Child Find: Helping Children Access Support Early
If you’ve ever had concerns about your child’s development, learning, or behavior, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate those concerns by yourself.
School districts are legally required to identify and support children who may have a disability and need special education or related services. This process is called Child Find, and it plays a critical role in helping children receive early intervention and appropriate support.
Families, educators, healthcare providers, and community members all share responsibility in helping children get connected to services as early as possible.
What Is Child Find?
Child Find is a federally mandated process that requires school districts to locate, identify, and evaluate children who may have a disability that impacts their learning or development.
Importantly, Child Find applies to all children, including:
Infants and toddlers
Preschool-aged children
School-aged children
Children who are not yet enrolled in school
Anyone, not just parents, can raise concerns. If you’re aware of a child who may be struggling, you can contact the child’s district of residence (the school district where the child lives) to share your concerns.
Early identification can make a meaningful difference in a child’s long-term development and success.
Why Is Child Find Important?
The purpose of Child Find is to ensure that children with potential disabilities don’t fall through the cracks. Specifically, Child Find helps to:
Increase awareness of developmental, learning, and emotional disabilities
Ensure school districts identify children who may need support
Connect eligible children with special education and related services
Provide families access to evaluations and services at no cost
Promote early intervention, which is often associated with better outcomes
What Happens After a Referral Is Made?
Once a school district is notified of a concern, the district will contact the child’s family to discuss next steps. This usually includes:
An intake meeting to gather information about the child’s development, behavior, learning, and family background
Discussion of whether a formal evaluation is appropriate
If warranted, a comprehensive evaluation for special education services
These evaluations are conducted at no cost to the family, which can be especially important since private evaluations through outside agencies may be expensive.
If the evaluation identifies a need, the child may become eligible for special education and related services designed to support their learning and development throughout the school day.
Even if your child is not yet school-aged, you are encouraged to contact your local school district if you have concerns.
When to Seek Additional Support
While school-based evaluations are an excellent starting point, some families also seek private psychological evaluations or therapy to gain deeper insight into their child’s emotional, behavioral, or developmental needs. It’s also important to note that school-based evaluations do not provide official diagnoses, which is particularly important for differences, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is where a private evaluation can be helpful.
At Warburton Family Practice, we provide psychological evaluations and therapy for children and adults in Columbus, Ohio. We often work alongside families who are navigating the Child Find process, helping them better understand evaluation results and next steps.
We’re Here to Help
If you have questions about Child Find, concerns about your child’s development, or are considering a psychological evaluation or therapy, support is available.
Warburton Family Practice proudly serves children, adults, and families in Columbus, Ohio, offering compassionate care in a welcoming environment. We’re happy to talk through your concerns and help you decide what support may be most helpful for your family.
Reaching out is often the first and most important step.
