Project for Adolescent and Child Evaluations (PACE)

The Project for Adolescent and Child Evaluations (PACE) provides the multidisciplinary Comprehensive Health Assessment (CHA) in outreach clinics to all children placed in foster care within 60 days of entering custody.

Project Description

Depending on the age of the child/adolescent, the evaluations are completed in one visit and include an audiological screening, vision screening, cognitive-developmental assessment, academic assessment, behavioral/emotional assessment, a medical evaluation, an assessment of language, articulation, voice and fluency and an oral motor/feeding evaluation when appropriate.  Due to the many areas that need coverage, the evaluations typically last four to five hours and involve a pediatrician/advanced practice nurse, licensed psychological examiner/licensed mental health professional, and a speech-language pathologist.

To prevent the undue stress of traveling great distances on the children, parents, and DCFS staff, the children/adolescents are seen at 18 sites around the state.  UAMS Health staffs two fixed sites, Little Rock and Springdale, and travels to 16 other sites. Currently, our teams are averaging 236 evaluations per month.