2007
Early Childhood Screening Shows Results
Vladivostok Children's Polyclinic #12 is implementing the Firefly USAID project aimed at early identification of childhood development problems. Staff members who received training in Vladivostok and Albuquerque are enthusiastic about the screening's results and the positive health implications for Primorskiy Krai. Through empirical data collection and analysis, Russian health professionals can now see which development areas need improvement. Social workers, a neurologist, a psychiatrist, pediatricians, a speech therapist, a special education practitioner, and an exercise therapist are all using these screening techniques, passing on the results to parents and educators. So far, over 500 kids have been tested. With a new USAID grant, in 2008 the Firefly Children's Network is starting an early intervention training at two or three more clinics in Vladivostok. CG Tom Armbruster and USAID representative Irina Lindberg visited the polyclinic to see the program in action and were impressed with the staff's commitment to the program and the potential for broadening the program throughout the Far East as they spread their knowledge to their colleagues.