Child Outreach

What is Child Outreach?

• A free service sponsored by the RI Department of Education and offered through your local school system. (Block Island, East Greenwich, Exeter/W. Greenwich, Narragansett & South Kingstown)
• The purpose is to locate any child between the ages of 3 and 5 years, not yet in school, who may have special needs

What is a screening?

Child Outreach is a screening program which involves a brief assessment in five areas:

• Vision
• Hearing
• Speech and Language skills
• Social Developement
• General Development such as fine and gross motor skills, memory, etc...

Where and when does the screening take place?

Screening is offered in a variety of locations such as child care settings, nursery schools, Head Start Programs, public school buildings or other places in your community including the town library or churches. It is available periodically throughout the school year.

Taking part in this program although completely voluntary, is recommended and encouraged by the RI Dept. of Education Office of Diverse Learners

What will happen to the information?

The screening results are reviewed by the Child Outreach Coordinator and forwarded to you.

You may be asked to bring your child back for a rescreening. Several factors including sleepiness, crankiness, a cold or an off-day can affect the results. Rescreening gives your child another opportunity with a different screener.

If, after the rescreening, concerns emerge in a given area of development, you will be assisted by professionals in your school system who can discuss whether your child might benefit from help during the school years. For instance, if your child needs help with speech, it can be offered, at no cost, before your child enters kindergarten.

The results of the screening are kept confidential unless you would like them to be mailed to your health care provider, your child's nursery school, child care center or other service provider.

For more information on Child Outreach, please contact:

Carole Ogni at (401)295-2888 ext. 141 or email cogni@sorico.org