Red Flags Child Development Guide
As promoted in issue 3 of GPLink, the Red Flags Early Intervention Guide for Children 0-5 Years, developed by the Royal Children's Hospital, is designed for both GPs and parents to identify when a child’s normal developmental progression is off-course. The guide provides clear direction about when to refer a child with a developmental concern.
Red Flags is unique and complements normal developmental milestone resources by prompting GPs to refer children at certain red flags, rather than ‘watching and waiting’.
Research shows that early intervention improves developmental outcomes and resilience in children before entering school. A snapshot of intake data for the Child Development Program from 2008 showed that the average age of referral for early intervention services was three years, although there are often indicators to warrant much earlier referral.
Printed copies will be available in late May.