2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/16/2026 | 3:10 PM - 3:40 PM | Protecting Progress: Securing Sustainable Funding for EHDI Programs | City Terrace 9
Protecting Progress: Securing Sustainable Funding for EHDI Programs
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs play a vital role in ensuring that infants with hearing loss are identified early and connected to timely services that support language, learning, and healthy development. Currently, many state EHDI programs rely heavily on federal funding through the CDC and HRSA. Without sustainable funding, states risk losing their coordinated systems of newborn hearing screening, diagnostic follow-up, and early intervention referral. This would reverse decades of progress, leading to delayed identification, poorer language outcomes, and higher long-term costs to families and public systems.
This presentation will explore a sustainable solution states can pursue to financially secure their EHDI systems long-term. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the urgency of this issue and actionable strategies to advocate for preserving EHDI programs to protect children, families, and communities.
- Explain the role of EHDI programs in supporting early identification and intervention for infants with hearing loss and their impact on developmental outcomes.
- Identify where to locate information for each state's Newborn Screening Programs and the amounts billed at birth to cover Newborn Screenings.
- Explore a sustainable funding strategy currently being pursued and the steps in advocating that states can take to preserve their EHDI programs.
Presentation:
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Handouts:
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Transcripts:
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Presenters/Authors
Carrie Balian
(Primary 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. She is a graduate of the Hands & Voices L2L (Leadership to Leadership) program. Carrie also works with Hands & Voices HQ as a Region V Coordinator, a L2L Mentor and as the GBYS Program Lead. 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.