From infancy through the early years, your child develops rapidly in their communication, movement, learning, behavior, and social-emotional skills. Their first steps and little sounds are magic to you and memories you will treasure forever. Your child, like all children, grows at their own unique pace, and developmental screenings help you identify whether they may benefit from any additional support, services, or evaluation.
Early identification matters. Research consistently shows that when parents can recognize developmental concerns early, they can access resources and support sooner, leading to better long-term outcomes for children.
Parents may worry that screenings will “label” their child. But missing developmental screenings could also mean missing early support when your child needs it most.
That is why developmental screenings are recommended through your child’s first 5 years. Screenings give you reassurance when your child’s development is on track and even point to where they excel. They can create opportunities for meaningful, holistic conversations between you and your child’s provider.
But despite the importance of getting those screenings done and getting support early, the process can sometimes feel fragmented. Having to repeat your child’s sensitive health information multiple times can feel very overwhelming. Health care providers and early care and education professionals haven’t always had streamlined ways to share updates or coordinate care with each other…
That is where Strong Start comes in!
Strong Start is a digital platform designed to support parents, caregivers, health care providers, and early care and education professionals. It makes developmental screening follow-up easier, faster, and more connected.
Users can:
- Store and track completed developmental screenings
- Share results with your child’s providers
- Reduce reliance on paper copies
At its core, Strong Start keeps everyone involved in your child’s development on the same page.
Instead of keeping paper copies or trying to remember which screening was completed (was it an ASQ-3? ASQ-SE? SWYC? M-CHAT?), you can securely save screening results and access them online at any time. Strong Start has layers of security that protect your information, which gives you peace of mind when you upload your child’s health information. You control who views your child’s information.
For families navigating developmental concerns, having clear communication and organized information can make a meaningful difference. The early years can already feel busy and overwhelming. If your child is seeing multiple providers or transitioning between programs, having all information in Strong Start makes it easier to share relevant details and improve continuity of care.
Parents and caregivers know their children best. Early care and education providers also play an essential role in identifying developmental concerns and supporting children’s growth. Preschool teachers and child care providers often spend many hours observing children in social and learning environments, giving them valuable insight into developmental milestones and behaviors. Strong Start offers a connected ecosystem where screening-related information can move more efficiently between all the trusted participants involved in a child’s care and development. It gives you more time to focus on your child’s needs.
Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is proud to say that Strong Start is the first platform of its kind. The platform was created in response to advocacy from families, health care providers, and early care and education (ECE) providers who wanted a record system that all could access, and with funding authorized by the Washington State Legislature. While the use of Strong Start is growing among providers, participation is voluntary. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to check in with their child’s provider to see whether it could be a helpful resource to coordinate screening information and important updates about their child’s development.
Wondering who can access the Strong Start system? It’s for:
- Parents and guardians
- Licensed health care providers
- Early care and education providers
Note: licensed health care providers include specialists like speech therapists, physical therapists, occupational, and speech therapists, child psychologists, and early child care providers.
Developmental screenings are one of the most important tools we have for supporting children early in life. But screenings are only effective when they lead to early action, communication, and collaboration. Strong Start can offer that next step so families and professionals can work together. DOH wishes you and every family in Washington the joy of celebrating milestones as your child grows, learns, and thrives.
Ready to use Strong Start? Scan the QR Code or visit doh.wa.gov/strongstart to get started.
