2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/16/2026 | 3:10 PM - 3:40 PM | Advancing Systems Strengthening in EHDI Programs: An Interactive Ecosystem Map for Reflection, Feedback, and Action | River Terrace 3/Deck 3
Advancing Systems Strengthening in EHDI Programs: An Interactive Ecosystem Map for Reflection, Feedback, and Action
Effective EHDI systems require coordinated efforts across programs, providers, and families. To support systems-level thinking and continuous improvement, the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the National Beacon Center developed the EHDI Ecosystem Map – an interactive visualization of what a well-functioning EHDI system looks like. The map integrates insights from the literature and a systems thinking exercise conducted with attendees at the 2024 EHDI Conference, identifying key components, interconnections, and opportunities for strengthening systems.
This session will provide participants with a guided walkthrough of the map, including its development process, current structure, and how users can interact with it to assess local EHDI systems. Using interactive tools like Mentimeter and small-group peer discussions attendees will reflect on what resonates and what’s not yet fully represented. The session will emphasize practical application, helping EHDI coordinators and partners leverage the map as a tool for planning, evaluation, and systems improvement.
The EHDI Ecosystem Map is designed to evolve over time with stakeholder input, serving as both a reflection of existing system components and a catalyst for collaborative systems change. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to use the map in their own contexts, contribute to its ongoing refinement, and strengthen EHDI services for infants, young children, and their families.
- Describe the key components in a well-functioning EHDI system as represented in the EHDI Ecosystem Map.
- Engage in collaborative reflection and feedback to inform ongoing development and practical use of the EHDI Ecosystem Map in diverse program contexts.
- Identify how the EHDI Ecosystem Map can be used to assess local EHDI system strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
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Presenters/Authors
Jessica Simon
(Primary Presenter), UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, jess_simon@unc.edu;
Jessica Simon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She applies a collaborative, systems-informed approach to strengthen public health systems across maternal and child health, behavioral health, and related social systems. Previously, Simon served as a Systems Change Senior Specialist at the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP), where she led initiatives on housing and food security, perinatal substance use, and state-level policy change to improve the health and well-being of families. At Gillings, she co-leads the Systems Strengthening Hub for Public Health and the Systems Integration Core of the Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development Center, where she facilitates cross-sector collaboration, workforce development, and the advancement of systems methods in public health practice. Simon holds a Master of Social Work in Social and Economic Development and a certificate in System Dynamics from Washington University in St. Louis.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
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No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Kristen Hassmiller Lich
(Co-Presenter), UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, klich@unc.edu;
Kristen Hassmiller Lich, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She specializes in the application of systems thinking, operations research and simulation modeling methods to inform health policy and management decision-making. Kristen is the Core Lead of the Systems Integration core of the National MCH Workforce Development Center. Her work seeks to advance the way we use system maps, models, and local data to improve outcomes.
Amy Mullenix, MSPH, MSW, currently serves as the Deputy Director for the National Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development Center and the Maternal Health Learning & Innovation Center, two national training and technical assistance centers housed in the MCH Department at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In this role, she coordinates and supports partnerships among the multiple academic and practice partners engaged in each Center to build the capacity of MCH practitioners across the country.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Bobbie Jo Kite
(Co-Presenter), Gallaudet University, bobbie.kite@gallaudet.edu;
Bobbie Jo is a passionate educator and researcher with deep roots in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She earned her B.A. in Early Childhood Education in 2004 and her M.A. in Deaf Education in 2005 from Gallaudet University, where her love for working with young children and Deaf Education flourished. Bobbie Jo began her teaching career at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and the New Mexico School for the Deaf. In 2017, she earned her Ph.D. from George Mason University, with a specialization in Early Childhood Education and Multilingual/Multicultural Education. Her dissertation explored Family Language Planning in American Sign Language and English Families, a topic close to her heart. With a research focus on Family Language Planning & Policy, and Multilingual Education, Bobbie Jo is dedicated to supporting families, providers, and educators in fostering rich, inclusive language experiences for deaf and hard-of-hearing children in the role of Assistant Director of the National Beacon Center and professor in the Department of Education at Gallaudet University. Bobbie Jo comes from a second-generation Deaf family. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two cats, and a dog.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Christi Batamula
(Co-Presenter), Gallaudet University, christi.batamula@gallaudet.edu;
Christi is excited to be serving as the Director of the National Beacon Center. Christi is a professor in the Department of Education at Gallaudet University. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of deaf education and early childhood education. This includes teaching in various school settings and approaches including private (oral), mainstream (total communication), and schools for the Deaf (bilingual). In addition to her advanced degrees in deaf education and international education with a focus on early childhood education, she has practical and research expertise in early language acquisition and development, multilingual education, and family engagement. Christi lives in Maryland with her husband, three children, granddaughter, and their beloved family dog.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with HRSA EHDI Grantee.
Nature: ICC EHDI Technical Assistance Center.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.