Early Childhood Family Navigation

Free Developmental Screenings

Northwest ISD Family Navigators offer FREE developmental screenings for children ages 0–5 years. These brief, engaging check-ins help families understand how their child is developing by assessing age-appropriate milestones.

A trained educator will guide families through the screening, which focuses on communication, gross motor, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills, and will share helpful child development and learning resources.

School readiness assessments are also available for children ages 3 and older who are not yet enrolled in school.

For more information or to register, please click the links below. Questions? Email nicole.webb@nisdtx.org.

Developmental Screening Sign Up

Family Navigation

Finding the right support for your family can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Family Navigation is here to support you.

Family Navigation provides individualized, goal-driven support by connecting families with the right community resources and services. Family Navigators partner with caregivers to offer personalized guidance, including educational materials, information on developmental screenings, and access to helpful programs and supports.

All services are tailored to your family’s unique goals, values, and needs—ensuring you receive support that truly matters most to you.

FAMILY NAVIGATION SERVICES INCLUDE:

Ongoing partnership and support from a Family Navigator, available in person or virtually for up to a year
Collaborative goal-setting focused on what matters most to your family
Connections to community-based resources and services
Information and support related to child development and parenting needs

INTERESTED IN ENROLLING IN FAMILY NAVIGATION?

Please fill out Northwest Family Services Interest in Navigation Form and a navigator from our team will reach out to connect with you and provide support.

Meet Our Family Navigators

Judith Vanessa Castañeda

A smiling woman with long, wavy light brown hair, wearing a floral blouse, posed against a light neutral background.

My name is Judith Vanessa Castañeda. I’ve spent years in education, as a substitute teacher, and 12 years teaching Pre-K through second grade. I have worked as an ESL specialist and an Early Childhood and Resource Referral Specialist.

My current roles include the Early Childhood Navigation Specialist role. I also support children through play and sand tray therapy. My goal is to help families navigate the early childhood years. I’m passionate about mental health, education, and truly being there for families. I understand that parenting can be challenging, and I love finding ways to support families that make a real difference for years to come.

Nicole Webb

A smiling woman with straight, shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a brown top and a light tan cardigan, posed against a soft neutral background.

My name is Nicole Webb, and I am the Lead Family Navigator Specialist for Northwest ISD. I have spent many years in education, teaching both Pre-K and high school English before transitioning into family-focused work. From 2019 to 2025, I served as a Parent Partnership Specialist with Northwest ISD’s Parents as Teachers program, where I was honored as Parent Educator of the Year in 2025. Later that year, I transitioned into my current role as Lead Early Childhood Family Navigator, where I am passionate about connecting families with resources that educate, support, and promote positive outcomes for children and caregivers.

Michelle Andes

A smiling woman with straight, shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a black top, posed against a light neutral background.

My name is Michelle Andes and I am an Early Childhood Family Navigator with Northwest ISD Family Services. I have over 17 years of experience teaching undergraduate psychology and writing courses at the college level, as well as experience teaching across a wide range of grade levels, including kindergarten, second grade, third grade, high school English, and Special Education. I believe my diverse educational background allows me to approach my work with empathy, insight, and a genuine desire to help others thrive. I am passionate about supporting children and families and enjoy helping others navigate educational and developmental systems.