2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/10/2025 | 3:10 PM - 3:40 PM | A Collaborative Initiative for Community Birth Providers: Integrating EHDI and NBS Education | 308
A Collaborative Initiative for Community Birth Providers: Integrating EHDI and NBS Education
Michigan's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) and Newborn Screening (NBS) programs have collaborated to improve screening rates for hearing, dried blood spot (DBS), and critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) among community birth providers. Approximately 2% of births in Michigan occur in community settings, and this percentage is expected to rise. However, no combined training program was available for these providers. In August 2023, Michigan EHDI and NBS joined the Unite Newborn Screening Learning Community, a partnership with the Association of Public Health Laboratories and the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, and designed an educational program for community birth providers.
A project team, including representatives from DBS, CCHD, EHDI, BioTrust for Health, epidemiology, and parents of children identified via screening, developed a comprehensive training program. This included didactic presentations, videos, practical stations, and networking opportunities, covering screening basics, logistics, and parental support. Both virtual and in-person sessions were offered, with participants completing pre- and post-training self-assessments on their comfort levels with performing screenings. Screening rates were also measured post-training.
The training engaged midwife students, certified nurse midwives, and certified professional midwives. Data will be presented showing increased self-reported comfort levels for all three screening types, as well as improved screening rates post-training.
This combined educational program effectively enhanced comfort levels and increased screening rates. Plans are underway to expand the program statewide.
- Participant will be able to explain the collaborative approach used to develop the newborn screening training program and its components
- Participant will be able to assess the effectiveness of the training program by analyzing the reported improvements in participants' comfort levels and screening rates.
- Participant will be able to apply best practices and strategies from the training to design and implement a similar program in their own community birth settings.
Presentation:
3545975_18056GinaCooper.pdf
Handouts:
3545975_18056GinaCooper.pdf
3545975_18056GinaCooper_1.docx
3545975_18056GinaCooper_2.docx
3545975_18056GinaCooper_3.docx
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Gina Cooper
(Primary Presenter,Author), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program, CooperG5@michigan.gov;
Dr. Gina Cooper is the Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Coordinator for the State of Michigan and a licensed audiologist. She holds a Doctorate in Audiology, (Au.D.) from Salus University, a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Michigan State University and completed an Audiology Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She subsequently worked as an Audiologist at the Mayo Clinic providing auditory and vestibular services, clinical research, and newborn hearing screening. Dr. Cooper previously held a position as a Regional Director with Cochlear Americas. Dr. Cooper holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a member of Directors of Speech and Hearing Programs in State Health and Welfare Agencies (DSHPSHWA).
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Other activities from Association of Public Health Laboratories, National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Association of Public Health Laboratories
National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management.
Nature: Stipend for participation in learning community which provided funding for this project. .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Nan Asher
(Co-Presenter), Michigan EHDI, ashern@michigan.gov;
Nan Asher was diagnosed with a bilateral severe hearing loss at age four and has one sibling with a profound hearing loss. She has worked/volunteered in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing field for much of her professional career, Past President of Michigan Coalition for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People and past Executive Director of Michigan Association for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She’s a member of the Advocacy committee with the Hearing Loss Association of Michigan. Nan graduated from Eastern Michigan University (EMU) with a Masters in Liberal Arts in Interdisciplinary Technology, and received her BA with honors in Health Administration, also at EMU. After graduation, Nan owned her own business in Hearing assistive technology and taught classes on adapting to hearing loss, assistive technology and speechreading to people of all ages. In addition, Nan spoke on Capitol Hill on Entrepreneurs with Disabilities hosted by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. As the Program Consultant for MI-EHDI, which she had previously served on their Advisory board for a few years, Nan has frequent contact with medical providers, midwives and parents, encouraging appropriate and timely follow-up. She spearheaded the Michigan Midwives Project, now currently in its 11th year. Nan is a strong advocate for finding communication modes that work for each individual and getting each person to reach for the stars.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary,Grants for Employment from Association of Public Health Laboratories.
• Receives Salary,Grants for Employment from National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Association of Public Health Laboratories &
National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management. .
Nature: Grant funding for Learning Community Participation. .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Victoria McIntosh
(Co-Presenter), Michigan Hands & Voices, tori@mihandsandvoices.org;
Victoria McIntosh is the Program Coordinator for the Michigan Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side Program, and the parent of a child that is DHH. She is also the Vice-Chair for the Michigan Interagency Coordinating Council.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.