NCHAM is pleased to announce that we have been awarded funding from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau to continue serving as the National Resource Center for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention beginning April 1, 2005. This grant (project abstract) will enable us to help even more state agencies, health care providers, hospitals, early intervention programs and families nationwide to develop and sustain comprehensive EHDI programs in which:

• Every newborn is screened for hearing loss prior to hospital discharge; infants not passing the screening receive appropriate diagnostic evaluation before three months of age and, when necessary, are enrolled in early intervention programs by six months of age
  
  
• Infants are linked with medical homes and families receive culturally competent support throughout the screening, diagnostic, and intervention processes
  
  
• Statewide EHDI data and tracking systems are established to link with other relevant health data systems
  
  
• Essential EHDI information is disseminated to all relevant constituencies
  

To accomplish these goals, with an added focus on ensuring that children who need services do not become lost to follow-up after screening, NCHAM will:

• Continue and refine the most successful technical assistance activities provided during previous years through the Technical Assistance Network;
  
  
• Expand and coordinate work with Collaborating Agencies, including governmental, professional, and advocacy organizations that have proven to be vital in improving EHDI programs;
  
  
• Implement new initiatives to address the most urgent gaps identified by MCHB, State EHDI Coordinators, current collaborators, and other EHDI experts. These initiatives will focus on resource and promising practice development and dissemination, public awareness activities, education and training, policy and financing initiatives, and evidence-based data collection for quality assurance.
  

Through these and other activities, we look forward to supporting all individuals and entities serving children and families in EHDI programs.