<< BACK TO AGENDA

ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'CARES - An Innovative Partnership Between Wisconsin Sound Beginnings and the WI Birth to 3 Program' Track: 4 - Early Intervention Keyword(s): Early Intervention, coordination, assessment, evaluation Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to describe how the CARES Program will address the need to increase enrollment of children who are deaf or hard of hearing in the WI Birth to 3 Program. Participants will be able to discuss how CARES will support improved outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Participants will be able to apply steps to facilitate collaboration between the EHDI Program and the Part C Early intervention program based on the experience of the WI partnership. Abstract: The average age at diagnosis of hearing loss in Wisconsin has successfully decreased from 116 days in 2012 to 66 days of age in 2013, yet only half of the 103 babies referred to early intervention in 2013 actually enrolled in Birth to 3 Program Early Intervention services. Given this discrepancy, WSB developed and implemented a Coordination, Assistance, Resources and Evaluation Services (CARES) Program and hired a CARES Specialist to serve families and Birth to 3 Programs in the Southern Region of Wisconsin. The CARES Specialist is a member of the EHDI Wisconsin Sound Beginnings Team and is also a participating member of the Birth to 3 Programs in the Southern Region for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The CARES Specialist is a member of each child’s IFSP team and attends IFSP team meetings, as well as provides on-going consultation, training and support for the family, primary coach and other service providers. The CARES Specialist utilizes the NECAP Project, The Greenspan Social Emotional Growth Chart Questionnaire and the Parent Child Early Relational Assessment as a portion of the core evaluative components. The CARES Specialist is also knowledgeable about and is able to connect the B-3 team and family to additional local deafness-specific resources as needed. This presentation will give you the opportunity to learn about this new program from three unique perspectives: the WI State B-3 Early Intervention Program, the State EHDI Director and the new CARES Specialist. 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 CART: CART Transcription is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
Elizabeth Seeliger - Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter,POC Department of Health Services      Credentials: Doctor of Audiology       Elizabeth Seeliger, AuD, is the Wisconsin Sound Beginnings Program Director and has worked as a clinical audiologist in a variety of settings, helping guide children and families through the process of hearing loss diagnosis and intervention. Elizabeth has been a leader in developing a data, tracking and referral system; educational resources for hospitals and providers; and an interactive notebook for parents. Elizabeth spearheaded the initiative to enable Wisconsin homebirth midwives to provide UNHS. Elizabeth has also provided technical assistance and consultation locally and internationally on quality improvement in EHDI systems. Elizabeth currently sits on the board of directors for the WI Chapter of Families for Hands & Voices and Hands & Voices HQ. She is a graduate of UW-Madison’s Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Advanced Clinical Practice Certificate Program.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Christi Hess - Co-Presenter Wisconsin Sound Beginnings      Credentials: PhD, CCC-SLP       Christi Hess is WSB’s CARES Specialist. Originally from Baltimore, Christi has lived and worked in Madison for the past four years as a PhD student/researcher and an early intervention provider with Bridges Birth to 3 Program. Both her clinical work and research focuses on children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. She received her BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders and MS in Speech Language Pathology from James Madison University in Virginia. She worked in New York City for two years as a speech-language pathologist for New York Eyes and Ear’s Cochlear Implant Center and Strivright/The Auditory Oral School of New York providing auditory rehabilitation as well as speech/language therapy to children ages 0-5. Christi has experience in multiple modes of communication ranging from American Sign Language to Auditory Oral/Verbal.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Lori Wittemann - Co-Presenter Department of Health Services      Credentials: BS Program & Policy Specialist--WI Birth to 3 Program Special Education Coordinator--DHS School District       Lori graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh with a dual degree in early childhood special education and learning disabilities. She worked in two different county Birth to 3 Programs in Wisconsin; in one as a teacher/service coordinator and director of the other. She has worked at the WI Department of Health Services Birth to 3 Program for seven years to support and monitor the 72 county Birth to 3 Programs.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.