The Chiayi City Service Station of the Southern District Affairs Brigade, National Immigration Agency, recently held a family education course. The City Health Bureau and new residents were invited to share information on child development screening and joint assessment services, emphasizing that parents should closely monitor their children’s growth to avoid missing the golden period for early intervention.
The Chiayi City Health Bureau stated that ages 0 to 6 are a critical period for child development, with the period before age 3 being the golden window for therapy. If parents notice that their child's development is significantly different from that of children of the same age, they should promptly conduct child development screening and joint assessments. Many parents previously held the belief of “late blooming,” resulting in missed opportunities for early treatment. With advances in medical technology, children with developmental delays can greatly enhance their ability to integrate into society and reduce family stress if detected early and provided with intervention.
Child development screening is divided into three stages. The first stage is developmental monitoring, where parents can refer to the warning signs in the child health handbook according to their child’s age. If a child cannot meet the standards, it is recommended to take them to a medical institution for screening as soon as possible. If the screening results show abnormalities, the hospital will further arrange for health education, follow-up, or referral to a child development joint assessment center for more detailed diagnosis and evaluation.
Invite the Chiayi City Government Health Bureau to share child development screening and joint assessment services with new residents (picture/reproduced from the Immigration Department website)
Since July this year, the Health Promotion Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare has added six additional screening services for children under 7 years old, emphasizing that parents should regularly take their children for screenings to ensure healthy development.
The Chiayi City Health Bureau added that the Changhua Christian Hospital Chiayi Branch, Chiayi Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and St. Martin de Porres Hospital in Chiayi City all provide joint child development assessments. Parents in need can call these institutions for consultation.
Huang Yanxun, Director of the Chiayi City Service Station, pointed out that every child’s future holds limitless possibilities. However, children with developmental delays who miss the opportunity for early intervention may have their potential impacted. The service station regularly holds family education courses on health care, multiculturalism, and related laws every month, and new residents are encouraged to actively participate to expand their knowledge and rights.
Ms. Xiaoxuli, a new Japanese resident in attendance, stated that she has children aged 1 and 6 at home and regularly conducts child development screenings to understand their developmental progress (Photo/Source: National Immigration Agency Website).
