2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2025 | 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM | The Early Years Project: Strengthening Community Partnerships for Enhanced Kindergarten Readiness through Communication, Language, and Hearing Development | 317/318
The Early Years Project: Strengthening Community Partnerships for Enhanced Kindergarten Readiness through Communication, Language, and Hearing Development
Community partnerships are the key to promoting awareness of hearing, vision, communication, and language development and are crucial for kindergarten readiness for all children. The Early Years Project has grown through CQI, user focus groups and suggested enhancements from these initiatives. It was conceptualized to enhance programs such as Early Intervention and Early Childhood Education, where late onset and progressive loss are often encountered; by offering free modules that are accessible, interactive, and educational for parents, caregivers and professionals to use in the following developmental domains: Communication, Language, Hearing, and Vision. Offering around the clock virtual access to information, activities, and resources that can improve timely identification and intervention for children, in hopes of improving kindergarten readiness and decreasing the need for additional services in elementary school. The project provides tools for community engagement while empowering parents to advocate for their child's developmental or medical needs. Using this tool can bridge community outreach, foster relationships, and enhance the reach and impact of EHDI and FBO programs.
The presentation will highlight introduction videos and quality improvement feedback. We invite you to learn about the Early Years Project and how to improve communication and language for all children.
- Identify the benefits of self-guided online resources to support Home Visiting programs, Early Intervention, and Early Childhood Programs that support strong communication and language development.
- Describe typical development in hearing, communication, vision, and language domains.
- Recognize at least two demographics that would benefit from on-demand learning modules, potentially reducing systemic disparities in early childhood development.
Presentation:
3545975_18133CarrieBalian.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Ginger Mullin
(Co-Presenter), Illinois Department of Public Health, ginger.mullin@illinois.gov;
Dr. Ginger Mullin has a Bachelor’s degree Communication Disorders. She also holds a Master’s and Doctoral degree in Audiology. She has worked in pediatric audiology and the EHDI system since 1995 and became Illinois’ EHDI coordinator in 2005. During that time she has been the principal investigator for both the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants/ cooperative agreements. She has received specific training in pediatrics, public health, data management and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). As the EHDI Coordinator, Dr. Mullin has worked at the state and national level to promote newborn hearing screening, audiology diagnostics, targeted intervention, family-to-family support, stakeholder education and ongoing surveillance through age 3. She has presented regionally and nationally on pediatric assessment, amplification, the EHDI system of care, and partnering with families She has been part of the leadership teams for the Newborn Hearing Screening Training Curriculum (NHSTC), EHDI-PALS, Virtual Site Visit Project (VSV), as well as the national EHDI Meeting. She has severed in many capacities, including the President for the Directors of Speech and Hearing Programs in State Health and Welfare Agencies. She is the co-leader of EHDI Chats a national forum for EHDI Coordinators to meet monthly and share seamlessly while stealing shamelessly from one another to enhance state programs. She has been nominated several time for the Antonio Maxon Award at the National EHDI Meeting and received the Seaver Vision Award. Dr. Mullin was also a key leader for the EHDI and GBYS program which received the Generating Real Action by Cultivating Engagement (GRACE) Award from Expecting Health and Baby’s First Test. Dr. Mullin sits on the Illinois Universal Newborn Screening Advisory Committee and the Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention to guide work for children with low-incidence sensory disabilities.
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.
Carrie Balian
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter), Illinois Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side, cbalian6@outlook.com;
Carrie Balian is a mother of five children. Her oldest son, Jack, was born deaf. She is the Coordinator of her state Guide By Your Side (GBYS) program and has presented to groups nationwide and co-authored several publications. She currently serves as a member on the Illinois Universal Newborn Screening Advisory Committee and the Illinois Hands & Voices board. Carrie also works with Hands & Voices HQ as a Region V Coordinator and as the GBYS Program Lead. She is a graduate of the Hands & Voices L2L (Leadership to Leadership) program. Carrie has also been recognized and awarded most recently with the 2022 Family Leadership award for her support, commitment, and leadership within the field. Ms. Balian was part of the leadership team which was awarded the Generating Real Action by Cultivating Engagement (GRACE) Award from Expecting Health and Baby’s First Test.
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.
Hanna Swearinger
(Co-Presenter), Illinois Hands & Voices GBYS, hswearinger.gbys@gmail.com;
Hanna Swearinger is the mother of two boys, the youngest has bilateral hearing loss and wears hearing aids. She currently lives in Central Illinois with her husband of over 10 years and their children. She is a Parent Guide with Illinois Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side. Hanna’s lifelong passion is advocating for and supporting others. Her professional background is in mental health and case management for adults with developmental disabilities. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont in Psychology and Sociology.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Illinois Hands and Voices, Guide By Your Side .
Nature: none .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.