2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Updates from Vermont: Partnerships to Increase Hearing Screening for 1-, 2- and 3-Year Old’s (and beyond): One Rural States Experience | City Terrace 7
Updates from Vermont: Partnerships to Increase Hearing Screening for 1-, 2- and 3-Year Old’s (and beyond): One Rural States Experience
The Vermont Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (VTEHDI) Program under the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) Family and Child Health (FCH) partners with the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC), our largest birthing facility, for the staffing of audiologists in our program. A sub-agreement has existed between the two organizations since 2003. Vermont’s specialized early intervention for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind (DHHDB) children birth to 3 years of age also falls under UVMMC. VTEHDI has an extensive history of collaboration with community partners beyond the newborn hearing screening period, such as Early Head Start/Head Start, primary care provider practices, Children’s Integrated Services Vermont’s Part C program (CIS) and audiologists. We have provided training, support, and direct services in a variety of ways over the years to establish, enhance and sustain follow up hearing screenings in the newborn period and into early childhood.
As a result of recommendations by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) for screening of 1-, 2- and 3-year-old children and due to reduced audiology services across our region Vermont EHDI began to explore creative ways to support this initiative with new ideas as well as revisiting past training, clinic models and partnerships.
The Vermont EHDI Program provided a presentation at the 2025 EHDI Conference reviewing our history of past initiatives/services provided and our ideas for new ways to support early childhood hearing screenings and follow up in our state. This presentation will provide an update on pilot clinics and training activities over the past year with Early Head Start/Head Start, Part C Children’s Integrated Services Early Intervention Program, and a new partnership with school nurses. We will share feedback from partners, opportunities identified, grants/funding ideas, on-going partnerships and activities planned for the remainder of the year.
- The participant will be able to identify 3 partnerships for screening 1, 2 and 3 year olds.
- The participant will be able to list 2 benefits of partnerships to achieve screening 1, 2 and 3year-olds.
- The participant will be able to list 1 or more resources for training partners in providing early childhood hearing screenings.
Presentation:
View Presentation File
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Stacy Jordan
(Primary Presenter), VTEHDI, Stacy.Jordan@partner.vermont.gov ;
Stacy Jordan is an audiologist and has been involved in various aspects of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) since 2001. Her experiences range from establishing and managing a hospital-based screening program, clinical work for a state-wide public health program screening children birth-eight years old, data base development, implementation and training, as well as education, training and collaboration with various community partners (Early Head Start/Head Start, pediatric primary care, home birth midwives, hospitals, audiologist and Early Intervention). Employed by the University of Vermont Medical Center and contracted to the department of health Family and Child Health Division. She has worked with NCHAM on various: Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO), Newborn Hearing Screening Training Curriculum (NHSTC), Virtual Site Visit (VSV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Conference planning as a host site and others.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Linda Hazard
(Co-Presenter), Vermont Department of Health, linda.hazard@partner.vermont.gov;
Linda Hazard, is the Program Director for the Vermont Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (VTEHDI) and an audiologist. She earned her audiology degree from Boston University and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Social Policy from the University of Vermont. Dr. Hazard is one of the Co-Past Presidents of the Directors of Speech and Hearing Programs in State Health and Welfare Agencies (DSHPSHWA). She currently represents DSHPSHWA on three committees, Audiology Quality Consortium (AQC), Health Care Economics Committee (HCEC) and the Parent Choice Alliance. Additionally Dr. Hazard has been appointed by the Vermont Governor to serve on the Vermont Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind Advisory Council and the Vermont Interagency Coordinating Council. Dr. Hazard is also one of the Vermont State Champions for the American Cochlear Implant Alliance. She has several scientific publications to her credit, including peer reviewed articles and has presented both nationally and internationally. In February of 2017 Dr. Hazard received the prestigious Antonia Brancia Maxon Award for EHDI Excellence and published a chapter for the EHDI I book on qualitative research. In April of 2023 Dr Hazard received the University of Vermont Medical Center Leadership award.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Employment from HRSA.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with HRSA.
Nature: EHDI Funding.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.