Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
The Tennessee Department of Health requests $235,000 to continue the Tennessee Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (TN EHDI) program. The program goal is to enhance the TN EHDI system infrastructure to improve language acquisition for deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children up to age three (3), and to support Tennessee EHDI systems of services so that DHH newborns, infants, and young children up to age three (3) receive appropriate and timely services, including hearing screening, diagnosis, and early intervention (EI). The program collaborates broadly with partners within the Tennessee Department of Health, other state agencies, non-profit organizations, health care professionals, and families to ensure all infants and children up to three (3) years of age in Tennessee receive appropriate timely services in all aspects of the 1-3-6 journey. TN EHDI will complete activities that will be focused on the following areas: • Convene a statewide Advisory Committee to enhance collaboration between the TN EHDI program, parents, providers, and stakeholders to improve outcomes for children diagnosed with a hearing loss • Educate and train health care professionals and families • Expand Quality Improvement (QI) activities to identify opportunities for improvement • Enhance the data system, including the early intervention data between TN EHDI and Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), Tennessee’s Part C program • Develop a statewide infrastructure and implement activities that will collect and track language acquisition outcomes for DHH children at three (3) years of age The TN EHDI program relies on in-kind support from the Newborn Screening Program to provide follow up services with hospitals, primary care providers, and families to ensure infants receive appropriate services in a timely manner and that hearing results are reported and entered into the data system; to refer children diagnosed as DHH to early intervention; to provide epidemiol ogical support; and to conduct quality improvement activities and provide education and training activities. The contracted partners include Tennessee Disability Coalition/Family Voices PEARS for family support services, contracted audiology consultant for audiological education, training and outreach activities, and deaf educator for deaf education services. The program will work with TEIS, Children’s Special Services (CSS) and Family Voices PEARS to ensure children diagnosed as DHH receive timely and appropriate early intervention.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
