2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

<< BACK TO AGENDA

3/04/2019  |   11:50 AM - 12:15 PM   |  The Path to Successful Collaboration between EHDI Systems, Parents and Professionals.   |  Vienna

The Path to Successful Collaboration between EHDI Systems, Parents and Professionals.

A major goal of the VA EHDI Program has been to maintain strong parent engagement within the EHDI Systems. In 2010, the VA EHDI program had minimal parent engagement and has since focused on major systems change to increase parent engagement. The VA EHDI Program is a national leader when it comes to engaging families in all its programmatic initiatives. In fact, the VA EHDI Advisory Committee elected a parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing as a co-chair for the first time in 2018. This presentation will highlight the following: 1) collaboration of the VA EHDI Program with CFI at VCU in developing the 1, 3, 6 Family Educator project, which provides one on one parent support to interested families, 2) The supportive relationship formed between the VA EHDI Program, CFI at VCU and the Virginia Hands and Voices in ensuring family engagement activities are available in different regions of the state for children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, and 3) the planning and preparation by VA EHDI, CFI at VCU, and Virginia Hands and Voices in bringing the first CARE Project to Virginia. This will be an interactive session to expand on the parent and professional collaboration in the VA EHDI Advisory Committee, the Learning Communities, and presenting EHDI information together at various conferences statewide. This session will serve as a guideline on how Virginia was able to improve parent engagement in the EHDI systems and maintain the parent and professional collaborations to ensure early diagnosis and appropriate interventions and may be helpful to other EHDI programs looking to do the same.

  • Understand Virginia's Extensive Family Engagement model.
  • Learn about the planning and preparation in bringing the first CARE Project to Virginia.
  • Identify the key components of the 1, 3, 6 Family Educator project, which provides one on one parent support to interested families.

Presentation:
18878_10294DeepaliSanghani.pdf

Handouts:
Handout is not Available

Transcripts:
18878_10294TereseUrban.rtf


Presenters/Authors

Daphne Miller (), Virginia EHDI, daphne.miller@vdh.virginia.gov;
Daphne Miller is currently the Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health. The VA EHDI Program ensures all infant's hearing is screened at birth and if children are diagnosed with hearing loss they are referred to Early Intervention. Daphne has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and has worked with families and children over 15 years. In her spare time she enjoys binge watching shows, listening to music and spending time with family and friends. Daphne resides in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and daughter.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -

Nonfinancial -

Deepali Sanghani (), Virginia Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program, deepali.sanghani@vdh.virginia.gov;
Deepali Sanghani is the CMV Follow-Up Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (VA EHDI) Program. Deepali has a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a Masters in Public Health. Deepali has worked in Public Health for over 5 years and has a passion for helping others. In her role with VA EHDI, she oversees hearing screening and cCMV screening follow-up. In her spare time Deepali enjoys reading, listening to music and spending time with family and friends. Deepali resides in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and two daughters.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -

Nonfinancial -

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.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -

Nonfinancial -

Teri Urban (), Virginia Hands & Voices, teresecloud@hotmail.com;
Terese ‘Teri’ Urban lives with her husband and their three children in Montpelier, Virginia. Her oldest child (11 years old) was identified at birth with bilateral sensorineural non-syndromic hearing loss, commonly known as Connexin 26. Her daughter’s loss was progressive, and she now utilizes bilateral cochlear implants and American Sign Language to understand the world around her. Teri’s passion for bringing deaf and hard of hearing children together and providing resources for families began in Vermont when she successfully resurrected Vermont Hands & Voices. After relocating to Virginia in 2016, she has continued her leadership efforts as Chair for Virginia Hands & Voices. Teri is a member of the Virginia EHDI Advisory Committee and sits on the board for numerous local and national committees that focus on the overall success of deaf and hard of hearing children. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with loved ones.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.

Chyann Mealy (), Virginia Department of Health, chyann.mealy@vdh.virginia.gov;
After graduating from James Madison University in May 2017, Chyann Mealy began her public health career early by serving overseas as a Public Health Outreach worker conducting home visits and providing prenatal/ nutrition education to mothers, adolescents, and children in the Effutu Senya region of Ghana. Chyann then returned to the States where she soon began her current position as a Follow-Up Specialist with the Virginia EHDI program in October 2017. Chyann hopes to continue working in public health to decrease disparities and increase equity and positive health outcomes for all mothers, infants, and children.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -

Nonfinancial -