Highlights the role of community health centers in providing child development programs for children age 3 and younger. Community health centers are a major health care provider for children, serving a significant number of children in low-income families. Findings reveal that these centers provide many valuable programs and services that promote the healthy growth and development of children. At the same time, improving the health and welfare of young children and their families requires expanding the ability of community health centers to seek out and identify at-risk children, screen and assess their needs, and provide appropriate services. New federal funding will enable centers to increase both programs and the number of patients seen. Other ways to improve the quality of preventive services include: (1) developing training modules to assist centers in the delivery of developmental services for young children; (2) improving provider training; (3) disseminating innovative practices to centers around the country; and (4) using changes in Medicaid’s reimbursement of federally qualified health centers to fund health care initiatives. Health centers, federal agencies, pediatricians, and child health experts should continue to work together to identify and promote promising approaches to improve child development services for children throughout the United States.
