Described is Rhode Island's method of screening the preschool population for possible handicaps (Child Find). The system is seen to include casefinding (every child over 2.5 years not yet in school) using locally tailored public awareness campaigns, large scale screening (a quick survey of medical, sensory, motor, social, emotional, cognitive, language, and perceptual development), rescreening for those identified during screening, and either specific evaluation (one area of development) or in-depth assessment (two or more areas). (DB)