The Alabama ABCD Screening Academy Project developed a standardized screening practice that includes the use of developmental and socio-emotional development screening. Alabama also built upon and coordinated with existing public and private partnerships. The ABCD Screening Academy Project work plan will be incorporated into Alabama’s Blueprint for School Readiness (Zero to Five) plan.

Specifically, the ABCD Screening Academy project in Alabama improved developmental screening by:

• Improving state policy to better support developmental screening by expanding Medicaid and All Kids reimbursement for standardized screening and modifying policy and billing manuals to inform providers of the changes. In addition, S-CHIP is now paying for up to 4 standardized screenings tied into a well-child visit during the first 4 years – which so far has led to a 600 percent increase in claims for the 96110 procedure code.
• Sustaining and spreading the use of standardized screening tools as part of well child care by partnering with The Alabama Partnership for Children (APC), in order to build upon APC's extended public and private business connections in support of this effort, and partnered with the Alabama AAP chapter and The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) to pursue grant funding to bolster coordination of early childhood services and streamline resources to improve outcomes for young children and their families.