1. The “Guide-By-Your-Side” Program
-One Year in Review- March 3-5, 2005 National EHDI Conference

2. Wisconsin 23rd Largest State 72 counties Live Births: 68,510
Total Population:5,427,299
Live Births: 68,510
SE Region: 2,020,318
N + W Region: 560,788
NORTHERN
WESTERN
NORTHEASTERN
Southern
SEastern

3. The Need
Many Early Intervention Providers have little or no experience working with very young children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families.
Parents want immediate contact with another parent.

4. Bottom’s-up Approach B-3 Consultants Early Intervention Parents
Empowered parents Both Guides and New families
Guides model and mentor B-3 service coordinators
Families are more prepared to ask for what their child needs
When a B-3 program has a clear understanding of what the child and family needs then they can better analyze whether or not their program is prepared to provide it. In other words they will begin to understand what they don’t know and will be inspired to ask for help.
When they realize that they could use some help they can call on the B-6 consultants or contract for direct services from the WSB B-3 consultants.
The entirety of the experience will change the system in a positive direction for the next family who comes through.
Guide-By-Your-Side
Program

5. Introducing Guide-By-Your-Side
CHL Form initiates simultaneous referrals
Guide-By-Your-Side Program
Early Intervention
Contacts family within hrs
Contact with family happens within first month
Talk through paper vs electronic referral process
Joint visit occurs whenever possible

6. Program Fundamentals Core Fundamentals
Unbiased Support and Information
Cultural Sensitivity
Direct Communication
Flexibility
Links to Resources

7. Parent Guides can help...
Goal 1: Provide parents with the opportunity to establish a supportive relationship with an experienced parent of a child who is deaf /hard of hearing soon after they learn of their child’s hearing loss.

8. Parent Guides can help...
Goal 2: Provide an understanding of the unique needs of infants who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Goal 3: Provide unbiased information regarding communication options.
Goal 4: Link families to resources available locally,regionally, and statewide.

9. Parent Guides can help...
Goal 5: Ensure that families are linked to their county Birth to 3 Program or local school district.
Goal 6: Ensure that families are connected to other parent to parent resources.
- Parent guides are NOT advocates. Parent Guides can connect families with the WI Chapter of Families for Hands and Voices for advocacy or on-going parent to parent support.

10. Program Statistics 2004 30 referrals 16 active cases 10 closed cases
4 “lost” cases

11. Program Successes Guide Perspective: -trainings and case conferences
-new families know GBYS
-high level of comfort
-ability to provide emotional support
-ability to link families to resources
-ability to impact the system

12. Program Successes Family Perspective:
-Guide is a parent, not another professional
-flexibility, i.e. meeting in family’s home in the evening or over the weekend
-high level of comfort
-information and insights always very helpful
-Guides return with more information
-Guides provide a “light at the end of the tunnel”

13. Program Challenges Guide Perspective: -timeline -WE-TRAC delays
-lack of statewide resource knowledge
-phone cards / payment for phone calls
-payment for travel
-limited to six hours

14. We would like on-going visits with our Guides!
Program Challenges
Family Perspective:
We would like on-going visits with our Guides!

15. Future Directions Continued recruitment and retainment
On-going training for Parent Guides
Develop GBYS policies and procedures manual
Continue to challenge systems and boundaries
Provide technical assistance to other states

16. What families say…
“As soon as she walked through the door and we saw her understanding smile we felt immediately at ease.”
“Our Guide is like a light at the end of the tunnel…a promise that everything will be alright.”

17. Program Contacts WSB Program Director WESP-Outreach Program
Elizabeth Seeliger
Phone: (608)
Fax: (608)
WESP-Outreach Program
Birth-6 Services Coordinator /
GBYS Program Coordinator
Sally-Ann Anderson
Phone: (608)
Fax: (608)

18. The Guide-By-Your-Side Program...
Works for Families!