2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/15/2022 | 12:35 PM - 1:00 PM | Ensuring Family Success Through a Single Point of Entry into Early Intervention: The Regional Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator (CO-Hear) | Room 10
Ensuring Family Success Through a Single Point of Entry into Early Intervention: The Regional Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator (CO-Hear)
The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing, JCIH, Position Statement (2019) emphasizes the importance of professionals knowledgeable about childhood hearing loss and programs partnering with families to acknowledge strengths, traditions and cultural beliefs, while supporting informed decision making. Additionally, JCIH (2013) notes a simplified, coordinated point of entry into early intervention is optimal. The single point of entry into the Colorado early intervention system is the regional Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator (CO-Hear), fulfilling these goals in the state of Colorado.
Unique to Colorado is the Colorado Home Intervention Program (CHIP) that has a long history of collaborating with multiple agencies to support and serve families with newly identified infants and toddlers, who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH). The single point of entry into the Colorado early intervention system is the regional Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator (CO-Hear). The CO-Hear coordinator has expertise in early intervention for infants and toddlers who are DHH and in-depth knowledge of community resources, specific to the region where they work.
From the initial contact with families, CO-Hears share knowledge about specialized services for infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in their own community, statewide and across the nation. Opportunities to participate in activities such as education, literacy, communication, parent and family support are shared. Joining the family on their journey through early intervention, CO-Hears provide support from identification, through intervention services and assist with the transition into Part B services.
Participants can expect to learn about the role of the CO-Hear, including the collaboration with CHIP Facilitator, families and community agencies. You will also better understand how the CO-Hear role ensures intervention services remain family-centered, comply with state and federal legislation, and offer comprehensive information about all communication opportunities, supporting families in making informed decisions.
- Participants will learn about the critical and timely first contact and resources shared with families with newly identified infants and toddlers through a single point of entry, the CO-Hear coordinator.
- Participants will understand the power of a dedicated professional collaborating and overseeing the efficacy of the CHIP program and journey with individual families from identification to transition to Part B services.
- Participants will consider recommendations for best practices and resources to enhance their early intervention program related to family support and ongoing mentoring and collaboration.
Presentation:
3353554_14844AshleyRenslow.pdf
Handouts:
3353554_14844AshleyRenslow.pdf
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Ashley Renslow
(InPerson), Colorado EHDI, Arenslow@csdb.org;
Ashley Renslow is the Early Education Coordinator with Outreach Programs at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. In her role, she coordinates the Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator (CO-Hear) and Colorado Home Intervention Programs (CHIP) and the Colorado Shared Reading Project (CSRP). She also programmatically oversees the Early Literacy Events. A speech language pathologist by background, she has worked in Deaf residential Schools for 10+ years in varying roles, and has served local families as a CHIP facilitator (0-3 early interventionist). Outside of work, when she's not chasing her preschooler and toddler, Ashley enjoys being outside, traveling, and lounging with a good book.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Robin Getz
(), CHIP (Colorado Home Intervention Program), rlgetz@csdb.org;
Robin Getz, MA, is a Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator (CO-Hear) with the CHIP (Colorado Home Intervention Program) program through the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. She supports urban families with newly identified children, birth to three years of age. Profoundly deaf from birth, Robin began her formal education in Puerto Rico at a bilingual Spanish/English school for Kindergarten and 1st grade before moving back to NYC where she was born. She has lived in many places nationally, and internationally as a child. She earned a double major in Psychology; and Communication Disorders and Speech Sciences for her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and holds two Master's Degrees: Mental Health Counseling from Gallaudet University, and Deaf Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Robin began her professional career as a licensed Mental Health Therapist, which she practiced for about 8 years, until she realized her heart was in the early intervention field. She has worked as an early interventionist with the CHIP program for 22 years.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Kirsten Gardzelewski
(), Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, kgardzelewski@csdb.org;
Kirsten Gardzelewski is a CO-Hear and Teacher of the Deaf at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -