Minnesota Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (MCYSHN)
Notice of Availability of Grant Funds for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Follow-up
(Non-Competitive Funding for Community Health Boards and Tribal Governments)
Purpose of the funding:
Despite clear evidence of improved physical and developmental outcomes with early intervention, delays and loss to follow-up continue in all stages of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program: initial screen, referral to audiologist, definitive diagnosis, to linkage with early intervention. Nationally, lost to follow-up rates are approximately 50 percent. While Minnesota's loss to follow-up rate is lower compared to the national average in all stages of the EHDI process, clear opportunities for quality improvement exist in our targets for timely and appropriate diagnosis and intervention.
Funds are now available through the Minnesota Department of Health through a supplemental grant from the Maternal Child Health Bureau. This funding engages public health nurses in the facilitation of hearing rescreening, diagnosis of hearing loss, and in working within existing interagency systems to connect families to services/supports such as Early Intervention “Help Me Grow” (Part C) for children diagnosed with permanent hearing loss. The EHDI Program will coordinate and assign cases to local public health agencies choosing to participate in this initiative. Once a case has been identified, local public health nurses will provide follow-up services and report results to the EHDI Program.
Upon completion of case management, MDH will reimburse local public health:
- For facilitation of screening/rescreening and reporting = $75 per case
- For facilitation of diagnosis and reporting = $75 per case
- For facilitation of connections to initial services and reporting = $125 per case
- For facilitation of three-six month follow-up and reporting = $100 per case
Application process and timeline:
Non-competitive funds will be available October 2009 through March 31, 2011.
To apply for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Follow-up funding, community health boards and tribal governments must contact Nicole Brown or Barb Dalbec at health.newbornchildfollowup@state.mn.us
This opportunity continues to be open to all counties and tribal agencies. Contracts will be mailed in the next couple of weeks. Please complete the contract and return it to MDH to be included.
MDH support:
MDH will provide training, resources, and ongoing technical assistance to public health and tribal government staff who participate in this opportunity.
For more information:
For all questions regarding the application for this funding, please contact:
Nicole Brown
651-201-3737
Nicole.Brown@state.mn.us
Barb Dalbec
651-201-3758
Barb.Dalbec@state.mn.us