2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
2/28/2017 | 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM | 1-3-6 Family Educators' Role in Reducing Loss to Follow-Up | Grand Hall C
1-3-6 Family Educators' Role in Reducing Loss to Follow-Up
In Virginia, 96.3% of all infants born in hospitals in 2014 were screened prior to discharge. Unfortunately, children who needed a rescreening to confirm a diagnosis are sometimes lost to follow-up. In 2014, 1,369 infants did not pass their initial screen. There is no documentation of rescreening or diagnostic evaluation for 50% (N=689) of these children. For those rescreened, the average age of the infants was 61 days old for the first retest. In an effort to reduce these statistics and make the most of limited state funds, through a partnership with the Commonwealth’s Family to Family Health Information Center (F2F), the Virginia Department of Health’s EHDI program is piloting the use of 1-3-6 Family Educators. 1-3-6 Family Educators are parents of children who are deaf/hard of hearing who have been trained by the F2F as family leaders. In this role, parents visit birthing hospital newborn screening teams and audiological clinics to dialogue about practices related to rescreening and communication of information to parents of infants. Attendees in this session will learn more about this innovative approach of putting ‘boots on the ground;’ review materials developed by parents for newborn screening teams, audiologists, and parents; and participate in discussion about the engagement of parents in programmatic improvement and implementation.
- Describe creative ways to involve parents in EHDI program implementation
- Illustrate examles of materials developed by parents for use with newborn screening teams
- Discuss collaborative strategies to reduce loss to follow-up
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Presenters/Authors
Kathleen Watts
(), Virginia Department of Health, kathleen.watts@vdh.virginia.gov ;
Kathleen Watts has a Masters degree in Public Health Education. From 2000 through 2007 she worked for NCHAM as the Director of Training and Technical Assistance. That is where she developed her passion for helping identify children with hearing loss and providing support for their families. From 2007 through 2014, she was the Program Manager for the NC EHDI Program. Kathleen has played a leadership role in the development of collaborative ventures in
various healthcare settings throughout her career and enjoys bringing groups of people together to
address the concerns that affect them personally. Currently, she has been the Quality Improvement Coordinator for Virginia's EHDI Program.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Irene Schmalz
(), Center for Family Involvement @ VCU, ischmalz@vcu.edu;
Dr. Irene Schmalz received her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Maryland. She taught both undergraduate and graduate classes at George Washington University, University of Maryland, and George Mason University. In addition, she taught 2nd grade and was a Math Resource teacher for five years. Since 2007, Dr. Schmalz has been involved with Virginia's Guide By Your Side Program at the Center for Family Involvement at Virginia Commonwealth University. In her role as a Family Guide and Program Coordinator, she has supported over 400 families just learning of their child's diagnosis of a hearing loss. In 2013, Dr. Schmalz received the Hamilton Relay Better Hearing and Speech Month Recognition Award and 2018 she was nominated for the EHDI Family Leadership Award.
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Dana Yarbrough
(), Virginia Commonwealth University, dvyarbrough@vcu.edu;
Dana Yarbrough is the mother of a 22 year old daughter, Brooke, who has significant physical, intellectual and sensory disabilities. Dana is a faculty member at the Partnership for People with Disabilities, Virginia’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities located at Virginia Commonwealth University. Among her many roles, Dana serves as the Director of the Center for Family Involvement where she oversees $950,000 in state and federal funds, supervises 20 parent and self-advocate staff members, and conducts research on parent action and expectations. Dana also serves as President of Parent to Parent USA, a national membership organization for 38 state Parent to Parent programs.
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