19th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 8-10, 2020 • Kansas City, MO
3/10/2020 | 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Moving Forward: Wisconsin Sound Beginnings Parents Reaching Out | Chicago A
Moving Forward: Wisconsin Sound Beginnings Parents Reaching Out
Moving Forward: Wisconsin Sound Beginnings Parents Reaching Out.
Wisconsin was fortunate that for a twelve year period (2004-2016) Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing provided parent to parent support for families with children who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafplus and deafblind. However due to funding changes in 2016, this program could no longer provide parent to parent support to families with children under the age of 3. Fortunately in step with our state’s motto “Forward”, leaders, including family representatives in the Wisconsin EHDI program, decided to recreate a support system for families of children under the age of three who have been identified with hearing loss, in alignment with the Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs regionalized family support model, naming this service Parents Reaching Out (PRO). This presentation by family leaders will describe how the state’s EHDI system, Wisconsin Sound Beginnings, contracted with a Children’s hospital, a local public health agency and the University of Wisconsin, to create the PRO service which provides outreach to families immediately after their child has received a confirmed hearing loss diagnosis. Program development steps will be shared for creating the program name, logo and promotional materials, in addition to a data collection system. Family outreach methods, family stories and family feedback will also be presented.
Contact information:
Connie Stevens
Cstevens4@wisc.edu
608-577-3895
- Describe how to collaborate with partners to create a parent to parent support service in coordination with their state’s EHDI, Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs programs and contracted agencies.
- Develop promotional materials and program protocols.
- Discuss various strategies used to connect with families.
Presentation:
21060_12538ConnieStevens.pdf
Handouts:
21060_12538ConnieStevens.pdf
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Connie Stevens
(), UW-WI Madison, supporting WI Department of Health Services, cstevens4@wisc.edu;
Connie began work in EHDI after receiving news that her seven month old daughter, who has Down Syndrome, was also deaf. She delved into researching best practices and available resources. For five years, she was Program Director of Shore to Shore, for families with D/HH members, coordinating and leading literacy-based playgroups, parent support groups and sign language classes. Connie has been involved with Wisconsin Families for Hands & Voices since its inception. Connie was a Guide By Your Side Parent Guide. Since 2009, she's worked with Wisconsin Sound Beginnings, representing the parent perspective, helping reduce loss to follow-up by connecting with families and providers, and connecting with families and Early Intervention Programs post-identification. Connie attends many EHDI, D/HH and family support conferences. She co-authored the state’s “Babies and Hearing Loss Interactive Notebook”. She was also a member of the National Center for Cultural Competence-NCHAM Community of Learners.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Jeanne Gustafson
(), Wisconsin Sound Beginnings, Chippewa County Department of Public Health, jgustafson@co.chippewa.wi.us;
Jeanne came to EHDI work through her experience as the parent of a child who is hard of hearing. Jeanne was a Parent Guide with the Guide By Your Side Program and a Follow-Through Parent Guide for WSB. She currently serves the northern and western regions as an Outreach Specialist, providing in-home and in-community hearing screenings for babies. Jeanne serves many Amish and Mennonite communities, providing out of hospital outreach and education and building relationships with several traditional midwives and public health departments that serve the area. Jeanne is also a WSB Parents Reaching Out parent, who helped develop the program and supports families post-diagnosis in the Western and Northern parts of WI.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.