Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Committee
The EHDI Advisory Committee collaborates with state and federal partners to achieve the guidelines of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The committee is composed of stakeholders reflecting the comprehensive EHDI system, including health care professionals, parents/families of deaf or hard of hearing children, individuals that are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as various state program representatives. The committee’s objective is to advise the grant recipient on potential mechanisms to achieve project strategies and objectives.
Committee meetings are held semi-annually with virtual and in-person options.
Committee members are appointed to serve a four-year term. Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons and their families are encouraged to apply. Applications may be submitted at any time. Applications and questions may be sent to [email protected]. Interested applicants may call the hearing line at 866-289-2037 for more information.
Find the application here.
EHDI Advisory Committee Members
Audiologist: Vacant
Birthing Hospital Representative: Rachel McCaffery, BSN, RN, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Newborn Screening Coordinator
Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services, Early Steps Program: Jessica Meyer, MSW
Florida School for the Deaf and Blind: Gail Strassel
Florida Academy of Audiology (FLAA): Sergio Guerreiro, AuD, F-AAA, CH-AP
Hands and Voices, Florida Chapter: Vacant
Healthy Start: Anna Simmons, MSW
Individual Representing the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community: June Ann LeFors
Individual Representing the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community: Jennifer Francisco
Individual Representing the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community: Vacant
Office of Minority Health and Health Equity: Walter Niles, MPH
Otolaryngologist: Cedric Pritchett, MD, MPH, FAAP
Parent Representative: Terri Fisk
Parent Representative: Karen Flanagan
Pediatric Champion: Kathleen Rooney-Otero, MD, MPH, FAAP
Hearing Screening Company: Karen Brennhofer, AuD
Leadership Education: Robert Fifer, PhD
Join us for a meeting
EHDI Advisory Council meetings are facilitated by the Florida Department of Health Newborn Screening, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program and are open to the public. Meeting notices will be posted one month in advance on the FLRules FAQ website. Sign-up to receive meeting notices.
View Meeting Presentation here.