2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Increasing Access to Hearing Screenings: A Local Health Department Collaboration | City Terrace 11
Increasing Access to Hearing Screenings: A Local Health Department Collaboration
The Maryland Department of Health's EHDI Program identified local health departments (LHDs) as key venues for community hearing screenings, particularly for addressing barriers reported by follow-up coordinators. An analysis of 2022 data highlighted missed screenings, prompting collaboration with LHDs. Leadership presented to Health Officers to gauge interest and capacity, leading to a decision to equip Baltimore, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Montgomery Counties. These counties were chosen due to existing screening needs, Amish/Mennonite and Latinx populations, and a median to high level of uninsured residents.
Since 2025, the MD EHDI program has deployed loaner hearing screening equipment to six LHDs. This initiative facilitates comprehensive data collection and provides non-fiscal education and support to LHDs, aiming to reduce transportation and insurance barriers and improve access to follow-up screenings for infants and families.
St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) joined the collaboration in 2025, establishing a monthly newborn hearing screening clinic. This clinic serves the Amish and Mennonite communities and provides re-screen opportunities for infants referred from hospitals who either missed their initial screening or received a "refer" result. SMCHD’s efforts ensure timely follow-up, reduce loss-to-follow-up rates, and ensure results are entered into the state’s OZ database within required timeframes. The clinic also acts as a vital local access point for uninsured or underinsured families, strengthening continuity between hospitals, pediatric providers, and state EHDI staff. This demonstrates how LHDs can effectively bridge gaps in early detection pathways.
This presentation will offer an overview of the loaner screening collaboration with LHDs, evaluating its potential for replication in other states or territories. It will also provide county-specific details to illustrate the collaboration’s usefulness from an LHD perspective.
- Participants will be able to identify key factors to establish a hearing screening collaboration between the state EHDI Program and local health departments.
- Participants will be able to identify benefits of a hearing screening collaboration between the state EHDI program and local health departments.
- Participants will be able to understand the loaner hearing screening equipment program from the local health department perspective.
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
Yasmine Price
(Primary Presenter), Maryland Department of Health, yasmine.price1@maryland.gov;
Yasmine Price, MS, CHES® is the Program Manager of the Maryland Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (MD EHDI) Program within the Office of Children and Youth with Specific Health Care Needs (OCYSHCN) in the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). Yasmine is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) with a Master’s degree in Health Sciences. She has experience in public health administration, operations, evaluation, and health education. Notably, Yasmine has Statewide experience managing federal grants and contracts with components on youth health interventions. Yasmine’s current work responsibilities include overseeing MD EHDI, procuring program funding, and building strategic partnerships with MD EHDI stakeholders.
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.
Ashley Milcetic
(Co-Presenter), St. Mary's County Health Department, ashley.milcetic@maryland.gov;
Ashley Milcetic is the Director of the Maternal, Child, and Elder Health Unit at the St. Mary’s County Health Department, where she leads programs that promote the health and well-being of families, children, infants, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. With over a decade of experience in public health nursing, Ashley has successfully developed and implemented innovative, equity-focused programs addressing maternal and child health and access to care.
Under her leadership, the department has launched and sustained key initiatives such as Thrive By Three, Nurse-Family Partnership, Vision and Hearing Screenings, while strengthening partnerships with the Maryland Department of Health and local organizations. She oversees a diverse portfolio of programs with a combined budget exceeding $1.5 million and serves as Chair of the St. Mary’s County Child Fatality Review Committee and member of the Maryland Maternal Health Improvement Taskforce.
Ashley has been recognized with multiple honors, including the Excellence in Public Health Award and Public Health Leadership Award for her dedication to advancing community health and program innovation. A Southern Maryland native, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Stevenson University and an Associate of Science in Nursing from the College of Southern Maryland. She lives locally with her husband, two children, and their golden retriever, and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
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.