2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
3/15/2022 | 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM | It Takes a Village: Bringing State Agencies Together to Enhance EHDI Services | Room 4
It Takes a Village: Bringing State Agencies Together to Enhance EHDI Services
Collaborative statewide work is critical to enhancing the EHDI program, which can be challenging with many stakeholders involved. California has the largest number of referrals with their newborn hearing screening program which also has a complicated system due to the size of the state. With the recent grant cycle, the LEAD-K Family Services has successfully consolidated and streamlined the parent mentor services, Deaf coaching program, and Early Start referral (California’s early intervention program) into a one-stop shop at the NorCal Services for the Deaf (NorCal), a Deaf-run nonprofit organization based in Sacramento.
As for interagency work, Sheri Ann Farinha, the CEO of NorCal (California’s EHDI coordinator), LEAD-K Family Services Referral to Early Start Provider program, Dr. Julie Rems-Smario, California Department of Education’s Early Language and Education Consultant (California’s EHDI Co-coordinator), and Sharon Derego, California’s Part C Coordinator from the Department of Developmental Services, share their first-hand experience with the challenges and rewards of developing collaborative working relationships with California state agencies to help streamline the delivery of services with state agencies including the Department of Health Care Services, Department of Social Services, Department of Social Services, California Schools for the Deaf, and Deaf-run nonprofit organizations based throughout eight different regions of the state. The participants will learn about different collaboration models, strategies, and challenges to work with the EHDI system in their respective states.
- Learn how to bring your state agencies together to work collaboratively to improve EHDI services.
- Explore different approaches to develop statewide involvement including government agencies, Deaf schools, and parent organizations.
- Incorporate lessons from three common challenges in state-wide collaborative efforts to enhance EHDI services.
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Presenters/Authors
Julie Rems-Smario
(Primary Presenter), California Department of Education, jsmario@csdf-cde.ca.gov;
Dr. Julie Rems-Smario, Ed.D works as an Early Language and Education Consultant in California at CORE, California School for the Deaf, a program of State Special Schools and Services at the Department of Education. Julie's work includes working as a co-director of California's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, training Early Start professionals on how to develop language milestones goals for IFSP/IEP, supervising SB 210 data, developing resources for families of Deaf children, and providing technical assistance to Early Childhood Education professionals. During her free time, she volunteers as one of the Public Relations Director of a national campaign, Language Equality, and Acquisition for Deaf Kids (LEAD-K).
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
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No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
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Non-Financial relationship with .
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Sheri Farinha
(Co-Presenter), NorCal Services for Deaf and HH, SFarinha@norcalcenter.org;
Sheri A. Farinha serves as CEO, NorCal Service for Deaf & Hard of Hearing, since 1993. Ms. Farinha is a nationally known as a strong civil rights advocate for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the areas of education, employment, services for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence. Sheri is the Principal Investigator for CA's 20-047 HRSA grant steering the EHDI program: LEAD-K Family Services. Ms. Farinha’ s expertise also includes leadership development, legislative and system advocacy, and management in the nonprofit sector.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Sharon Derego
(Co-Presenter), Department of Developmental Services - Part C, sharon.derego@dds.ca.gov;
Sharon DeRego is the Manager of Part C Coordinator
Monitoring and Family Services Branch
Department of Developmental Services
1600 9th Street, MS 3-11
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 654-3681
AltPhone1: (800) 515-2229
Fax: (916) 654-3255
Email: sharon.derego@dds.ca.gov
Website: http://www.dds.ca.gov/EarlyStart/Home.cfm
ReferPhone: (800) 515-BABY
ReferWebsite: http://www.dds.ca.gov/EarlyStart/Wha
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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AAA DISCLOSURE:
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