Developmental Surveillance
Ongoing monitoring of how children grow, learn, and interact is essential for detecting concerns early and supporting families proactively. This session on Developmental Surveillance examines how pediatric teams can embed structured, yet flexible, monitoring of development into routine care from infancy through early school years. Rather than relying on single screening moments, the session emphasises repeated observations, caregiver input, and contextual understanding to identify both emerging difficulties and areas of strength.
Clinicians and programme leaders are increasingly drawn to Pediatrics Conference that offer practical strategies for implementing surveillance in busy clinics, community programmes, and primary care networks. In this session, participants will explore different models of surveillance, including integrated well-child checks, group visits, and community outreach. The content covers selecting brief, culturally appropriate tools; using checklists and milestone charts judiciously; and incorporating caregiver concerns as central data points. Participants will also learn how to build systems that reduce missed opportunities for early identification.
A central theme is connecting effective pediatric developmental surveillance systems with clear pathways to assessment and intervention. Case scenarios will illustrate how to respond when surveillance suggests possible delays, regression, or unusual patterns of behaviour. Attendees will discuss how to communicate findings sensitively, avoid unnecessary alarm, and offer concrete next steps—ranging from reassurance and watchful waiting to referral for specialised assessment. The session also highlights the importance of documenting findings consistently and sharing information, with consent, with early childhood services and schools.
Equity and access are threaded throughout, exploring how to reach children who may not attend regular clinics, including those in remote areas, migrant or displaced families, and communities facing structural barriers. Participants will consider the role of community health workers, digital tools, and outreach programmes in extending surveillance beyond clinic walls. By the end, attendees will have practical ideas for building or strengthening developmental surveillance that is systematic, family-centred, and responsive to local context.
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Submit Your Abstract Here →Core Themes in Developmental Surveillance
Principles and goals of surveillance
- Viewing development as an ongoing process to be monitored over time, not a one-off check.
- Balancing sensitivity to potential concerns with recognition of normal variation across children and cultures.
Methods and tools for everyday practice
- Using structured questions, milestone prompts, and caregiver questionnaires within routine visits.
- Choosing tools that are quick, easy to administer, and linked to clear actions when concerns arise.
Responding to concerns and findings
- Taking caregiver worries seriously and integrating them with clinical observations and tool results.
- Differentiating between mild variations needing reassurance and patterns that require early referral.
Documentation, communication, and continuity
- Recording surveillance findings in ways that support continuity across visits and providers.
- Sharing key information with early years services and schools, with appropriate consent and safeguards.
Practice Insights and System Design
Integrating surveillance into workflows
Designing visit templates and team roles so developmental questions are consistently included.
Engaging families as partners
Encouraging caregivers to observe, celebrate, and discuss their child’s development between visits.
Extending reach beyond clinics
Collaborating with community health workers, outreach programmes, and early years centres to reach underserved children.
Using digital platforms thoughtfully
Leveraging apps, portals, and messaging to prompt milestone tracking and facilitate two-way communication.
Linking to early intervention and supports
Ensuring surveillance is connected to timely access to assessment, therapies, and family resources.
Evaluating impact and equity
Monitoring who is reached, who is missed, and how surveillance affects time to identification and support.
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