UAMS Boosts Developmental Screenings, Referrals at 5 Clinics with HealthySteps Program
| Since it began using the HealthySteps program in 2024, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has seen significant increases in developmental screenings, social and emotional screenings, pediatric referrals, and early intervention referrals at five of its clinics in the state.
In 2025, more than 2,100 children and caregivers were reached through HealthySteps services at UAMS clinics.
As a national, evidence-based pediatric framework, HealthySteps integrates an Early Childhood Development (ECD) expert within the care team so that young children have a strong foundation for a lifetime of healthy development, learning, and growth. As part of the HealthySteps program, the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation has supported ECDs at UAMS Health Family Medical Centers in Fort Smith, Texarkana, Little Rock, Helena-West Helena, and Jonesboro.
With HealthySteps, UAMS can identify situations like missed milestones, behavioral or developmental delays, and a lack of resources, and can then connect families with the support they need, when it matters most — during a child’s most formative years after birth.
“HealthySteps has continued to be a success at our clinic,” said Ashley Tally, an ECD expert at the UAMS Health Family Medical Center in Helena-West Helena. “We’re seeing the positive outcomes of the referrals that are happening. Children are getting the early intervention services they need.”
In 2024, there were 59 pediatric referrals made across the five clinics. In 2025, that number increased to 1,249. Similarly, the number of early intervention referrals across the five clinics rose from 11 in 2024 to 615 in 2025. And, between 2023 and 2025, the percentage of Medicaid-enrolled children at the clinics who received a well-child visit rose from 54.1% in 2023 to more than 85% last year.
“By integrating community health workers and nurse educators into care teams as ECD experts, we’ve seen substantial impacts in referrals and screenings that can really make a significant difference in the child’s development and long-term health,” said Sarah Moore, assistant director of community programs at the institute. “Our goal is to identify challenges early and to prevent others so young children can live longer, healthier lives.”
Services across UAMS Clinics with HealthySteps Program, 2024-2025
| 2024 | 2025 | |
| Developmental Screenings | 733 | 1,304 |
| Social Emotional Screenings | 664 | 1,130 |
| Pediatric Referrals | 59 | 1,249 |
| Early Intervention Referrals | 11 | 615 |
The screenings offer an opportunity for clinics to not only address the development of the child but to also connect families with additional support. ECD experts at the clinics reported connecting families to resources such as food and transportation, helping families escape intimate partner violence and access safe and reliable housing, and even identifying and addressing developmental concerns with older siblings that were part of the program.
“When we see a family for an appointment, any appointment, we can talk to them about needs they have and support systems within their community,” Moore said. “A well-child visit isn’t just an opportunity to check on the health of the child; it’s an opportunity to check on the whole family. We know that when families thrive, children thrive.”
To learn more about the Institute for Community Health Innovation, visit communityhealth.uams.edu.