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“What You Need to Know: Resources for Families” (PDF) is a collection of resources that is mailed to parents as soon as a child is identified as deaf or hard of hearing. 

Beginning in August 2017, parents, extended family members, and professionals can get the same resources online. Rural families with limited access to broadband and Wi-Fi can download the materials in a .pdf format to an e-reader (i.e. on smartphones, tablets) and access them anytime, anywhere.

The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) has identified the following goal (1.2) to “develop a mechanism that ensures family access to all available resources and information that is accurate, well-balanced, comprehensive, and conveyed in an unbiased manner.” Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has been authorized through statute to provide these resources to families of children who are D/HH. During the past year, stakeholders of the Collaborative Plan reviewed the materials to ensure that the materials met JCIH goals. They made recommendations for changes which were approved by MDH. At MDH’s request, stakeholders of the Collaborative Plan have agreed to review the resources annually to ensure that the information is accurate, well-balanced, comprehensive, and conveyed in an unbiased manner. MDH and the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) advisory committee make final decisions on the inclusion of materials in this group of resources.

The Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans (MNCDHH) provided funding to make this resource available online and accessible. MDH hosts “What You Need to Know: Resources for Families” on the MDH website.

Involved stakeholders

Many thanks to the stakeholders who reviewed the resource binder:

• Kathy Anderson – Low Incidence: EHDI Projects
• Nicole Brown – EHDI Coordinator: MN Dept of Health
• Laura Godfrey – MN Hands & Voices
• Debbie Golos – University of Minnesota
• Danelle Gournaris – Deaf Mentor Family Program
• Michele Isham –Teacher D/HH: Region 5/7
• Susan Lane-Outlaw – Executive Director: Metro Deaf School
• Darcia Dierking – Audiologist: MN Dept of Health
• Chelsea Paulson – Deaf/Hard of Hearing Role Model Program
• Lyndsey Raffelson - Teacher D/HH: Region 10
• Kara Tempel - Part C Coordinator: MN Dept of Education
• Anne Grace Donatucci – Administrator: Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf

More information

Learn more about the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH)

Visit the Collaborative Plan website

Read the 2016 Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program statute

Learn more about EHDI in Minnesota

And now, you can access the Online Resources for Families (PDF)