<< BACK TO POSTERS

ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Wisconsin Sound Beginnings & WIC Collaboration Successfully Reduces Loss-to-Follow-Up' Track: 6 - Follow-up, Tracking and Data Management Keyword(s): WIC, loss-to-follow-up collaboration, in-home screening Learning Objectives: WSB will demonstrate lessons learned in our first year of implementing this initiative to help other EHDI programs explore how a collaboration like this would work in their States EHDI participants will learn about WSB’s in-home and in-community outpatient screenings and how they work in the context of WIC collaboration EHDI participants will learn through detailed case studies how the WIC collaboration played an important role in successfully screening at-risk families Abstract: In 2012, Wisconsin Sound Beginnings began an innovative, successful collaboration with WIC (Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program). Wisconsin Sound Beginnings (WSB) and WIC signed a MOA giving WSB staff special access to WIC’s statewide database. There are 92 WIC sites in Wisconsin. We divided these sites into two follow-up protocols, A and B. We currently have 14 WIC-B sites, three in the urban City of Milwaukee and 11 in the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council sites in rural Wisconsin. The remaining sites are in the WIC-A protocol. WSB identifies babies in our database who haven’t passed their newborn hearing screen and are at risk for loss-to-follow-up. We then locate those babies in the WIC database and place one of two alerts that this baby did not pass their newborn hearing screen and needs follow-up. To date, we have placed 108 WIC alerts. Babies in a WIC-A site receive “passive” follow-up, with the alert instructing WIC to give the family a letter that WSB provided in English, Spanish and Hmong to every WIC site. Families in a WIC-B site receive an “active” alert to provide care coordination with a WSB Regional Outreach Specialist. WSB is able to provide a follow-up hearing screen at that family’s WIC appointment or in their home. We have placed 92 WIC-A and 16 WIC-B alerts to date. So far, 55 of WIC-A families (60% success) and 11 of WIC-B families (69% success) have received follow-up care. WSB continues to evaluate which approach to follow-up is the most effective. This collaboration relies on the local support of the WIC staff “on the ground” in key areas with high loss-to-follow-up rates. This initiative highlights the possibility for future efforts to meet families where they are at and reduce our loss-to-follow-up rate among at-risk babies. Presentation: This presentation has not yet been uploaded or the speaker has opted not to make the presentation available online. Handouts: Handout is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
Elizabeth Seeliger - POC,Co-Presenter Department of Health Services      Credentials: Doctor of Audiology       Elizabeth Seeliger, AuD, is the Wisconsin Sound Beginnings Program Director and has worked as a clinical audiologist in a variety of settings, helping guide children and families through the process of hearing loss diagnosis and intervention. Elizabeth has been a leader in developing a data, tracking and referral system; educational resources for hospitals and providers; and an interactive notebook for parents. Elizabeth spearheaded the initiative to enable Wisconsin homebirth midwives to provide UNHS. Elizabeth has also provided technical assistance and consultation locally and internationally on quality improvement in EHDI systems. Elizabeth currently sits on the board of directors for the WI Chapter of Families for Hands & Voices and Hands & Voices HQ. She is a graduate of UW-Madison’s Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Advanced Clinical Practice Certificate Program.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Rebecca Martin - POC,Co-Presenter WI DHS      Credentials: MPH, IMH-E(II)       Rebecca Martin, MPH, IMH-E(II) is the Outreach Specialist Coordinator at Wisconsin Sound Beginnings, working to support families and providers throughout EHDI. She has a decade of experience in health education, home visitation, case management, communications and advocacy. With a focus on high-risk, minority, immigrant and teen parents and their young children, Rebecca has provided intensive case management, intervention, education and support around parent-child relationships, child development, family stability, domestic violence and physical/emotional health. Rebecca completed her public health Preceptorship at a community health center in rural Wisconsin working with Amish and Hispanic communities. Rebecca served as a Peace Corps Volunteer, working to better maternal/child health and improve community organization. She is a graduate of UW-Madison’s Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health certificate program and has earned her Level II Infant Mental Health Endorsement as an Infant Family Specialist for culturally sensitive, relationship-focused practice promoting infant mental health.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.