Free childhood screenings funded by your United Way gifts reassure parents
or catch problems in infants as young as two months
Andrea and Jeremy Hansmann of Hopewell Junction know their daughter and son are on track in their development. They’ve had Sarah, 2, and Joshua, 3, screened twice thanks to free childhood screenings provided by Astor Services for Children & Families.
“I just wanted to see where they were at in their development,” said Andrea Hansmann of her children’s’ screenings.
Maureen Shilkunas coordinates the program’s screenings that assesses Dutchess County children from two months to 5 years old for developmental milestones in five areas: gross and fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, social skills, and ability to communicate. “It gives a parent an opportunity to see how their child is; basically, whether they are on track with other children their age,” said Shilkunasabout the program.
Should a screening reveal a possible problem, the child’s parents are referred to the appropriate service to address their young one’s issue, perhaps an early intervention program or school-based service. More than 3,000 mothers and children have benefited from information on healthy development provided by United Way of Dutchess County-funded partnership programs in 2009.
Yet Astor has not done the screenings alone. A grant from United Way of Dutchess County supports the program, as does United Way’s 2-1-1 informational helpline, through which concerned parents can make a screening appointment at a convenient location in the county. Moreover, United Way of Dutchess maintains records of the resulting screenings which help determine the services most needed to prepare our children for the future.
United Way is foundation for screening program
“United Way of Dutchess County is the foundation on which the screening program stands,” said Shilkunas. “Without it, many families and their children would be doing without”. It is estimated that there are 5,200 Dutchess school children, an average of 400 in every school district, with an undiagnosed behavioral or developmental disorder.
Hansmann said the free screenings have given her some peace of mind and she’s found the parenting tips she’s received through program to be helpful. “They suggested various games you can play so the children do not actually know you are working on things, like hiding something or ‘what’s missing,’ ” said Hansmann, which, she added, her children love.
“Astor and United Way have collaborated; we have put together referral lists, community helplines – all that stuff – so that any family that comes to the screening is getting much more than the screening itself,” said Shilkunas.
