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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Reducing Lost to Follow-up for Native American Families' Track: 1 - EHDI Program Enhancement Keyword(s): diversity, minority outreach, lost to follow-up Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the unique challenges Native Ameriacan families face as they try to access EHDI services. 2. Form a task force to begin addressing the issues identified to improve services and ensure equal access for all families Abstract: EHDI programs across the United States have been playing an essential role in helping to identify children born with hearing loss. However, in 2007 only about 55% of the children who failed the newborn screening were reported to have received recommended follow up services (e.g., diagnostic audiologic evaluation). Although it is difficult to determine the factors predicting non-compliance with recommended follow-up, limited demographic data collected through the 2007 CDC survey indicate that certain groups may be most likely to be lost to follow up, for instance, in 2007 only 7% of American Indian and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) babies who failed the newborn screening were documented to have received diagnostic testing. . This presentation will be a facilitated discussion to explore factors contributing to this situation such as lack of reporting or poor communication with the state EHDI program by providers serving AI/AN families, language and cultural barriers, relatives other than the parent raising the child, lack of resources, lack of convenient services, and the unique challenges AI/AN families face as they try to access care over the EHDI spectrum from screening to diagnosis to early intervention. The goal is to then form a task force to begin addressing the issues that have been identified to improve services and ensure equal access for all families. Presentation: This presentation has not yet been uploaded or the speaker has opted not to make the presentation available online. Handouts: Handout is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
Susan Chacon - Primary Presenter,Author NM Department of Health      Credentials: MSW, LISW      Other Affiliations: Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs New Mexico Chair EHDI Diversity Committee       Susan Chacon received her BS in Public Health from the University of Massachusetts and her MSW from Boston University and has worked as a professional social worker for over twenty years. Her experience includes advocating for and assisting diverse populations within the Boston metro area to access health care and providing mental health services to children in rural Alaska. From 2001-2010, Ms. Chacon oversaw the EHDI Program within the NM Department of Health and is currently the NM Title V Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Director. In 2005 she became the Chair of the EHDI Diversity Committee, initiated by the CDC to address disparities minorities and underrepresented populations face when accessing EHDI services. Ms. Chacon has been a member of the Community of Learners with the National Center for Cultural Competence of Georgetown University for the past two years and works to promote culturally and linguistically equality.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -