Last Modified: 01/11/2023
Newborn Screening and Home Visiting
Background and Purpose
HRSA is sponsoring webinars for participants to gain a better understanding of how home visiting, bloodspot screening, and hearing screening programs can work together to create better programs for children and families.
- Home Visiting presented to the bloodspot and hearing screening stakeholders about the structure of their program, what the different models look like and how there could be synergy and overlap. View the proceedings for the HRSA Webinar on Home Visiting (July 13th, 2012)
- Newborn Hearing Screening will outline current resources, describe current successes and challenges, and explain how different programs have collaborated or developed independent programs from bloodspot screening. View the proceedings for the HRSA Webinar on Newborn Hearing Screening (October 26th, 2012)
- Bloodspot Screening will present to the hearing screening programs and home visiting programs on the broad outlines of what newborn screening involves – the 7 core elements of a NBS program, the different ways bloodspot screening identified patients would be the target population for home visiting programs and ways where hearing screening datacould be incorporated. View the proceedings for the HRSA Webinar on Bloodspot Screening (December 7th, 2012)
Congenital hearing loss affects approximately 3 newborns per 1,000 (more than any other condition for which screening is available) and the incidence triples by the time children enter kindergarten. Recent advances in technology and educational programs make it possible for most of these children to make developmental progress and succeed in school on par with their normal hearing peers. There are gaps in the knowledge base of all programs when it comes to understanding how home visiting, newborn screening, and hearing screening programs can and should be collaborating with other maternal and child health stakeholders.
The purpose of this initiative is to provide a systems overview of the different programs and open up dialogues and collaborationsbetween these public health programs that have much potential for synergy. The goal is for all stakeholders to have an improved understanding of these different maternal and child health programs and to investigate further collaborative possibilities.
In the Spring of 2013, HRSA will facilitate a similar webinar series, but from state perspectives. Each group will present from their perspective (bloodspot, hearing and home visiting) on their current status, new and evolving collaborations, lessonslearned challenges and what they would like to see going forward.
