Systemwide Solutions to Improve Early Intervention for Developmental-Behavioral Concerns.

“Birth to Five: Watch Me Thrive!” (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ ecd/child-health-development/watch-me-thrive) seeks to systematically increase early detection of developmental–behavioral problems among atrisk children, from birth through 5 years. This initiative represents a coordinated effort to increase early screening and detection rates across the health, education, and social service sectors. Although the earliest detection of children who need extra developmental–behavioral support is a laudable goal, these efforts will be for naught without appropriate supports to document follow-up and enrollment into services. To meet the challenge of what happens next, our nation must address its capacity crisis. The leadership issue across sectors is to build the capacity to increase and improve access to evidence-based services that are tailored to child and family needs.