Infant Mental Health coalition

Hancock County Infant Assessment Team
A Collaboration of:
Child Development Services
Special Children’s Friends
Downeast Health Services

Infant Assessments
Infant assessments are held in the family’s home, at the CDS office, or another appropriate setting. The assessment is designed to meet the concerns of the parent or referral source. The sessions typically last about one hour. Parents are fee to ask the assessors questions at any time during the assessment.

Who is eligible to receive an Infant Assessment?
Any infant (birth – 18 months) in Hancock County who is born prematurely or about whom there is a health or developmental concern, is eligible to receive the assessment at no cost to the family.

How does the Process Work?

• When a baby is referred, a member of the Infant Assessment Team makes a home visit to discuss concerns, explain the assessment process and answer questions the family may have.
   

• Following the home visit, a team of two therapists will schedule the assessment with the family. The therapists will be chosen to address the concerns of the family.
   

• Therapists will assess the child in a play setting using typical baby toys, observation, and parent report.
   

• Therapists will share their impressions with the family, and they will also leave some written home instructions (ideas or activities) for parents.
   

• Following the assessment, the therapists will write a report. A copy of the report will be given to the family. The report may have specific recommendations and if parents choose, CDS is available to provide or help ling them with services.
   

• The CDS case coordinator will continue to work with parents to help find appropriate services for their child.

The Infant Assessment Team meets weekly to discuss new referrals, update old referrals, coordinate the clinics and support families in the referral process. This disposition team includes:

• Special Children’s Friends Linda Henderson 667-2430

• Child Development Services Kim Bunker-Hodgkins 667-7108

• Child Development Services Dewey Meteer 667-7108

• Downeast Health Services
  Parents Are Teachers Too Cathy Jacobs 667-5304