Leading National Behavioral Healthcare Provider

Call 1-800-345-1292

  • ASCEND Program
  • March awareness
  • Devereux News
  • Who we help
  • Careers at Devereux
  • Inspirational messages of Hope banner

Tweet Share on LinkedIn Send email Print

California center requires use of Devereux’s Early Childhood Assessment Program

A nonprofit regional center in California that provides supports and services for children and adults with developmental disabilities is requiring that early intervention providers in the three counties it serves start using the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) Program.  

DECA, which was developed by the Devereux Center for Resilient Children (DCRC), provides teachers/child care providers and families with a strength-based assessment and planning system designed to promote resilience in children ages four weeks to six-years-old. The nationally standardized assessment has been adopted by school districts, Head Start and other early childcare and education programs across the U.S. – and has expanded into behavioral health settings.  

“I think it’s fabulous that more and more regional centers that provide supports and services for individuals with developmental disabilities, like Tri-Counties Regional Center, are turning to DECA as a way to help children thrive and succeed,” said DCRC Director Susan Damico. “To be able to get all of the important adults in a child’s life – parents, child care providers and educators – communicating with each other before any behavioral concerns emerge or escalate is absolutely vital.” 

Regional center makes DECA mandatory 

The assessment of a child’s social and emotional development is the focus of California’s Part C State Systemic Improvement Plan. (Part C addresses early intervention services for infants and toddlers.)  

In an effort to obtain consistent data in this area, Tri-Counties Regional Center (TCRC) is requiring Early Start providers in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties to start using DECA to assess social and emotional development in infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities. The program, which must be implemented by April 1, 2019, will be a standard practice across all TCRC early intervention providers. 

“TCRC’s decision to make the use of DECA mandatory is exciting for child care providers and families in the state of California, and for the young children who will ultimately benefit from this program,” explained Devereux California Executive Director Amy Evans. “As the only social and emotional assessment tool selected for early intervention providers in this area, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is honored to be part of the process that will help our youth become productive and pro-social members of their communities.” 

How DECA works …

DECA helps teachers, childcare providers and parents understand how children are progressing with respect to three, key social and emotional skills. 

  • Developing healthy relationships
  • Learning to regulate emotions
  • Showing initiative  

Once the assessment is complete, teachers/child care providers can select appropriate strategies - based on the results – for immediate use.  

Questions? Contact Susan Damico.

Learn about Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.

 

Latest News

Yolanda Graham   Dr. Yolanda Graham discusses sex trafficking on Cobb Collaborative’s Mind Your Mind Speaks podcast

Listen as Devereux Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical/Medical Officer Yolanda Graham, M.D., FAPA, DFAACAP, discusses Devereux’s Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) program, as well as risk factors and warning signs of sex trafficking, on Cobb Collaborative’s Mind Your Mind Speaks podcast. Dr. Graham shares how Devereux’s CSEC services are designed to help youth live healthy, happy lives free from exploitation.

teacher in front of class of students   Devereux awarded RFP to provide education consulting services in Delaware

Devereux announced it has been awarded a Request for Proposal (RFP) by the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) to provide education consulting services in the state. The multi-vendor award establishes a pool of vendors the DDOE can utilize for education consulting services for its 19 school districts, 23 charter schools and early childhood/adult education programs, as the need arises.

Connecticut Marketing Video   Video: Welcome to Devereux Connecticut – The Glenholme School

Devereux Connecticut – The Glenholme School is a specialized, independent and co-educational boarding/day school for students, grades 5-12, with social, emotional and/or academic differences. Learn how we are meeting the unique needs of each student.

New podcast episode   Season 2, Episode 3: ‘Not Your Average School Psychologist’ podcast

Listen to the latest episode of the Devereux Center for Effective Schools’ podcast featuring Nathan Clemens, Ph.D., NCSP, LSSP, who debunks common myths about reading disabilities and shares evidence-based recommendations for assessments and interventions. Dr. Clemens is an associate professor in the Department of Special Education at The University of Texas at Austin. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music/Audible.


More Stories