EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 2-5, 2021

(Virtually the same conference, without elevators, airplane tickets, or hotel room keys)

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4/14/2014  |   11:05 AM - 11:35 AM   |  Expect the Unexpected: EHDI Workforce Development and the Benefits of Cross Training and Succession Planning   |  City Terrace 9   |  8

Expect the Unexpected: EHDI Workforce Development and the Benefits of Cross Training and Succession Planning

Strategically planning for unplanned changes to an Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program is difficult. There are many factors that can challenge an EHDI program and affect the families served. These challenges include: organizational changes, resignations of key staff, training, emerging demographics/language needs, decreased budgets and other factors. In Massachusetts, we carried out strategic planning to identify our mission, goals and priorities. This plan is important, but having trained staff to carryout the work is the most important component. We do our utmost to ensure strong leadership and identify the next generation of leaders who will carry out our mission. Efforts are made to recruit/retain/value staff who are committed to the program. We accomplish this through hiring consumers who are Deaf or hard of hearing, family members with children with hearing loss, a diverse workforce that represents the population served and work in close partnership with professionals from related disciplines. We strive to have a thorough understanding of the duties and strengths of each EHDI staff member and the stakeholders who have influence on the EHDI Program. We work as a team at both the program and initiative levels. This presentation will describe the importance of a “team” approach and demonstrate how productivity can be improved through cross-training of staff. This includes documenting all aspects of program activities and training other staff to perform various duties carried out by the team. We will demonstrate how planning for succession can increase productivity in difficult times and promote overall job satisfaction/flexibility for employees. The importance of hiring consumers and families, goals to reduce turnover and commitment to maximizing skills and talents will be discussed. Massachusetts will share tools used by our program, including quality assurance/quality improvement plans and timelines.

  • Understand the importance of cross-training staff in EHDI Programs
  • Learn about how to increase productivity and improve job satisfaction of EHDI staff
  • Gain knowledge about the importance of documentation of program activities and use of quality assurance timelines

Presentation:
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Handouts:
Handout is not Available

Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference


Presenters/Authors

Janet Farrell (Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter), Department of Public Health, janet.farrell@state.ma.us;
Janet Farrell is the Program Director for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program. She is also the project director for two federal grants related to the program she oversees. She has over twenty-five years experience implementing and overseeing public health programs. Her passion is ensuring young children with hearing loss are identified early and receive appropriate services. She has a strong interest in data/research and has published articles on newborn hearing screening and related topics.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -

Nonfinancial -

Sarah Stone (Co-Presenter), MA Dept. of Public Health, sarah.stone@state.ma.us;
Sarah Stone is the Director of the Massachusetts Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program. She has a hearing loss and has been with the program for over 20 years. She has developed programming for families, including social and educational events. She is a member of the state's Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.