Seacoast Child Development Clinic: What We Do


	The Mission of the Seacoast Child Development Clinic is to promote a child's strengths to achieve his or her full and meaningful participation in the community. We provide interdisciplinary evaluation and consultation to assist families of children who have developmental challenges to make informed decisions regarding medical, developmental, and educational needs. These services are family centered and culturally sensitive. We provide services to children with developmental disabilities and related conditions and their families by utilizing a team approach. The typical evaluation involves a developmental pediatrician, a developmental psychologist, a communication specialist, an occupational therapist, and a Clinic Coordinator. Based on concerns and questions from the family and referring professionals, the Clinic Coordinator and team arrange for the appropriate specialists to be involved in the evaluation. Watch a Seacoast Clinic Story - A Quicktime movie (File size: 6.7M) Download the Seacoast Clinic Story - A PowerPoint Presentation (File size: 6.1M) As a result of the evaluation process, families or community providers can expect to learn: Information regarding a child's communication, learning, behavioral, physical, or emotional abilities. Approaches for use at home, in the community, or at school to support development and learning. Guidance regarding developmental stages and transitions. Sources of family and peer support. Identification of educational needs. A medical diagnosis and appropriate follow-up that may be needed. Medical or related services that may be needed to assist with or treat the identified developmental concerns. Information about development and community resources and methods for addressing financial concerns, or access to care. In addition to the evaluation, the Seacoast Clinic team provides information and support regarding children's development to community, medical, and educational teams. This program is a clinical component of New Hampshire's University Center of Excellence in partnership with the Dartmouth Center for Genetics and Child Development and the Institute on Disability and School of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. Professionals and faculty from both UNH and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center staff the clinic, and graduate interns are part of the interdisciplinary team. Trainees gain experience in providing family-centered, community-based, culturally sensitive, interdisciplinary services. They also serve in leadership roles on behalf of children with disabilities and their families. The clinic is partially supported by funding from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U.S. Department of Public Health.

The Mission of the Seacoast Child Development Clinic is to promote a child's strengths to achieve his or her full and meaningful participation in the community. Heaher Olds working with a child attending clinic We provide interdisciplinary evaluation and consultation to assist families of children who have developmental challenges to make informed decisions regarding medical, developmental, and educational needs. These services are family centered and culturally sensitive.

We provide services to children with developmental disabilities and related conditions and their families by utilizing a team approach. The typical evaluation involves a developmental pediatrician, a developmental psychologist, a communication specialist, an occupational therapist, and a Clinic Coordinator. Based on concerns and questions from the family and referring professionals, the Clinic Coordinator and team arrange for the appropriate specialists to be involved in the evaluation.

Watch a Seacoast Clinic Story - A Quicktime movie (File size: 6.7M)
Download the Seacoast Clinic Story - A PowerPoint Presentation (File size: 6.1M)

As a result of the evaluation process, families or community providers can expect to learn:

Information regarding a child's communication, learning, behavioral, physical, or emotional abilities.
Approaches for use at home, in the community, or at school to support development and learning.
Guidance regarding developmental stages and transitions.
Sources of family and peer support.
Identification of educational needs.
A medical diagnosis and appropriate follow-up that may be needed.
Medical or related services that may be needed to assist with or treat the identified developmental concerns.
Information about development and community resources and methods for addressing financial concerns, or access to care.

In addition to the evaluation, the Seacoast Clinic team provides information and support regarding children's development to community, medical, and educational teams.

This program is a clinical component of New Hampshire's University Center of Excellence in partnership with the Dartmouth Center for Genetics and Child Development and the Institute on Disability and School of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. Professionals and faculty from both UNH and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center staff the clinic, and graduate interns are part of the interdisciplinary team. Trainees gain experience in providing family-centered, community-based, culturally sensitive, interdisciplinary services. They also serve in leadership roles on behalf of children with disabilities and their families.

The clinic is partially supported by funding from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U.S. Department of Public Health.