UNASSIGNED: Occupational therapists can play a key role in early identification of delay at the population health level by providing education to public health employees on how to implement developmental monitoring with caregivers of children birth to age 5.
UNASSIGNED: A pretest posttest design was utilized to assess the online education and training that was provided to Department of Public Health employees (N = 339), including Head Start, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, Home Visiting, and Early Intervention.
UNASSIGNED: Analysis of pretest-posttest survey data showed significant results for all 12 key learning outcomes. Six out of 12 outcomes were found to have a large effect size (d > 0.8), 4 outcomes indicated a medium effect size (d > 0.5), and 2 outcomes had a small effect size (d > 0.2). Participants gained knowledge of the \"Learn the Signs. Act Early.\" (LTSAE) developmental monitoring program, the difference between developmental monitoring and screening, the state\'s referral system and age-appropriate parental engagement activities through knowledge of child development.
UNASSIGNED: Occupational therapists are child development specialists who can provide education on developmental monitoring and activities for parental engagement. The online course proved to be an effective platform to promote LTSAE within state agencies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of \"Watch Me!\" developmental monitoring training on childcare providers\' knowledge and attitudes related to monitoring developmental milestones and making recommended referrals when there is a concern about a child\'s development.
METHODS: A pretest-posttest design using web-based surveys was used to assess the impact of \"Watch Me!\" training on knowledge and attitudes related to conducting five key components of developmental monitoring (tracking development, recognizing delays, talking to parents about development, talking to parents about concerns, and making referrals). Variables included belief that developmental monitoring is important and is part of childcare provider role; perceived knowledge of, access to tools for, and prioritization of developmental monitoring; and ability to list recommended referrals when there is a concern.
RESULTS: Childcare providers demonstrated a significant pre-post increase in perceived knowledge and access to the tools to engage in five core components of developmental monitoring after completing \"Watch Me!\" training. There was also a significant pre-post increase in childcare providers\' ability to list the child\'s doctor as an appropriate referral (39 pre-63% post), but not in the ability to list Part C/Part B programs as an appropriate referral (56 pre-58% post). CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: \"Watch Me!\" training may be effective at impacting targeted areas of knowledge and attitude about developmental monitoring among childcare providers in the short term.