• Background     • How to Use the On Track Guide     • Acknowledgements     • Disclaimer

On Track - Full in PDF

The On Track guide is a very large document. Consequently, it takes some time to download as a whole. You may find it easier to download each section. The PDF versions for each section are accessible at the beginning of each of the online sections.
On Track - Section 1 in PDF

Background

• The development of the On Track guide was guided by the principles that all children:

• Develop at their own pace
• Develop within the context of their families and communities.

• The On Track guide uses a strength-based, holistic approach and provides a tool to support:

• The healthy development of all children within their own pace and context
• Early identification of indicators that may put a child at risk
• Strategies to support children and those who work with and care for them as they access additional services, further assessment and interventions

How to Use the On Track Guide

• Why use the On Track Guide?
  The purpose of this guide is to provide professionals who work with young children and families with some indicators of healthy child development from birth to six years of age. These indicators come from the five domains: social, emotional, physical, language, and cognitive and from other areas of development. If a child does not meet the expected milestones for his age range, further investigation is required, and a referral can be made to the appropriate specialist or program. In the past, a “wait and see” approach was often adopted due to the wide range of individuality in development. This approach resulted in children with developmental concerns being identified later and the loss of valuable time when brain development can be positively and fundamentally influenced.

The On Track guide is not to be used as an assessment tool, or to label or diagnose children. But early referrals can lead to early identification and early intervention by the appropriate professionals. In turn, this early intervention leads to more positive outcomes for children, such as less need for special education services, improved academic achievement, lower rates of grade retention, and higher rates of school completion. A “wait and see” approach is not an acceptable alternative, as a delay in support can translate into increasingly profound delays in a child’s development.

What to expect in the On Track Guide

The On Track Guide aims to create a culture, focused on enhancing and supporting the healthy development of children. It provides information and tools to assist each professional in his observation of the child. It encourages professionals to connect children and their families to community resources and, if needed, to appropriate services. The guide assists professionals to make sure children stay on track in their development even when risk factors are present.

• The On Track Guide offers:
  
  •  Information about factors that influence a child’s development
  •  The continuum of healthy child development grouped into domains within an ages and stages approach
  •  A list of signs of atypical development
  •  Information on play as the central activity through which a child learns and reinforces his developing skills
  •  Information about children’s safety and well-being, including how to recognize signs of maltreatment
  •  Questions from professionals, answers and resources that help support caregivers
  •  Links to local services and contact information

Acknowledgements

The On Track Guide assists professionals in supporting healthy development in all children through a strength-based approach. The development of this comprehensive reference guide required the dedication and support of many experts who work with young children and families. We want to acknowledge the advisory committee and the authors of the Red Flags reference guides for their impressive work and contributions to the On Track Guide.

On Track Guide Lead Project Team and Advisory Committee

On Track Guide Lead Project Team
Dr. Aimee Wolanski	Project Consultant/Editor – On Track Guide
Hiltrud Dawson	Project Chair, Health Promotion Consultant, Best Start Resource Centre, Health Nexus
On Track Guide Advisory Committee
Dr. Tony Barozzino	Chief of Paediatrics, St. Michaels Hospital, Toronto; Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Dr. Jean Clinton	Child Psychiatrist, McMaster University, Hamilton; Infant Mental Health Program member; Hamilton Best Start Implementation chair
Karen Cobb	Children's Community Planning Table Coordinator/Facilitator (Best Start Implementation – North Bay District)
Donna Cutler	Director of Health Promotion, Northwestern Health Unit
Ruth Doherty	Integrating Support Coordinator, Affiliated Services for Children and Youth, Hamilton
Dr. Elizabeth Lee Ford-Jones	Professor of Paediatrics, University of Toronto; Chief of Social Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Beth Fraser	Toronto Public Health, Child Health Manager
Wendy Goulden	Early Years Consultant, Learning Services, Waterloo Region District School Board
Shauna Grant	Health Promotion Consultant, Early Identification Program, Toronto Public Health
Marlene Green	Speech/Language Pathologist, Community Educator, York Region Preschool Speech and Language Program
Paul Leishman	Senior Therapist, Children's Therapy Services, Local Team Facilitator, Children's Treatment Network Simcoe-York
Maureen McDonald	Director of Early Child Development Programs, Mothercraft
Cathy Millard	Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program Coordinator, Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Public Health Unit
Dr. Pat Mousmanis	Family Physician, York Region and Toronto, Coordinator of the Healthy Child Development Program for the Ontario College of Family Physicians
Fabienne Nackers	Nurse Practitioner, Centre de santé communautaire du Témiskaming
Sandy Oliver	Senior Policy Analyst, Strategic Policy and Planning Division, Early Learning and Child Development Branch, Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Aldona Ollen	Public Health Nurse, Child Health, Early Identification Program, York Region, Community and Health Services
Kiran Pothula	Teacher, Peel District School Board
Manoj Saluja	Public Health Nurse, Toronto Public Health
Dr. Diann Superina	Developmental Paediatrician, St. Michael's Hospital Toronto, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Adam Wilton	Graduate Student, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto

The On Track Guide was also reviewed in part and as a whole by topic and practice experts. They provided valuable information on content related to accuracy and usability of the final version. We thank the reviewers for their thoughtful and timely input.

On Track Guide Expert Reviewers
Jane Bertrand	Professor, Early Childhood Development Faculty, George Brown College
Dr. Theresa Carter	Associate Professor, Division of Developmental Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, McMaster University
Martha Cole	Toronto Public Health, Infant Hearing and Blind Low Vision Program
Margaret Good	Provincial Healthy Schools Consultant, OPHEA
Marie Goulet	Early Childhood Development Program, George Brown College
Dr. Joelene Huber	Developmental Fellow, Division of Developmental Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto
Dr. Gajanan Kulkarni	Associate Professor, Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, University of Toronto
Dr. Brenda Smith-Chant	Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Trent University
Dr. Sarah Naomi Shaw	Family Physician, Taddle Creek Family Health Team
Martha Svacina	Manager, Healthy Babies Healthy Children, Community and Public Health Services, Waterloo Region
Mary Turfryer	Public Health Nutritionist, Nutrition Services, Community and Health Services Department, Public Health Branch, York Region
Richard Ward	Daily Physical Activity/Education Consultant, OPHEA

We would also like to thank the professionals working with young children, who provided feedback through surveys and field testing, during the planning and implementation stages of this guide.

Disclaimer

On Track - Supporting Healthy Child Development and Early Identification in the Early Years: A Reference Guide for Professionals in Ontario is designed to support professionals who work with young children.

The goal of the resource is to: Support professionals by providing specific strategies and information to: •  Support and promote healthy development in all children •  Decide when a child could benefit from additional support or services and •  Refer the child and his parents to the appropriate local children's service for advice, screening,     assessment and/or treatment.

The On Track Guide is not a formal screening or diagnostic tool for children, families and professionals. It is not to be used to diagnose or label a child. It is intended to support professionals working with children from Zero to six years of age.

This guide cannot substitute for the advice and/or treatment of professionals trained to properly assess the development and progress of young children. Although this document may help one decide when to seek professional help, the information contained in this document should not be used to diagnose or treat perceived developmental limitations and/or other health care needs.

The Best Start Resource Centre thanks you for your interest in and support of our work. Best Start permits others to copy, distribute, or reference the work for non-commercial purposes on condition that full credit is given. Because our resources are designed to support local health promotion initiatives, we would appreciate knowing how this resource has supported or been integrated into your work (beststart@healthnexus.ca).

September 2015 This document has been prepared with funds provided by the Government of Ontario. The information herein reflects the views of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Ontario. The resources and programs cited throughout this guide are not necessarily endorsed by the Best Start Resource Centre or the Government of Ontario. While the participation of the advisory was critical to the development of this resource, final decisions about content were made by the Best Start Resource Centre.