Given the prevalence of developmental and behavioral disorders, and the burdens these disorders cause to individuals, families, and societies, it became essential to develop purposeful programs and plans to provide high quality diagnostic, treatment, training, and rehabilitation services. These services are provided in an integrated manner by specialists in relevant specialties. They include: physicians and specialists in psychiatry, speech and language, physical therapy, occupational therapy, special education, rehabilitation, social services, and others.
Vision:
To provide fast, high-quality services to target groups.
Mission:
To provide distinguished services for people with developmental and behavioral disorders, in accordance with the latest scientific methods based on medical evidence.
Objectives:
- Laying down mechanisms of diagnosis and early detection for developmental disorders at a national level;
- Overseeing and following up the work of comprehensive developmental disorder centers and clinics, and monitoring the services provided to this segment of individuals;
- Training specialized staff, and attracting qualified professionals in the field;
- Developing a strategy to reinforce MOH's role in the field of developmental and behavioral disorders, and contributing to its execution, as well as monitoring it;
- Partaking in spreading comprehensive awareness of developmental and behavioral disorders, and familiarizing families with the nature of these disorders and how to deal with them;
- Identifying risk factors and conducting research, studies, and field surveys;
- Establishing databases, a national registry for developmental and behavioral disorders, and creating a referral system.
Target Groups:
- Children with developmental and behavioral disorders
- Families of children with developmental and behavioral disorders
- Specialists working in maternity and children’s hospitals, developmental and behavioral disorders clinics, and children’s clinics in mental health complexes and hospitals in the regions and governorates of the Kingdom, such as: physicians and specialists in psychiatry, speech and language, physical therapy, occupational therapy, special education, rehabilitation, social services, and others.