Often it is helpful to re-screen at different times even if the child's previous screen did not indicate a need for further assessment. The following are times to suggest a re-screen.
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- The child transitions from one workgroup to another (Child Protection Program to Guardianship).
- A child in a Child Protection Case Management workgroup has entered into a new placement within this calendar year.
- There are considerable changes in behavior/development and the family wishes to re-screen.
- In compliance with Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) standards, a child should be offered a screen at the age of 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years, 4 years, and every 3 years after the age of 4.
- A youth commits another offense that meets the screening target population.
- A youth is held in detention.
There are key moments during a child's involvement within the system where it would make sense to re-screen the child for mental health symptoms. In the cases where a child is already receiving appropriate clinical mental health services, a screen is not necessary. The first is when a child moves from one workgroup to another.
The next instance where it may make sense to re-screen is when a youth (who has been involved with child protection services for awhile) enters into a new placement like foster care or a group home.
Over time, a child's behavior can change due to environmental or developmental reasons. When this occurs, it may be an appropriate time to re-screen, if the parent or guardian gives permission. Youth receiving supervised probation may be re-screened if there are considerable changes in behavior and/or development and the child does not meet an exemption. However, as the re-screen is not court-ordered the probation department needs to obtain parental consent.
As with the Child and Teen Check-up schedule, we encourage re-screening based on developmental changes if the child is not receiving mental health services and the parent/guardian gives permission for a re-screen.
Each time a youth is determined by the court to meet criteria for mental health screening and does not currently meet the criteria for an exemption, s/he should be re-screened.
A youth is held in detention and sent back to detention after the initial hearing more than one time that year; re-screen the youth if there is cause for concern due to the extenuating circumstances such as intense emotional reactivity, fluctuation or outbursts.