Infant-Toddler Developmental Assessment

Provides early identification of children who are developmentally at risk

The Infant-Toddler Developmental Assessment (IDA) is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, family-centered process designed to improve early identification of children birth to three years of age who are developmentally at risk. The IDA is an integrated process that includes the Provence Birth-to-Three Developmental Profile. The complexity and interdependence of health, family, and emotional/social factors that influence the child's development are considered throughout the assessment process. Parents are partners in all aspects of the assessment.

Developed by a multidisciplinary team of professionals to meet a policy-based need. IDA provides a framework for the review and integration of data from multiple sources, including previous evaluations. IDA helps determine the need for monitoring, consultation, intervention, or other services for the child and family and may be used to develop an initial Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

The chart (see below) provides and overview of the six IDA phases. Each phase develops from the preceding one and is completed only after team discussion and review. There are five carefully designed forms to assist the team in gathering and recording information.

The Chart Provides an Overview of the Six IDA Phases:

PHASE	OBJECTIVES	FORMS
1 Referral & Pre-interview Data Gathering	to confirm the referral to gather and assimilate preliminary information regarding the family and child to make initial contact with the family	IDA Record Parent Report** Request for Health Information*
2 Initial Parent Interview	to elicit parental concerns and engage the parents as partners during the assessment to obtain information about the child's history, health, and current development status as they pertain to the referral concerns to gather information about the family that has relevance to the child's development	Parent Report Family Recording Guide* Health Recording Guide IDA Record
3 Health Review	to gather and organize health information from parent(s), the health card provider, medical records, and other sources to conduct the health review and complete the Health Recording Guide to consider the role of health facilitators in the child's development	Request for Health Information Health Recording Guide IDA Record
4 Developmental Observation and Assessment	to create a profile of the child's development along multiple lines based on information obtained from parent(s) and other caregiver(s), the Provence Profile, natural and play-based observation, and a review of developmental and behavioral concerns	IDA Record
5 Integration and Synthesis	to review the information gathered throughout the process to consider the need for consultation to integrate and summarize findings to identify program options to prepare for and schedule a conference with the parent(s)	Use summaries from Family and Health Recording Guides IDA Record
6 Share Findings, Completion, and Report	to bring the assessment to completion, share findings and develop a plan with the parent(s), and facilitate entry into services if needed	IDA Record

* Included as reproducible blackline masters.

** The Parent Report is also available in Spanish.

Provence Birth-to-Three Developmental Profile

The Developmental Observation and Assessment Phase (Phase Four) of the IDA procedures uses the Provence Birth-to-Three Developmental Profile, named for its author, the late Sally Provence, M.D. This standardized developmental assessment provides a descriptive summary of a child's developmental competencies. The assessment employs naturalistic observation and incorporates parent reports of the child's development along eight developmental domains: Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Relationship to Inanimate Objects (Cognitive), Language/Communication, Self-Help, Relationship to Persons, Emotions and Feeling States (affects), and Coping. Because the design was used to contribute to an integrated whole, the Provence Profile is meant to be used within the context of the full IDA rather than as an isolated test.

Although the Provence Profile does not report percentile ranks, standard scores, or traditional age equivalents, it does provide important information about the relationship between the child's chronological age and the specific developmental milestones the child has reached. This combination of normative expectations and carefully derived scoring criteria yield a performance age range that best describes the child's developmental level. In addition, a percentage delay can be computed in cases where this information is required.

Features of IDA

• Builds a graphic portrait of strengths and concerns in eight developmental domains
• Considers emotional development, interpersonal relationships, and coping behaviour
• Offers a framework for the integration of information from multiple sources
• Eliminates duplication of effort, time, and information

Technical Aspects of IDA & the Provence Profile

IDA has been cited as a process consistent with the guidelines prepared by the National Task Force on Screening and Assessment of the Early Childhood Technical Assistance System (Meisels and Provence, 1989). In addition, IDA meets the criteria for assessment as required by the regulations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Evaluation studies have demonstrated that IDA is an effective, cost-efficient, valid, and reliable assessment process that leads to recommendations similar to those of more in-depth evaluations (Anastasiow, 1988, 1989). Reliability coefficients for the Provence domain scores are generally quite high ranging from .90 to .96 for ages 1-18 months and .78 to .96 for ages 19-36 months. Inter-rater reliabilities range from .91 to .95 for seven of the eight domains and .81 for the remaining domain. The validity of the IDA and the Provence Profile has been demonstrated through several studies that have examined the content, construct, criterion-related, and predictive evidence of the validity of these assessments.

IDA Materials

The Infant-Toddler Developmental Assessment provides the tools and the guidance needed to implement this integrated team process. The comprehensive manuals enable professionals to learn how to conduct the six phases of IDA.

COMPONENTS

The IDA Foundations and Study Guide is designed to help professionals learn the basics and the details of the six phases and steps. A Study Guide for each phase provides the conceptual framework and then expands on the procedures to explain the what, why, and how of that phase. Team exercises are included to help train professionals new to the IDA process.

The IDA Administration Manual contains a summary of the six phases and steps and all the directions needed to administer and score the eight domains of the Provence Profile.

Family-Centered Assessment of Young Children at Risk: The IDA Readings is a collection of articles that support and elaborate on the conceptual, theoretical, and practical bases of the IDA procedures and the Provence Profile. These articles cover a wide range of topics and include both "classic" works and recent writings in child development.

The IDA Manipulatives Kit contains all the toys used in administering the Provence Profile: 3 picture cards, formboard, 2 rattles, spoon, bottle, sugar pellets, large and small cups, 3 beads and string, 13 cubes, key, screen, squeaky toy, bell, scissors, 2 crayons, pencil, paper, felt, car, pull-toy, doll, large and small balls.

All items are packaged in a sturdy canvas carrying bag.

COMPONENTS	ISBN	PRICE (Cdn. $)
IDA Complete Kit (no manipulatives or carrying case)	9-22828	$546.00
IDA Complete Kit (contains all components listed below, plus carrying case)	9-22810	$988.00
Parent Report Forms (Pkg. 25)	9-22812	$55.50
Health Record Guides (Pkg. 25)	9-22814	$43.50
Record Forms (Pkg. 25)	9-22816	$99.00
Foundations and Study Guide	9-22819	$135.05
Administration Manual	9-22820	$135.05
Family Centered Assessment of Young Children at Risk - The IDA Readings (319 pages)	9-22821	$110.10
Manipulatives Kit in Carrying Case	9-22823	$578.00