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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Impacting Loss to Follow-up: Utilizing Parent Support Organization to Enhance EHDI Collaborative' Track: 1-EHDI Program Enhancement Audience: Primary Audience: Secondary Audience: Tertiary Audeince: Keyword(s): parent support, high-risk, loss to follow-up Learning Objectives: 1)Identify strategies used by ADHS to reduce loss to follow up 2)Identify benefit of utilizing parent support organization for parent outreach 3)Identify impact of concentrated approach of higher risk infants Abstract: Arizona, like most states, is experiencing unprecedented cutbacks. Utilizing creative means and doing more with less is a common theme. The expansive Arizona EHDI system compromises a wealth of resources to support hospitals, parents, and providers. Assembling this system, while taking a longer view of laying a strong foundation to continue to reduce loss to follow up, requires multifaceted and practical approaches. We have found creative strategies to reduce loss to follow-up and improve efficiency by collaborating with a parent support organization and birth hospitals. With the award of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) supplemental grant, we have implemented three approaches to enhancing the follow-up process for infants who fail the newborn hearing screen. The program set three primary approaches: 1) To increase the state Newborn Screening (NBS) program’s capacity by hiring a High-Risk Coordinator to work with hospitals reduce the loss to follow up of high-risk infants (those who failed hearing screens with a NICU stay of five days or greater); 2) To implement trained parent partners at hospital screening sites to improve communication with families (such as contacting parents after hours and weekends, connecting with parents of newly identified infants with hearing loss, partnering with parents) while providing a consistent local resource to ensure families make it from screening to diagnostic evaluations and into early intervention; 3) To participate in the development of a parent directed video titled “Loss & Found” through the national Hands & Voices organization. Our group will illustrate global strategies utilized by Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to streamline the process from screening to early intervention. Through the coordinated effort of the High-Risk coordinator and Guide by Your Side (GBYS) parent guides, ADHS follow up program has developed resourceful methods to enhance the relationship with hospitals, parents and providers. Handouts: Handout is not Available
SPEAKER INFORMATION
PRESENTER(S): Valerie Odeh - Arizona Department of Health Services      Credentials: B.S., High-Risk Coordinator       Valerie Odeh, BS, High-Risk Coordinator Ms. Odeh is the High-Risk Coordinator for the Arizona Department of Health Newborn Screening program. She received a Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona in 2007. After graduation she worked briefly with Arizona Public Health Association. She has been with ADHS since January 2008. During her time at ADHS, she has played a key role in developing and implementing education tools for parents and providers. Jeanne Hollabaugh - Arizona Hands & Voices-Guide By Your Side      Credentials: M.A.       Jeanne has three children two of whom are deaf: Eric, 17 and Michael, 22. She was the former Program Coordinator for Arizona Hands & Voices-Guide By Your Side.   AUTHOR(S): Brigitte Dufour - Arizona Department of Health Services      Credentials: Brigitte Dufour, B.S., Case Management Coordinator       BIO: Brigitte Dufour is the case management coordinator for the Office of Newborn Screening since June 2009. She oversees follow-up actions for abnormal results coming from bloodspots and hearing screening. Her goal is to enable parents and providers to work together in a timely manner should the screening results need further investigation. Ms Dufour works for the Arizona Department of Health Services since 2004. She has over three years of program management experience including rulemaking, training and education, investigation and inspection protocols, enforcement actions, and database management. Ms. Dufour completed her B.S. in Food Science and Technology from Laval University in Quebec, Canada. She is also a Registered Sanitarian with the Arizona Sanitarians' Council. Prior to join ADHS, she worked for the Maricopa County Department of Environmental Services as an Environmental Health Specialist for their Chain Food Program. Valerie Odeh - Arizona Department of Health Services      Credentials: B.S., High-Risk Coordinator       BIO: Valerie Odeh, BS, High-Risk Coordinator Ms. Odeh is the High-Risk Coordinator for the Arizona Department of Health Newborn Screening program. She received a Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona in 2007. After graduation she worked briefly with Arizona Public Health Association. She has been with ADHS since January 2008. During her time at ADHS, she has played a key role in developing and implementing education tools for parents and providers. Jeanne Hollabaugh - Arizona Hands & Voices-Guide By Your Side      Credentials: M.A.       BIO: Jeanne has three children two of whom are deaf: Eric, 17 and Michael, 22. She was the former Program Coordinator for Arizona Hands & Voices-Guide By Your Side.