<< BACK TO AGENDA

ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Connecting with All - The Outreach and Support Services Coordinator's Role in a Clinical Setting' Track: 4-Medical Home Keyword(s): connections, coordinating care, cultural awareness Learning Objectives: Discuss the role of the Outreach and Support Services coordinator in a a clinical setting; Identify the various people and services providers the position works with; and Learn strategies to develop a similar position in other medical/clinical settings. Abstract: Acting as a conduit for information, resources, and connections, the Outreach and Support Services Coordinator’s role is one that serves as a bridge between clinicians, families, and support services. While the pediatrician is most frequently viewed as the locus of the “medical home” and certainly serves to refer patients for necessary specialty care appointments, families who are raising deaf or hard of hearing children frequently rely on the guidance of their child’s “ear specialist” for information about medical and technological interventions, habilitative regimes, and programmatic services. Having an Outreach Specialist on staff allows physicians and clinicians in our large volume, tertiary care medical center assurance that their patients are provided have the breadth of information and sensitive care that appropriately addresses the whole child and is consonant with the needs of the whole family. The Outreach Specialist position allows clinicians to extend their ability to provide care to their patients beyond the traditional clinical realm. Frequently participating in clinical meetings with families who have recently been informed of the diagnosis of hearing loss, the Outreach Specialist also has the flexibility to go outside of the clinic to meet with EI program staff, daycare providers, and agency professionals to provide additional information about raising babies who are deaf or hard of hearing. Throughout the process, the Outreach Specialist is also coordinating care among providers, specialty programs, early intervention providers, mentors, and community resources. Providing cultural awareness and sensitivity through periodic support group and informational sessions, the Outreach Specialist also brings together families to help parents understand their child’s experiences, as well as promote parent-to-parent networking. Ideas for developing this position or one that is similar to it in other medical/clinical settings will be discussed. This presentation will benefit clinicians, pediatricians, EI providers, and parents. 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
SPEAKER INFORMATION
PRESENTER(S): Kevin Nolan, Jr. - Children's Hospital Boston      Credentials: M.A., Deaf Education       Kevin J. Nolan, Jr. grew up in western Massachusetts and is a graduate of The American University (B.A. – Justice) and of Gallaudet University (M.A. – Deaf Education). He has worked in the field of advocacy and leadership at the state, national, and international levels. Previously, he worked as a Legislative Correspondent for the United States Senate and as an Education Specialist at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education under the State Director of Special Education. Currently he is the Outreach and Support Services Coordinator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program of Children's Hospital Boston. He is also an instructor for the Gerald “Bummy” Burstein Leadership Institute at Gallaudet University. He currently serves as the Chairperson for the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s Statewide Advisory Committee.   AUTHOR(S):