An official website of the United States government
Developmental Milestone Resources
for WIC Programs
In 2022, CDC’s milestones and parent tips were updated and checklist for ages 15 and 30 months were added. For more information about the CDC’s developmental milestones, please review the Pediatrics journal article and these important key points.
You are a valuable resource to parents! They look to you for information about their child, and they trust you. “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” has resources to help educate parents on the full range of child development.
A Helpful Online Implementation Guide for WIC Providers!
1 in 6 children has developmental delays or disabilities. Children from families with low incomes, like those served by WIC, are at even greater risk. You can make a difference for these children by implementing the WIC Developmental Milestone Checklist Program in your clinic, using the free resources described below and making a referral when there is a concern.
Using CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” resources within WIC settings can:
- Help staff respond to questions or concerns from parents about their child’s development.
- Provide a quick and easy way to monitor a child’s early development.
- Help parents set goals related to their child’s growth and development.
- Offer parent education about developmental milestones and tips for supporting their child’s development.
- Help staff know when and where to refer a child with a possible developmental delay.
Note: These materials support developmental monitoring, but do not replace developmental screening. They help staff decide when to refer a child to other professionals for screening and further assessment.
WIC staff can help children with suspected developmental delays receive the help they need by:
Implementing the WIC Developmental Milestone Checklist Program in clinic(s)
- Integrate simple messages and easy-to-use tools into clients’ regular visits, with support from the WIC Developmental Milestone Checklist Implementation Guide.
Promoting Parent Awareness
- Integrate LTSAE developmental milestone checklists into clinic visits.
- Provide parents a checklist to complete at regular intervals, such as certification visits.
- Review the completed checklist with parents, and encourage them to share it with their child’s healthcare provider.
- Provide parents a Milestone Moments booklet [3 MB, 60 Pages, 508] or the link to the Milestone Tracker app, and encourage them to monitor development between visits.
Making a referral
- Refer to the child’s healthcare provider and/or early intervention program, when needed, for formal screening and assessment.
- Support parents in following up on concerns by sharing CDC’s tip sheet on How to Get Help for Your Child [727 KB, 2 Pages, 508]
A Simple Checklist
Can Make a BIG Difference!
Watch this brief video to learn how WIC can support every child’s development. Visit the online implementation guide to get started!
It’s Working in WIC!
WIC clinics in Missouri have developed a model to successfully integrate CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. Research shows that the model is highly acceptable to staff and families and works to identify and support children at risk.
96% of WIC staff referred one or more children with suspected delays
80% of WIC staff report that implementation takes less than 5 minutes
The model includes:
- Engaging imagery on the walls and floors of the clinic introduce milestone monitoring in a fun and friendly way.
- Parents completing milestone checklist while staff complete data entry tasks.
- Brief discussion of the completed checklist and referral to the child’s healthcare provider and/or early intervention program when concerns are noted.
To learn more about how this model was developed and tested in Missouri, visit this page.
What WIC Providers are Saying!
“The ‘Learn the Signs. Act Early.’ program fits perfectly with the work our WIC program does. The materials give our families a simple overview of key milestones to watch for in their children. And our staff is glad to have this additional support in talking with families about child development in a consistent, effective way.”
―WIC manager, St. Louis, Missouri
Links to other Websites
The WIC Works serves as a resource system that provides online education and training centers for staff of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). WIC Works provides links to other Internet sites as a service to health and nutrition professionals.
NWA is the non-profit education arm and advocacy voice of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and children (WIC).
