2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
3/07/2023 | 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM | Building Partnerships to Serve Children in Foster Care | DECC 203/204
Building Partnerships to Serve Children in Foster Care
EHDI programs work hard to identify and serve a “low incidence population.” During this session, attendees will learn about a collaborative effort to serve a subset of children who are deaf or hard of hearing in a unique way. A partnership between Aetna, one of Kentucky’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), Kentucky Division for Mental Health the Department for Community Based Services (Child Protective Services) and the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing led to the realization that 60-70 children identified with hearing loss are in out-of-home care in any given month. A Value-Added Benefit was created and a pilot project initiated. Communication Skills Assessments aim to prevent language deprivation and offer tangible interventions to foster families and mental health treatment providers. In partnership with Kentucky Hands & Voices, foster families are also offered DHH Guides. These Deaf or Hard of Hearing adults share their lived experiences with foster families. Priority is given to children who have a new diagnosis of hearing loss, have been deemed “difficult to place” or have had multiple placements, and those who are transition-aged. Learn about how this project is evolving, lessons learned so far, suggestions for working to address foster care or other vulnerable populations in your state, and where we hope to go next.
- Learn about a pilot project in Kentucky to serve a vulnerable population of children who are deaf or hard of hearing who are in out-of-home care.
- Consider new partnerships for data collection and funding to address unmet needs in your state/territory.
- Discover ways to engage Deaf or Hard of Hearing adults to positively impact children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Presentation:
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Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Sarah Roof
(), Kentucky Hands & Voices, sarah@kyhandsandvoices.org;
Sarah Roof is the executive director for Kentucky Hands & Voices. She is passionate about connecting with families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and providing them with the resources they need to help their child reach his/her full potential. Her journey with deafness began when her son, Isaac, was identified at birth. He is now 10.
Sarah also serves on the Kentucky EHDI Advisory Board and the NCHAM Family Advisory Committee. She recently obtained a Master's certificate in the Infant, Toddler, & Family program at Gallaudet University.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Michelle Neihaus
(), Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental & Intellectual Disabilities, michelle.niehaus@ky.gov;
Michelle Niehaus is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Program Administrator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services with the KY Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental, & Intellectual Disabilities. She received her MSW from Washington University in St Louis and first learned ASL at Indiana University. She is an active member of multiple committees including the KY Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Advisory Committee. Michelle’s most valuable learning experiences and rewarding professional experiences are with families of children who have hearing loss and with adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Rachelle Mann
(), Aetna, mannr@aetna.com;
Shelly Mann is the SKY Behavioral Health Specialist for Aetna Better Health of Kentucky.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -