Texas Developmental Screening and Surveillance (Tx DSS) ECHO
Early Intervention is key in children with developmental delays: however, it can be difficult to access timely, appropriate, evidence-based care. Early childhood educators are often best placed to identify developmental delays. Partnership, resource-sharing, and mutual support of these professionals are essential to build a sustainable early intervention system.
To address this, UT Health San Antonio in collaboration with the Texas Department of State Health Services is launching the Tx DSS ECHO. This series aims to provide the community with relevant and usable information about developmental screenings and share best practices for screening.
Who is this ECHO for?
- Early childhood educators
- Childcare providers/ home daycare providers
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the resources available when they have a child they are concerned about
- Understand differences between developmental screening, developmental monitoring and developmental surveillance
- Obtain evidence-based knowledge about tools available for developmental screenings, best practices for screening and the necessary steps after screening
- Network with a learning community for exchanging knowledge and sharing experiences
- Create a universal structure for developmental monitoring and support while engaging families in the process
Join us!
Sessions begin September 2024 - 2nd Fridays of each month from 1-2pm CT
Submit a case, join a session, grow
ECHOs thrive on the contribution of all learners. If you want guidance or support, please consider presenting a case at our ECHO. Doing this is simple: just fill out a case presentation form online. Then join a session and take a few minutes to talk us through your case, your experience, and your questions for the learning network. We’ll facilitate discussion of the case and provide you with evidence-based, multidisciplinary mentorship on your next steps.
Meet the Tx DSS ECHO HUB team
Andria Horton, M.A., NMC, CFRE
Executive Director
Champions for Children
Dorothy J. Mandell, PhD
Associate Professor
UT Health Houston School of Public Health
Faith Rivera, M.Ed
Managing Partner and Principal Consultant
Alo Civitas Consulting LLC
Session resources and recordings
Please check back often for new content.
Session 11: July 11, 2025
Helping All Children Thrive: Accommodations and Support for Young Learners
- Presentation by: Becky Swindall, MS, CDA-PDS, CHES
Session 10: June 13, 2025
Inclusion in Action: Adaptations to Support All Abilities
- Presentation by: Aubrie Baack, OTR, C/NDT, Occupational Therapist
Session 9: May 9, 2025
Inclusion in Action: Creating Space for Every Little Learner to Thrive
- Presentation by: Laura Marquez, MSW, Program Supervisor, Help Me Grow El Paso
Session 8: April 11, 2025
You Have Screened and Now What
- Presentation by: Patricia Rosenlund, M.S., Executive Director, Easterseals RGV
Session 7: March 14, 2025
Having Hard Conversations with Parents
- Presentation by: Kristin Omo, B.S., ECI-EIS, Child Development Specialist, Champions for Children
Session 6: February 14, 2025
Family Engaged Monitoring & Developmental Screening
- Presentation by: Jennifer Cox, PhD, System Director Provider Support and Training, My Health My Resources of Tarrant County
Session 5: January 10, 2025
Developmental Screening – Part 2
- Presentation by: Alexandra Mylius, M.S., Director of Awareness, First3Years
Session 4: December 13, 2024
Developmental Screening – Part 1
- Presentation by: Becky Swindall, M.S., CHES, Child Development Specialist, Champions for Children
Session 3: November 8, 2024
Family Engaged Monitoring
- Presentation by: Faith Rivera, M.Ed, Managing Partner and Principal Consultant, Alo Civitas Consulting LLC
Session 2: October 18, 2024
Overview of the new CDC Model
- Presentation by: Andria Horton, MA, NMC, CFRE, Executive Director, Champions for Children
Session 1: September 13, 2024
Domains of Developmental Delays in Children
- Presentation by: Dorothy Mandell, PhD, Associate Professor, UT Health Houston School of Public Health
