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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'How Does Your EHDI Intervention System Measure Up? States' Experiences Using the JCIH EHDI System Self-Assessment'
Track: 9 - Program Evaluation and Quality Improvement
Keyword(s): Self-Assessment, Early Intervention, JCIH Recommendations, Quality Improvement
Learning Objectives:
  1. • Discuss the value of assessing EHDI system progress towards achieving JCIH goals.
  2. • Identify how state EHDI partners can collaboratively use self-assessment as a mechanism to evaluate their own systems and guide the development of quality improvement activities to strengthen services delivered to children who are D/HH and their families.
  3. • Describe how four different EHDI Collaborative groups tested the use of the JCIH EHDI self-assessment to identify strengths and areas where improvement is needed to inform their strategic planning.

Abstract:
All state EHDI systems and programs strive to achieve best practices in early intervention for children who are deaf and hard of hearing as defined by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (Supplement to the JCIH 2007 Position Statement: Principles and Guidelines for Early Intervention After Confirmation That a Child Is Deaf or Hard of Hearing). However, determining how your state measures up to JCIH’s EI recommendations or determining how to move toward higher levels of quality in achieving these recommendations can be difficult. In the spring of 2014, a team of EI specialists, state EHDI representatives, parent representatives, quality improvement advisors, and researchers drafted a tool for assessing EHDI systems based on JCIH recommendations. To date, four very different EHDI Collaborative groups have tested the tool, providing a tangible means of aligning and engaging partners in EHDI system improvement. Representatives from each of these groups will share their experience in bringing together state partners and using the JCIH EHDI self-assessment tool to rate their progress in reaching best practices. The presenters will share the process of using the JCIH EHDI self-assessment tool within their Collaborative groups to identify strengths and areas where improvement is needed. They will describe how the process helped to guide quality improvement efforts or the development of a strategic plan to strengthen services delivered to children who are D/HH and their families. In addition, qualitative input from participants about the value of assessing EHDI system progress towards JCIH goals and the prospect of creating a common self-assessment for use by other states will be discussed.
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Handouts: Handout is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
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      ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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Nonfinancial -
Nicole Brown - Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter,Author,POC
Minnesota Dept of Health
     Credentials: MSN, PHN, CPNP
     Other Affiliations: Public Member, Board of Governors American Board of Audiology
      Nicole Brown is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and has worked in Minnesota’s Maternal and Child Health/Public Health field for over 17 years at both the state and local level. She is Minnesota’s EHDI Coordinator responsible to provide long-range planning and direction for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a statewide EHDI system for children once they are identified with hearing loss. Nicole served as the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners’ liaison to the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Improving the Effectiveness of Newborn Hearing Screening, Diagnosis, and Intervention. She works with NCHAM as Quality Improvement Advisor and is the parent of two children who are deaf.
      ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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Nonfinancial -
Marcia Fort - Co-Presenter
NC DHHS
     Credentials: Au.D., CCC-A
      Dr. Fort is the Program Development and Evaluation Manager for the North Carolina EHDI Program. She has worked with the NC EHDI program for 12 years. She has 25 years of experience as a pediatric audiologist in hospital, private practice, ENT office, and public school settings.
      ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Pamela Dawson - Co-Presenter
Hear ME Now
     Credentials: M.Ed.
      Pam has been working in the field of Early Intervention for over 20 years. She holds a Masters degree in Early Intervention from the University of Maine. As the director of hear ME now, a listening and spoken language program in Maine, she works to promote access to qualified LSL providers to all families, regardless to geographic location. hear ME now has been successfully using tele-intervention to coach families for over 4 years. Pam is on the Board of Directors for OPTION programs, and serves as co-chair of the Maine Part C Interagency Coordinating Council..
      ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Kelly Hermanns - Co-Presenter
Georgia DPH
     Credentials: Doctorate of Audiology Masters in Public Health
      Kelly Hermanns is Georgia’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Coordinator. Kelly holds a Master’s in Public Health from Georgia State University, Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Wisconsin and her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Science from the University of Colorado. Kelly began her career as a pediatric audiologist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which is where she became passionate about early identification of hearing impairment for at risk populations. In 2011, she enrolled in Georgia State University to obtain her Master’s in Public Health and began contracting with Georgia’s Department of Public Health to assist with the EHDI program. Kelly is committed to improving identification of hearing impairment and systems of intervention in Georgia.
      ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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Nonfinancial -
Anna Paulson - Co-Presenter
Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans (MNCDHH)
     Credentials: M.Ed., Coordinator of Educational Advancement & Partnerships
      Anna Paulson, M.Ed the Coordinator of Educational Advancement & Partnerships for the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans (MNCDHH). She is a former instructor and Senior Teaching Specialist at the University of Minnesota for over 18 years. Anna Paulson is a licensed teacher in the areas of Elementary Education and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Education. She has been an instructor in the teacher preparation programs in the areas of Deaf/Hard of Hearing Education and Early Childhood Special Education. She was the Part C coordinator during the inception years in Michigan, and has years of general and special education teaching experience.
      ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Candace Lindow-Davies - Author
Hands & Voices Headquarters
     Credentials: President, Hands & Voices Headquarters
      Candace Lindow-Davies, Minnesota Hands & Voices, is the mother of a son who is profoundly deaf, and for the past eight plus years, developed and coordinated services for MN Hands & Voices/Guide By Your Side at Lifetrack Resources in Minnesota . For seven years, Candace has also served as a parent consultant for the MN Dept. of Health's Newborn Hearing Screening Program. She also chairs the MN Dept. of Health's Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee, representing parents of children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
      ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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Toni Wall - Author
Maine CDC
     Credentials: MPA
      Toni Wall, MPA, received her Master in Public Administration from the University of Maine. She began her public service career in 1987 at the Maine CDC in the Oral Health Program where her efforts lead the recommendation that well water be tested for natural fluoride before the issuance of a prescription of fluoride. Since 1999, Ms. Wall has served as the Director of the Children with Special Health Needs (CSHN) Program. She has served as PI on numerous Maternal and Child Health federal grants and fostered the creation of the Brain Injury Program within the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Wall serves on many committees and boards that address issues facing children, youth and adults with disabilities. She currently serves as the Region I Director to the Association of Maternal and Child Health Professionals and has provided technical assistance to CSHN Programs in many states.
      ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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Linda Hazard - Author
Vermont Department of Health
     Credentials: Ed.D CCC-A, FAAA
     Other Affiliations: ASHLA, AAA
      Dr. Linda Hazard is currently the Director of the Vermont Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program. Employed by the only tertiary hospital in the state and contracted to the department of health. Member of the state Hearing Advisory Council and Speech Language Hearing Association (VSHA). Dr Hazard has a doctoral degree in Leadership and Social Policies. Prior to her position at VTEHDI Dr. Hazard worked for Advanced Bionics, Cochlear Americas and was the Director of Audiology and the Cochlear Implant Program at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vermont.
      ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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