7,333 Applications Received for Gyeonggi Province's Early Detection Service for At-Risk Infants and Toddlers

[Suwon Ilbo = Park No-hoon] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 27th that 7,333 people have applied for the 'Gyeonggi Province Infant and Toddler Development Support Service,' which has been providing early detection and support for infants and toddlers at risk of language and developmental disorders for three years since March 2021.

In the first year of the project in 2021, there were 3,759 applicants (475 referred to specialized institutions), 2,595 applicants in 2022 (871 referred to specialized institutions), and 1,027 applicants as of May this year.

Among the 1,027 applicants this year, 557 had language and developmental delay issues and 470 had emotional-related issues. Of these, 357 received treatment services through referral to specialized institutions due to developmental delays and anxiety disorders.

The province launched related projects to support 'at-risk infants and toddlers'—those not yet diagnosed with disabilities but who have a high probability of failing to adapt to school or developing disabilities in the future if they do not continuously receive educational services.

When guardians of preschool-age children or childcare centers apply, approximately 30 development support counselors deployed at city and county childcare support centers conduct free screening tests. Based on the test results, they provide teacher and parent counseling and treatment support.

Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Province Childcare Support Center oversee the project overall, including capacity-building training and meetings for 31 development support specialists deployed at city and county childcare support centers, project promotion, and monitoring. City and county childcare support centers provide direct services including developmental assessments, counseling, and treatment referrals for at-risk infants and toddlers, guardians, and childcare teachers.

If any abnormal signs are detected in an infant or toddler's development or adaptation, assistance can be obtained by applying to the relevant city or county childcare support center.

For more information, applicants can check the announcements on the websites of their respective city or county childcare support centers or inquire by phone.

Yun Young-mi, director of the Childcare Policy Division at Gyeonggi Province, said, "We will support at-risk infants and toddlers in growing into healthy members of society through Gyeonggi Province's Infant and Toddler Development Support Service project."