Medical evaluations and support for children with developmental concerns
Developmental differences can affect children in many ways, including how they learn, play, socialize, speak and more. The Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics team provides medical evaluations for patients when there is a concern about a developmental difference. These evaluations can inform treatment plans, support better outcomes and provide the documentation necessary to obtain services within the community.
We work with children from birth through 18 years of age who have suspected autism spectrum disorder, documented developmental delays and intellectual disabilities. Our goal is to help children thrive and empower families to access needed resources.
How we help
Our team includes developmental behavioral pediatricians, pediatric nurse practitioners, registered nurses and support staff who bring years of clinical training and experience in working with neurodiverse children. We work together to identify your child’s needs, uncover their strengths and help you access support within Mary Bridge Children’s, MultiCare and the community.
At Mary Bridge Children’s, we also have a dedicated nurse navigator who provides personalized guidance for children diagnosed with autism. The nurse navigator makes referrals, coordinates care and helps families locate resource to improve their child’s quality of life.
Contact us
For more information about developmental behavioral pediatrics at Mary Bridge Children’s, please call 253-403-4437, option 2.
What to expect at an appointment
A referral from your child’s primary care provider is required to make an appointment with us. Once we receive a referral, our nursing staff reviews it to determine if the request for care meets our scope of practice.
After we accept a referral, we will send you a welcome letter via mail that shares our current wait time for a new patient appointment. While we aim to see new patients as quickly as possible, wait times for scheduling these appointments can be lengthy due to high demand.
If our team denies a referral, we communicate that decision — along with suggested alternate resources — to the referring provider.
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What to bring to a first appointment
If available, please bring the following to your child’s first appointment:
- Child Find evaluation, a free developmental assessment for children 3 to 5 years old
- School educational evaluation and individualized education plan (IEP)
- Speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy evaluations
- Psychological evaluations
- Any other pertinent evaluations or information
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What to know about Child Find and other learning evaluations
Child Find is a program that identifies children and young adults who may have a disability so they can access services through the public school system. If your child is between 3 and 5 years old and has not had this evaluation, please contact your local school district to request it.
If your child is between 5 and 18 years of age and struggling academically, please contact your child’s school team to discuss whether a learning evaluation may be appropriate.
How to refer a patient
Please fax referrals to 253-864-3939. We perform a clinical review of all referrals, so please send chart notes and specific information about patients’ needs.
Providers
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