What is the difference between the DECA and the DECA-C?
As a strength-based assessment, the DECA is appropriate for all children, ages 2-5, and in best practice is completed by both parents and teachers and used in the context of the entire DECA Program. While the DECA is appropriate for use with all children, the DECA-C is to be used only with children who are already exhibiting significant emotional and behavioral concerns. Although the DECA-C can be used by itself in clinic or research settings, in best practice the DECA-C should be used as part of an overall system, like the DECA Program, to foster the healthy social and emotional development of children. The primary purpose of the DECA-C is to support early intervention efforts to reduce or eliminate significant emotional and behavioral concerns, and can also be used to guide interventions, help identify children needing special services, assess outcomes, and help programs meet Head Start, IDEA and similar requirements. In addition, the DECA-C was designed to facilitate collaboration a
