Interdisciplinary Evaluation
Seacoast Child Development Clinic
Program Description & Funding
The Seacoast Child Development Clinic provides family-centered and culturally sensitive interdisciplinary evaluation and consultation to assist families of children who have developmental challenges to make informed decisions regarding medical, developmental, and educational needs.
The mission of the Seacoast Child Development Clinic is to enhance the lives of children with developmental challenges/disabilities, support their families, and train the next generation of leaders in best practices.
The vision of the Seacoast Child Development Clinic is that all children will thrive as members of inclusive communities.
The Seacoast Child Development Clinic is supported in part by Grant # 6 T73 MC 00024 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act), Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services
Partners
This program is a clinical component of New Hampshire's University Center of Excellence in partnership with the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth and the Institute on Disability and College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. Professionals and faculty from both UNH and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center staff the clinic, and trainees are part of the interdisciplinary team. Trainees gain experience in providing family-centered, community-based, culturally sensitive, interdisciplinary services. They also serve in leadership roles on behalf of children with disabilities and their families.
Services
The Seacoast Child Development Clinic provides interdisciplinary evaluation and diagnostic consultation to assist families of children age birth through age five who have developmental challenges to make informed decisions regarding medical, developmental, and educational needs. These services are family centered and culturally sensitive.
We use a team approach in evaluating and diagnosing children who have a question of a developmental delay, language / communication difficulty, autism, or a related condition. The typical evaluation involves a developmental pediatrician, a speech and language pathologist, an occupational therapist, and a Family Coordinator. The process is based on concerns and questions from the family and referring professionals.
As a result of the evaluation process, families or community providers can expect to:
- Receive information regarding a child's developmental and educational needs, and whether or not a diagnosis is present.
- Learn approaches for use at home, in the community, or at school to support development and learning.
- Receive guidance regarding developmental stages and transitions.
- Learn about medical or related services that may be needed to assist with or treat the identified developmental concerns.
- Learn about sources of family and peer support.
- Receive information about development and community resources and methods for addressing financial concerns, or access to care. In addition to the evaluation, the Seacoast Clinic team provides information and support regarding children's development to community, medical, and educational teams.
Program Contacts
Michelle Fox, Program Support Assistant
Phone: 603.862.0561
Email: michelle.fox@unh.edu
Ann Dillon, Coordinator of Clinical Training and Services
Phone: 603.862.0561
Email: aedillon@unh.edu
Resources & Links
Seacoast Child Development Clinic (SCDC) Website