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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Developing a Seamless System in Washington State' Track: 9 - Program Evaluation and Quality Improvement Keyword(s): collaboration, services, professional development/ training Learning Objectives: Use strategies presented to strengthen their statewide system for providing support for infants and children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Deconstruct developing a statewide system through the process of collaborative meetings, producing a flowchart or similar visual representation of their state process, identification of resources organized geographically, creating and analyzing a needs assessment survey and providing training throughout their state. Explain the importance of developing statewide best practices and standards for working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families, and how to best disseminate resources and provide trainings. Abstract: The Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness & Hearing Loss (CDHL) has been charged with providing statewide leadership and support for the coordination of regionally delivered educational services in the full range of communication modalities, and collaborating with appropriate public and private partners for the training and professional development of educators serving these children. Communication amongst agencies and organizations that serve children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families is crucial to ensure seamless transition from identification to referral of families to appropriate early support services/resources and tracking upon entry into school. In order to streamline these services, CDHL has been collaborating with Washington’s Early Hearing Detection Diagnoses & Intervention Program, Department of Early Learning’s Early Support for Infants & Toddlers (ESIT), Washington Sensory Disability Services (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction special needs project), and the Office of Deaf of Hard of Hearing to streamline this process. Our state agencies, working together, have developed a flowchart that clearly represents our state model and resources. We have completed a needs assessment survey to determine which counties are experiencing a high loss to follow up and we are providing support to those areas. We have developed and are implementing trainings for Family Resources Coordinators and direct service providers to improve their understanding of hearing loss and the state system, and will share those topics with our audience. We will also share our processes for establishing partnerships and how to work together to strengthen systems and support young children, their families and the professionals who serve them and provide tips for participants to become agents of change in their own states. 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
Kris Ching - Co-Presenter Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness & Hearing Loss      Credentials: M.A. Deaf Education       Kris Ching is the Outreach Director, birth-5, for Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness & Hearing Loss (CDHL). Her focus is on developing collaborative relationships in underserved areas, providing training/information to early intervention coordinators and providers, and finding funding to help expand statewide services for children and families. She is involved with the D/HH Early Childhood State Agencies Taskforce, serves on the WA Hands & Voices board, and is currently enrolled in Gallaudet University’s D/HH Infants, Toddlers, and Families: Collaboration & Leadership Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Receives Salary for Employment from Center for Childhood Deafness & Hearing Loss.   Nonfinancial - Has a Professional (Board member) relationship for Board membership.   Kerianne Christie - Primary Presenter Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss      Credentials: M.Ed., NBCT       Kerianne Christie is a National Board Certified Teacher with a Master’s degree in Education. She has been providing early childhood education services in and around Washington State for the past 12 years through the Washington School for the Deaf Outreach Team. She has been involved with the development and promotion of many statewide initiatives and projects that specifically impact the birth-to-three population and has presented at a variety of local and national conferences regarding early intervention services.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Jane Tabor - Co-Presenter Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss      Credentials: Au.D., CCC-A       Jane Tabor is a pediatric and educational audiologist currently working for the Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness & Hearing Loss and Washington School for the Deaf. She has had experience as a licensed teacher, newborn hearing screener, university instructor, and clinician working in a variety of clinical and educational settings. She currently serves on Washington State's ECHO (Early Childhood Hearing Outreach) Team and is a member of International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) serving as the head Audiologist for the Deaflympics.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.