NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Curriculum Associates' BRIGANCE® Screens were chosen as a recommended screening tool by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for its new Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! initiative. This coordinated federal effort is designed to encourage healthy child development, universal developmental and behavioral screening for children, and support the families and providers who care for them. Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! will help families and providers create developmental milestones for their child, and identify possible delays and concerns in children early.

As part of the initiative, the department published the Compendium of Screening Measures for Young Children, a collection of research-based screening tools, including the BRIGANCE Screens, for children under the age of five. Practitioners in early care and education, primary health care, child welfare, and mental health can use the compendium to learn about the cost, administration time, quality level, training required, and age range covered for each of the recommended screening tools.

"The BRIGANCE Screens provide educators with research-based, valid and reliable tools needed to accurately and efficiently assess young children," said Katie Nicholson, Vice President of Assessment at Curriculum Associates. "The recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reinforces the impact and validity of these products in helping to drive positive outcomes for children."

The BRIGANCE Screens are a long-standing and trusted series of developmental screening tools for children. The series of screens recommended in the compendium cover birth through 35 months and 3–5 years old.

To learn more about the BRIGANCE Screens, visit http://www.curriculumassociates.com/products/brigance-early-childhood.aspx.  To learn more about Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!, visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/watch-me-thrive.

About Curriculum Associates

Founded in 1969, privately owned Curriculum Associates, LLC, designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company's products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students. For company and product information, visit Curriculum Associates on the Web at http://www.CurriculumAssociates.com or call 800-225-0248.

SOURCE Curriculum Associates