care and dental providers; health professional associations for pediatricians (American Academy of Pediatricians), family care providers and other primary care providers; faith-based organizations; families, community service providers for family, youth and child development; local boards of education and special education; schools of public health, allied health, nursing and medicine.

Healthy People 2020 recommends increasing the proportion of children (ages 10-35 months) who have been screened for an Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children be screened for general development using a standardized, validated tool at 9, 18, and 24 or 30 months.

SHIP Strategies:

Conduct an education and awareness campaign that targets families and communities on the importance of developmental screening.

Train community and healthcare providers to improve screening rates and coordination of referrals and linkage to services within the state.

Engage in cross systems planning and coordination of activites around developmental screening.