Strengthening Evaluation Capacity in State EHDI Programs and Mentoring Emerging Evaluators.

Abstract Information: State-based Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Information Systems (EHDI-IS) collect data on infants' hearing screening and follow-up status. These systems serve as tools that assist EHDI programs in their efforts to help ensure all children who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) are identified early and receive intervention services. CDC’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program works to support early identification in a number of ways, including funding states to develop, modernize, and evaluate their EHDI-IS. This presentation focuses on CDC-funded EHDI programs, serving over 6500 infants who are identified as DHH and the evaluation of the EHDI-IS. The presentation will describe: 1-) how states with CDC funding have incorporated evaluation activities to monitor progress and identify EHDI-IS strengths and areas for improvement; 2) the framework used to develop a customized evaluation for each CDC-funded jurisdiction and the established set of surveillance system attributes evaluated; 3-) the engagement of evaluation fellows for nearly a decade in support of evaluation activities and their contributions of new ideas and practices.