2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
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Developing a Coordinated Statewide System of Earliest Interactions for Families: A Family-Centered Cyclical Approach
Maine has a unique collaborative, coordinated EHDI system that has evolved over many years. The development of this system required relationship building, thoughtful planning, coordination, and continuous reflection. Establishing open communication and meaningful partnerships between key agencies have laid the foundation for families to embrace their early journey with the support and guidance of professionals throughout the state that are interconnected. Empowering families, this process encourages early interaction, discussion, questioning, and informed decision-making with a family-centered early intervention focus that pivots when needed throughout the family experience.
Come learn how to build a collaborative statewide system that integrates the critical importance of early interactions and foundations of language followed by a process of exploration of language and communication opportunities (ELCO). The ELCO process encourages families to recognize the importance of early attachment while moving through the process of initial decision-making with the support and guidance of other parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, Deaf and hard of hearing adults, early intervention specialists, audiologists, and pediatricians. Presenters will share how continuous reflection on the success of the approach as well as clear communication and shifting as needed is imperative to the evolution of a successful statewide system for families of Deaf and hard of hearing children.
Bring your state’s key stakeholders and join us for an informational and interactive session where presenters will share strategies for developing one statewide system of support. Participants will reflect on their own state system and will be guided in the creation of an action plan leading towards the development of a statewide coordinated family-centered system.
- Participants will identify at least 3 key partnerships that will improve the early process for families.
- Participants will identify at least 3 components of a systematic approach that fosters empowerment of families.
- Participants will identify 3 reflective practices that will inform them of necessary systematic changes.
Presentation:
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Presenter: Karen Hopkins
Karen Hopkins is the Executive Director of The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the principle investigator of Maine's HRSA grant. Karen oversees early intervention and statewide educational programming for children who are Deaf or hard of hearing birth to age 22. throughout the state of Maine. She serves on the Hands & Voices HQ Board of Directors, the Maine Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Board, The Percival Baxter Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Board, was a founding member of Maine’s Hands & Voices chapter and has served on the National EHDI meeting planning committee. Karen has presented at several national conferences and internally at the FCEI conference in Austria and the FCEI conference in China. Karen is a Deaf adult who has three children, one of whom is hard of hearing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary,Grants for Management position from HRSA Maine Educational Center for the Deaf.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Claire is public relations consultant, a writer and the mother of a Deaf son.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
Amy is the early intervention and family services coordinator at MECDHH/GBSD. She serves on the the Maine Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Board, the Maine Interagency Coordinating Council and is an active member of the Earliest Interactions Maine/HRSA grant team. As part of her Infant Toddler Family Leadership and Collaboration Certificate Program from Gallaudet, Amy began her work on the Exploring Language and Communication Opportunities process. Amy lives in southern Maine exploring both the ocean and mountains regularly with her husband and two young daughters.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -