Abstract
Community-based efforts to identify young children with developmental delays have shown promise, yet little is known about what happens after screening. In this study, parents of 57 children between the ages of 3 and 5 years participated in a telephone survey that occurred 6-18 months after participation in a community-based screening program. Survey questions asked about whether parents had linked to recommended services, barriers to linkages, satisfaction with services, and continued unmet service needs. Although 70% of participants reported connecting to recommended services, only 54% reported that the service(s) met their child's needs. Continuing unmet needs included emotional-behavioral services; occupational therapy; child care and therapy for preschoolers; and more private or alternative options, particularly during after school hours and in rural areas. Implications for improving community-based services for children are discussed.