Last updated February 26, 2024
At selected visits, Bright Futures recommends universal screening for developmental concerns, behavioral/social/emotional concerns, maternal depression, adolescent depression and suicide risk, substance use, or oral health concerns. A number of screening tools have been developed and are commonly used. The Toolkit provides a list of links to tools for use at specific Bright Futures visits as well as screening and assessment tools for use at the discretion of the health care professional.
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not approve nor endorse any specific tool for screening purposes. This table is not exhaustive, and other screening tools may be available. For best results, it is recommended that users review available instruction manuals before administering, scoring, and analyzing results of the scoring tools. Availability of a tool in multiple languages does not correlate to validation of the tool in such languages.
Links provided for these commonly used tools go to the author or the owner (or both) of the specific tool to ensure accessibility to the most up-to-date version of the specific tool. Review and comply with any copyright and permissions requirements before use.
Instruments for Recommended Universal Screening at Specific Bright Futures Visits
| Recommended Visit |
Recommended Screening |
Tool by Author/Owner |
1 Month
2 Month
4 Month
6 Month |
Maternal Depression |
Perinatal Mental Health - Information for Health Professionals (state.mn.us)
A modified version of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) is included as part of the Family Questions section in the Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC). |
Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQs)
PHQ-9 |
PHQ-2a
|
Universal
6 Month
9 Month
If No Dental Home
12 Month
15 Month
18 Month
2 Year
2½ Year
3 Year
4 Year
5 Year
6 Year |
Oral Health |
Oral Health Risk Assessment Tool (English)
Oral Health Risk Assessment Tool (Spanish)
AAP Oral Health Practice Tools
|
| Newborn Through 21 Years |
Behavioral/Social/Emotional |
Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ®:SE-2)
Age range: 1–72 months |
Baby Pediatric Symptom Checklist
Age range: under 18 months |
Preschool Pediatric Symptom Checklist
Age range: 18–65 months |
Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC)
• Translations
Age range: 4–16 years |
Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ)
• Translations
Age range: 2–17 years |
9 Month
18 Month
2½ Year
|
Child Development |
AAP “Developmental Screening Tools” table (found in Supplemental Information) |
Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition (ASQ®-3)
Age range: 1–60 months
|
Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS®)
Age range: 0–8 years |
Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC) (milestones)
Age range: 1–65 months |
18 Month
2 Year
|
Autism Spectrum Disorder |
Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F)
• Translations |
Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC)
(Parent's Observations of Social Interactions) |
11 Through 14 Year
15 Through 17 Year
18 Through 21 Year |
Depression and Suicide Risk |
PHQ-9 Modified for Teens (PHQ-A)a
A version of the PHQ-9 Modified for Teens is available in the Guidelines for Adolescent Depression in Primary Care Toolkit (in multiple languages).
Another sample of the PHQ-9 Modified for Teens is available through the Community Care of North Carolina. |
PHQ-2a
|
| Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) |
| Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) |
| Patient Safety Screener (PSS-3) |
11 Through 14 Year
15 Through 17 Year
18 Through 21 Year |
Tobacco, Alcohol, or Drug Use |
Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: A Practitioner's Guide
|
| Brief Screener for Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drugs (BSTAD) |
| Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble (CRAFFT) |
| Screening to Brief Intervention (S2BI) |
Abbreviation: AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics.
Other Commonly Used Screening and Assessment Tools
| Recommended Screening |
Tool by Author/Owner |
| Parent and family assessment |
Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK) Parent Questionnaire– R
• Translations |
| Social determinants (drivers) of health |
Accountable Health Communities Health-Related Social Needs Screening Tool |
| Center for Youth Wellness ACE Questionnaire (CYW ACE-Q) |
| The EveryONE Project Social Needs Screening Tool (American Academy of Family Physicians) |
| Health Leads Social Needs Screening Toolkit |
| Hunger Vital Sign |
| IHELP (Income, Insurance, Hunger, Housing, Homeless, Education, Safety, Legal Status, Power of Attorney) Social History Tool |
| Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patients’ Assets, Risks, and Experiences (PRAPARE) |
| Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC) (Family Questions) |
| Well Child Care, Evaluation, Community Resources, Advocacy, Referral, Education (WE CARE) Survey |
| Crosscutting |
Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC)
• Translations |
| AAP Screening Tool Finderb |
a This version is not available on the Pfizer website.
b This is a searchable database of screening tools for children 0–5 years of age.
