Designed by the Enrichment Project for Handicapped Infants, the Hawaii Early Learning Profile is a curriculum-based assessment tool created to evaluate young children ages 0-3 and 3-5, using two different assessments for each age group (Children with Challenges, n.d.). Implemented in 35 states and 7 countries, the HELP assessment focuses on six areas of development that encompass 685 skills. These areas of development include 1) fine motor skills, 2) gross motor skills, 3) social skills, 4) self-help skills, 5) expressive language skills, and 6) cognitive skills, including receptive language skills. Rather than being evaluated against their peers, children who take the HELP assessment are evaluated against their own prior achievement.
HELP 0-3 ASSESSMENT
The components of the HELP 0-3 include the family centered interview; 58 strands of the 685 skills; charts used to follow a child’s growth in the six areas of development; a checklist; and an activity guide.
During the family-centered interview, the test proctor asks the child’s family member(s) about the daily activities that the child and family engage in; what skills and behaviors the child exhibits during the activity; and if the family members have any questions (Warshaw, S.P., n.d.c). On the VORT website, the family-centered interview costs $2 each.
The 58 strands of the 685 skills are presented in a chart-like format with each assessment item organized into strands (e.g. “regulatory and sensory organization”) that relate to corresponding behaviors and skills (e.g. “quiets when picked up”) (Warshaw, S.P., n.d.b). On the VORT website, the HELP strands cost $3.50 each.
The progress tracking charts present the 685 skills assessed in the HELP assessment in the form of a scale that contains each of the six areas of development (VORT Corporation, n.d.). These areas include gross motor, fine motor, social, self-help, language, and cognitive. On the VORT website, the HELP charts cost $3.50 each.
The HELP checklist displays each of the 685 assessed skills, listing the specific skill being assessed, the typical age that the child is expected to complete the skill, the date that the child was assessed for each skill, and any comments the test proctor might have (Warshaw, S.P., n.d.a). On the VORT website, the HELP checklist cost $3.50 each.
The HELP 0-3 activity guide presents up to ten sound and feasible approaches and activities that can be implemented for each of the 685 skills or behaviors being assessed (VORT Corporation, n.d.b). On the VORT website, the HELP 0-3 activity guide costs $34.95.
The total cost of the components is $47.45.
There are a few uses and benefits for the HELP assessment. HELP can serve as a tool to assist with one’s “informed clinical opinions” to whether or not a child exhibits severe developmental delays (VORT Corporation, n.d.). As such, HELP can be employed as an initial long-term evaluation as a means to detect a child’s “unique strengths and needs, services appropriate to meet those needs, and the resources, priorities, and concerns of the family” (VORT Corporation, n.d.).
Some of the weaknesses of HELP include its inability to: diagnose children with mild developmental delays and present a conclusive developmental age for the child being assessed (VORT Corporation, n.d.).
Help 3-6 Assessment
The components of the HELP 3-6 include the family centered interview; 47 strands of the 585 skills; a checklist; and a curriculum guide.
Like the HELP 0-3, during the HELP 3-6 family-centered interview, the test proctor asks the child’s family member(s) about the daily activities that the child and family engage in; what skills and behaviors the child exhibits during the activity; and if the family members have any questions (Warshaw, S.P., n.d.c). On the VORT website, the family-centered interview costs $2 each.
The 47 strands of the 585 skills are presented in a chart-like format with each assessment item organized into strands (e.g. “self-regulation”) that relate to corresponding behaviors and skills (e.g. “waits for turn at least two times”) (Teaford, P., et. al., n.d.a). On the VORT website, the HELP strands cost $3.50 each.
The HELP checklist displays each of the 585 assessed skills, listing the specific skill being assessed, the typical age that the child is expected to complete the skill, the date that the child was assessed for each skill, and any comments the test proctor might have (Warshaw, S.P., n.d.a). On the VORT website, the HELP checklist cost $3.50 each.
The progress tracking charts present the 585 skills assessed in the HELP assessment in the form of a scale that contains each of the six areas of development (VORT Corporation, n.d.). These areas include gross motor, fine motor, social, self-help, language, and cognitive. On the VORT website, the HELP charts cost $3.50 each.
The HELP 3-6 curriculum guide presents activities that can be incorporated into the curriculum as means to help children accomplish each of the 585 skills or behaviors being assessed. On the VORT website, the HELP 0-3 activity guide costs $39.95.
The total cost of the components is $52.45.
As mentioned in my previous answer pertaining to HELP 0-3, HELP 3-6 can serve as a tool to assist with one’s “informed clinical opinions” to whether or not a child exhibits severe developmental delays (VORT Corporation, n.d.). As such, HELP can be employed as an initial long-term evaluation as a means to detect a child’s “unique strengths and needs, services appropriate to meet those needs, and the resources, priorities, and concerns of the family” (VORT Corporation, n.d.). Two added benefits to HELP 3-6 is that is supplements HELP 0-3 and offers a thorough support for long-term evaluation, activity planning, and tracking achievement (VORT Corporation, n.d.).
I would use the HELP assessment for my classroom. Unlike the Carolina and other assessments, the HELP assessment is much more thorough. In addition to evaluating hundreds of skills for each age group, the HELP assessment has a number of components that foster regular ongoing assessment of a student’s performance and progress. The HELP assessment provides comprehensive activity and curriculum guides that educators can use to incorporate the assessed skills into their lesson plans and school routines.
References
Children with Challenges. (n.d.) Glossary: Definitions: H. Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/#q=define+hawaii+early+learning+profile
Teaford, P., et. al. (n.d.a). HELP strands 3-6. Retrieved from
http://www.vort.com/HELP-3-6-Assessment-Strands.html
VORT Corporation. (n.d.a) FAQ: HELP 0-3 clinical questions. Retrieved from
http://www.vort.com/HELP-0-3-Clinical-FAQ.html
VORT Corporation. (n.d.a). HELP Charts 0-3. Retrieved from
http://www.vort.com/HELP-Charts-0-3.html
VORT Corporation. (n.d.b) HELP activity guide 0-3. Retrieved from
http://www.vort.com/HELP-Activity-Guide.html
Warshaw, S.P. (n.d.a) HELP 0-3 checklist. Retrieved from
https://bbhosted.cuny.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-15544248-dt-content-rid-
43600718_1/courses/HTR01_SPEDE_76900_W01_1142_WIN/HELP%200-
3.pdf
Warshaw, S.P. (n.d.b). HELP family-centered interview: Birth to three. Retrieved
from http://www.vort.com/HELP-Family-Centered-Interview.html
Warshaw, S.P. (n.d.c). HELP strands 0-3. Retrieved from
http://www.vort.com/HELP-0-3-Assessment-Strands.html
HELP 0-3 ASSESSMENT
The components of the HELP 0-3 include the family centered interview; 58 strands of the 685 skills; charts used to follow a child’s growth in the six areas of development; a checklist; and an activity guide.
During the family-centered interview, the test proctor asks the child’s family member(s) about the daily activities that the child and family engage in; what skills and behaviors the child exhibits during the activity; and if the family members have any questions (Warshaw, S.P., n.d.c). On the VORT website, the family-centered interview costs $2 each.
The 58 strands of the 685 skills are presented in a chart-like format with each assessment item organized into strands (e.g. “regulatory and sensory organization”) that relate to corresponding behaviors and skills (e.g. “quiets when picked up”) (Warshaw, S.P., n.d.b). On the VORT website, the HELP strands cost $3.50 each.
The progress tracking charts present the 685 skills assessed in the HELP assessment in the form of a scale that contains each of the six areas of development (VORT Corporation, n.d.). These areas include gross motor, fine motor, social, self-help, language, and cognitive. On the VORT website, the HELP charts cost $3.50 each.
The HELP checklist displays each of the 685 assessed skills, listing the specific skill being assessed, the typical age that the child is expected to complete the skill, the date that the child was assessed for each skill, and any comments the test proctor might have (Warshaw, S.P., n.d.a). On the VORT website, the HELP checklist cost $3.50 each.
The HELP 0-3 activity guide presents up to ten sound and feasible approaches and activities that can be implemented for each of the 685 skills or behaviors being assessed (VORT Corporation, n.d.b). On the VORT website, the HELP 0-3 activity guide costs $34.95.
The total cost of the components is $47.45.
There are a few uses and benefits for the HELP assessment. HELP can serve as a tool to assist with one’s “informed clinical opinions” to whether or not a child exhibits severe developmental delays (VORT Corporation, n.d.). As such, HELP can be employed as an initial long-term evaluation as a means to detect a child’s “unique strengths and needs, services appropriate to meet those needs, and the resources, priorities, and concerns of the family” (VORT Corporation, n.d.).
Some of the weaknesses of HELP include its inability to: diagnose children with mild developmental delays and present a conclusive developmental age for the child being assessed (VORT Corporation, n.d.).
Help 3-6 Assessment
The components of the HELP 3-6 include the family centered interview; 47 strands of the 585 skills; a checklist; and a curriculum guide.
Like the HELP 0-3, during the HELP 3-6 family-centered interview, the test proctor asks the child’s family member(s) about the daily activities that the child and family engage in; what skills and behaviors the child exhibits during the activity; and if the family members have any questions (Warshaw, S.P., n.d.c). On the VORT website, the family-centered interview costs $2 each.
The 47 strands of the 585 skills are presented in a chart-like format with each assessment item organized into strands (e.g. “self-regulation”) that relate to corresponding behaviors and skills (e.g. “waits for turn at least two times”) (Teaford, P., et. al., n.d.a). On the VORT website, the HELP strands cost $3.50 each.
The HELP checklist displays each of the 585 assessed skills, listing the specific skill being assessed, the typical age that the child is expected to complete the skill, the date that the child was assessed for each skill, and any comments the test proctor might have (Warshaw, S.P., n.d.a). On the VORT website, the HELP checklist cost $3.50 each.
The progress tracking charts present the 585 skills assessed in the HELP assessment in the form of a scale that contains each of the six areas of development (VORT Corporation, n.d.). These areas include gross motor, fine motor, social, self-help, language, and cognitive. On the VORT website, the HELP charts cost $3.50 each.
The HELP 3-6 curriculum guide presents activities that can be incorporated into the curriculum as means to help children accomplish each of the 585 skills or behaviors being assessed. On the VORT website, the HELP 0-3 activity guide costs $39.95.
The total cost of the components is $52.45.
As mentioned in my previous answer pertaining to HELP 0-3, HELP 3-6 can serve as a tool to assist with one’s “informed clinical opinions” to whether or not a child exhibits severe developmental delays (VORT Corporation, n.d.). As such, HELP can be employed as an initial long-term evaluation as a means to detect a child’s “unique strengths and needs, services appropriate to meet those needs, and the resources, priorities, and concerns of the family” (VORT Corporation, n.d.). Two added benefits to HELP 3-6 is that is supplements HELP 0-3 and offers a thorough support for long-term evaluation, activity planning, and tracking achievement (VORT Corporation, n.d.).
I would use the HELP assessment for my classroom. Unlike the Carolina and other assessments, the HELP assessment is much more thorough. In addition to evaluating hundreds of skills for each age group, the HELP assessment has a number of components that foster regular ongoing assessment of a student’s performance and progress. The HELP assessment provides comprehensive activity and curriculum guides that educators can use to incorporate the assessed skills into their lesson plans and school routines.
References
Children with Challenges. (n.d.) Glossary: Definitions: H. Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/#q=define+hawaii+early+learning+profile
Teaford, P., et. al. (n.d.a). HELP strands 3-6. Retrieved from
http://www.vort.com/HELP-3-6-Assessment-Strands.html
VORT Corporation. (n.d.a) FAQ: HELP 0-3 clinical questions. Retrieved from
http://www.vort.com/HELP-0-3-Clinical-FAQ.html
VORT Corporation. (n.d.a). HELP Charts 0-3. Retrieved from
http://www.vort.com/HELP-Charts-0-3.html
VORT Corporation. (n.d.b) HELP activity guide 0-3. Retrieved from
http://www.vort.com/HELP-Activity-Guide.html
Warshaw, S.P. (n.d.a) HELP 0-3 checklist. Retrieved from
https://bbhosted.cuny.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-15544248-dt-content-rid-
43600718_1/courses/HTR01_SPEDE_76900_W01_1142_WIN/HELP%200-
3.pdf
Warshaw, S.P. (n.d.b). HELP family-centered interview: Birth to three. Retrieved
from http://www.vort.com/HELP-Family-Centered-Interview.html
Warshaw, S.P. (n.d.c). HELP strands 0-3. Retrieved from
http://www.vort.com/HELP-0-3-Assessment-Strands.html