2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/10/2025 | 11:25 AM - 11:55 AM | Creating Partnerships for Hearing Screening for 1-, 2- and 3-Year Old’s: One Rural States Experience | 303
Creating Partnerships for Hearing Screening for 1-, 2- and 3-Year Old’s: One Rural States Experience
The Vermont Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (VTEHDI) Program under the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) partners closely with the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC), our largest birthing facility, for the staffing of audiologists. A sub-agreement has existed between the two organizations since 2003. Additionally, Vermont’s single point of entry for early intervention for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind (DHHDB) children birth to 3 years of age also falls under UVMMC. There has been an extensive history in Vermont of collaboration and partnership between VTEHDI, Children’s Integrated Services Vermont’s Part C program (CIS) and Audiologists statewide. Additionally, Vermont EHDI collaborates with Early Head Start/Head Start Programs as a result of the successful NCHAM ECHO project. In 2010 VTEHDI introduced pilot projects with over 11 medical homes statewide and 18 home birth midwives. The Hearing Outreach Program known as HOP was a successful statewide clinic that was staffed by the VTEHDI Audiologists to meet the needs hearing screening in a rural state. HOP closed in 2010 because Vermont at the time had reached a solid capacity for pediatric audiologists. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case.
As a result of recommendations by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) for screening of 1-, 2- and 3-year-old children Vermont began to explore creative ways to support this initiative. This presentation will explore a variety of opportunities including identifying grant funding for otoacoustic emission screening (OAE) equipment, training for screeners, homebirth midwife/medical home partnerships, presentations and re-opening of our HOP statewide screening clinics.
- The particpant will be able to identify 3 partnerships for screening 1, 2 and 3 year olds.
- The participant will be able to list 2 benefits of screening 1, 2 and 3 year olds.
- The participant will be able to list 1 funding source for oobtaining hearing screening equipment.
Presentation:
3545975_18252LindaHazard.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Linda Hazard
(Primary Presenter), Vermont Department of Health, linda.hazard@partner.vermont.gov;
Linda Hazard, is the Program Director for the Vermont Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (VTEHDI) and an audiologist. She earned her audiology degree from Boston University and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Social Policy from the University of Vermont. Dr. Hazard is one of the Co-Past Presidents of the Directors of Speech and Hearing Programs in State Health and Welfare Agencies (DSHPSHWA). She currently represents DSHPSHWA on three committees, Audiology Quality Consortium (AQC), Health Care Economics Committee (HCEC) and the Parent Choice Alliance. Additionally Dr. Hazard has been appointed by the Vermont Governor to serve on the Vermont Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind Advisory Council and the Vermont Interagency Coordinating Council. Dr. Hazard is also one of the Vermont State Champions for the American Cochlear Implant Alliance. She has several scientific publications to her credit, including peer reviewed articles and has presented both nationally and internationally. In February of 2017 Dr. Hazard received the prestigious Antonia Brancia Maxon Award for EHDI Excellence and published a chapter for the EHDI I book on qualitative research. In April of 2023 Dr Hazard received the University of Vermont Medical Center Leadership award.
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.
Stacy Jordan
(Co-Author), VTEHDI, Stacy.Jordan@partner.vermont.gov ;
Stacy Jordan is an audiologist and has been involved in various aspects of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) since 2001. Her experiences range from establishing and managing a hospital-based screening program, clinical work for a state-wide public health program screening children birth-eight years old, data base development, implementation and training, as well as education, training and collaboration with various community partners (Early Head Start, pediatric primary care, home birth midwives, hospitals, audiologist and Early Intervention). Employed by the University of Vermont Medical Center and contracted to the department of health Family and Child Health Division. She has worked on various projects with NCHAM over the years: Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO), Newborn Hearing Screening Training Curriculum (NHSTC), Virtual Site Visit (VSV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Conference planning and host site and others.
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.