Links & Resources
Table of Contents
The Links & Resources on this page have been divided into the following categories. Click on a link to jump to that category.
Information on Screening Tools — Descriptions & Comparisons
Dbpeds.org - Commonly Used Screening Tools
Brief descriptions of commonly used developmental screening tools.
Developmental Screening for Primary Care Providers - Compare Screening Tools - Validity Properties Chart
A chart comparing commonly used tools, including prices and ordering information.
Minnesota Dept. of Health - Developmental Screening Instruments at a Glance
A checklist comparison chart of commonly used tools.
Screening Tool Web Sites
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
1-877-782-5565
Handbook for Providers of Healthy Kids Services. This site also offers information on Medicaid, accepted screening tools, and coding and billing for reimbursement for screening.
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)
Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional (ASQ: SE)
Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS)
Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Web site
More information on screening, including links to articles and information about other screening tools (in addition to the ones listed above).
Web Sites and National Resources: Social/Emotional and Developmental Issues
American Academy of Pediatrics
Go to parenting corner for helpful resources and information to share with parents. In addition, you can review current policies on early childhood development issues.
The Autism Program
The Autism Program of Illinois offers a network of resources for Autism Spectrum Disorders in the State of Illinois. The Autism Program of Illinois provides the strategy and framework for the State of Illinois to address the complex issues involved in diagnosis, treatment and research for the thousands of children in Illinois with ASDs.
Baby Advocate
The Growth and Development Newsletter is a helpful resource for development that is available in both English and Spanish.
Bright Futures
Offers information about child development resources and materials.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention - Learn the Signs. Act Early Campaign
Designed to help parents recognize how young children should develop and the early warning signs of developmental disorders. Tool kits (available in English and Spanish) which include fact sheets on developmental milestones, screening, developmental disorders, and resources and informational cards with milestones by age and a series of questions for the child’s key health care professional are available through the Web site.
Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning
National center focused on strengthening the capacity of child care and Head Start programs to improve social and emotional outcomes of young children. Provides practical strategies, “What Works” briefs, and complete training modules.
The Commonwealth Fund
Includes a child health and development section with reports from national projects to address child development, publications about child development, a provider's guide to selecting screening tools, and more.
Dr. Spock
Created by doctors and other experts to offer a complete, personalized resource for parenting information, including behavior concerns, covering every stage of pregnancy and childhood, from newborns to teens.
The Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
National family-run organization dedicated exclusively to helping children with mental health needs and their families achieve a better quality of life
First Signs
First Signs aims to educate parents, healthcare providers, early childhood educators, and other professionals in order to ensure the best developmental outcome for every child. Their goals are to improve screening and referral practices and to lower the age at which young children are identified with autism and other developmental disorders.
The Fussy Baby Network
Launched in March 2003, Erikson Institute’s Fussy Baby Network is Chicago's first initiative for fussy babies. The network includes a clinic, home visit program, telephone support line and support groups for parents who have concerns about their infant’s inconsolable crying.
Illinois Early Learning Project
Information on a wide variety of early childhood topics including social and emotional development. Includes tip sheets on social/emotional development from ages birth to five.
KidsGrowth
Has a great deal of information and articles regarding developmental, physical and behavioral health of child.
National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
Information on a variety of child development topics. Includes information on early childhood mental health, social-emotional development, and challenging behaviors.
National Mental Health Association
Many mental health resources including fact sheets on children’s mental health topics including depression, autism, and medications used to treat mental disorders.
National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health
Based at Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, the center assists states to build systems of care for children who have or are at risk for mental health problems.
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Online
Independent web site created to promote better care and outcomes for children and families affected by developmental, learning, and behavioral problems. Provides links to several other organizations, materials and information for physicians, fellows, resident physicians and students.
The Whole Child
Sponsored by PBS, the web site has information for providers and parents on a wide range of developmental and behavioral concerns. Site is written in both English and Spanish.
Zero To Three
ZERO TO THREE is a national non-profit organization that is devoted to the promotion of the healthy development of infants and toddlers. This site also includes free reproducible materials (“Healthy Minds”), both in English and Spanish.
Social/Emotional Local Agency Resources (Illinois)
Community Care Options
Administrative Offices; 6918 Windsor Ave.
Berwyn , IL 60402
708-795-4800
Provides a comprehensive range of mental health treatments, educational programs, and related services without regard to the client’s ability to pay. Services include individual and group therapy for children and adults, family therapy, 24 hour crisis emergency intervention, and specialized services for children with severe emotional and behavioral disorder. Serves western suburbs Berwyn, Cicero, Lyons and Riverside Townships, Oak Park, and River Forest.
JPA – Juvenile Protective Association
1707 N. Halsted, Chicago
312-440-1203
Provides counseling services designed to address or ameliorate the underlying causes of child abuse and neglect, including mental illness, maternal depression, parental history of abuse, and domestic violence. Serving the Chicago area. Sliding fee scale available.
Metropolitan Family Services
Provides counseling, child welfare, and mental health services. Communities served included Calumet, DuPage/Wheaton, Southwest/Palos Hills, South Chicago, Midway area, North Chicago, and Evanston. See web site for specific contact information for each area.
Child and Family Connections (Early Intervention)
1-800-323-GROW (to find your local Child and Family Connections)
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
1-877-782-5565
Handbook for Providers of Healthy Kids Services
Web Sites: Maternal/Postpartum Depression
The Center for Postpartum Health
The Center for Postpartum Health addresses the physical, mental, and emotional needs of pregnant and postpartum women and their families, facilitating the transition from pregnancy to parenthood.
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
800-346-4572
NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation's largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country. NAMI is dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to the improvement of the quality of life for persons of all ages who are affected by mental illnesses.
The National Women's Health Information Center
The Office on Women's Health (OWH) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was established in 1991 to improve the health of American women by advancing and coordinating a comprehensive women's health agenda throughout the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address health care prevention and service delivery, research, public and health care professional education, and career advancement for women in the health professions and in scientific careers. The Office also works with numerous government agencies, non-profit organizations, consumer groups, and associations of health care professionals. During the early part of this decade, the OWH focused on developing women's health as a specialized issue for government action and attention. With women's health now firmly rooted in the national health landscape, the OWH is focusing on women's health priorities to meet the sweeping demographic trends of the next century and to focus on the millions of underserved women in America.
Postpartum Depression Alliance of Illinois
The Postpartum Depression Illinois Alliance’s ( PPD IL) mission is to promote awareness, prevention and treatment of maternal mental health issues throughout the state of Illinois. Includes information about local resources, individual treatment options, and support groups.
Postpartum Stress Center
The Postpartum Stress Center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of prenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety disorders.
Postpartum Support International
805-967-7636
Offers support and resources for mothers suffering from depression, as well as for their partners.
University of Illinois at Chicago’s Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HSRA) Perinatal Depression Project
The web site offers information about the project and the staff involved in this initiative. It also offers links to other perinatal depression resources. You can also find out how to take part in a free workshop that is offered to service providers on the recognition and treatment of perinatal depression. In addition, the project is sponsoring a toll free number (1-800-573-6121) as a resource for providers with questions about perinatal depression screening, referral, and treatment.
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly IL Dept. of Public Aid)
1-877-782-5565
Go to maternal and child health section for information regarding maternal depression, screening tools, and reimbursement for screening.
Medline plus
Web site sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Features printer-friendly information on PPD including overviews, diagnosis/symptoms, and treatment
Other Maternal Depression Resources
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
For information on the BDI, please visit:
http://cps.nova.edu/~cpphelp/BDI.html http://www.swin.edu.au/victims/resources/assessment/affect/bdi.html
The actual questionnaire is not available as the recent version is copyrighted.
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/assets/112904pd.pdf (see page 6 of this document)
Perinatal Psychiatry – Use and Misuse of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale by John Cox and Jeni Holden, 1996 American Psychiatric Press, Inc.
Evanston Hospital Postpartum Depression Hotline
866-ENH-MOMS (staffed 24 hrs/day)
Office of Women's Health (IDPH)
888-522-1282
