About TNAAP's Developmental/Behavioral Training (START)

The Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (TNAAP) can be a tremendous resource to you in implementing the use of formal screening tools in your practice. TNAAP has a free training program for practices called Screening Tools And Referral Training (START). This training is approved for 2.5 CME credits by both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Nurses can earn 2.5 contact hours from the Tennessee Nursing Association (TNA).

START is an educational program developed by TNAAP to help pediatric care providers – including pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and others – learn skills and strategies to implement routine developmental screening using standardized screening tools as part of their health care procedures. It was adapted with permission from the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP). This training program is funded through a grant from the Bureau of TennCare and is an extension of the EPSDT project. See the START Brochure  for more information and the program description.

TNAAP offers START training throughout the state to educate physicians, allied health care providers, and office staff about developmental and behavioral screening tools, referral procedures, and office workflow, and coding for reimbursement for screening that can be easily incorporated into a practice routine. See the START Schedule of Regional Training  to locate a training event near you.

The purpose of the START program is threefold:

1. To increase early identification and referral of children with developmental delays or behavioral problems using standarized screening tools.
2. To better understand referral resources in your community. 
3. To learn about better documentation of services, coding and reimbursement.

 The START training is divided into three parts:

Part I covers the science of developmental/behavioral screening using standardized screening tools and how developmental and behavioral screening enhances surveillance for the physician.

Part II examines standardized developmental and behavioral screening tools that can easily be incorporated into the child health visit. Participants get hands-on experience scoring and interpreting developmental and behavioral tools, as well as a tool for detecting autism spectrum and one for detecting post-partum depression in new moms. Part II also covers coding for reimbursement when standardized screening tools are used.

Part III provides strategies for implementing screening procedures during the child health visit. Participants have the opportunity to work as a team to determine developmental/behavioral screening protocol, select the screening tools they would like to use, determine at which well child visits they would like to use them, and develop an action plan for their practice to begin to implement the protocol as soon as possible. Part III also provides information and strategies that practices may use to access appropriate referral resources in their community.

If you are interested in learning more about the START program, or would like to request the training, contact:

Deborah Usry
Developmental Services Coordinator
(615) 376-4829
dusrytnaap@comcast.net

To access a START brochure, please click on the link: START Brochure