SD EHDI Collaborative

09/03/2026

Check out this webinar!

Join us for this month's ECCS Touchpoints webinar on September 8!

https://sdcpcm.com/events/eccs-touchpoints-0908/

Advancing Pediatric Medical Homes in South Dakota: Building Coordinated, Family‑Centered Care for Children

This session will provide an overview of the Child Medical Home model and how lessons from it can support coordinated, family-centered care for children across South Dakota. The presenter will explain the core components of the AAP Medical Home model, highlight South Dakota’s current strategies, and share practical examples of how families, providers, and community partners can strengthen early and sustained connections to a medical home. The session will also review state-level data from the National Survey of Children’s Health and outline opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.

09/03/2026

Coming up September 29th!

NEW! ASTra Webinar Coming Soon: The Role of the Educational Audiologist

If your child is Deaf or hard of hearing, you may have heard the term educational audiologist—but what exactly do they do, and how is their role different from a clinical audiologist, Teacher of the Deaf (TOD), or speech-language pathologist (SLP)?
Join ASTra for a practical conversation about how educational audiologists help students access instruction and participate fully in the classroom. We’ll explore assessment beyond the audiogram, hearing assistive technology, collaboration with the school team, and what families can do when their district doesn’t have an educational audiologist on staff.

📅 September 29, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM–12:00 PM MT (adjust to your time zone)
🎙️ Presenter: Dr. Rachel Parkington, Au.D.

👉 Register today and come ready to learn what educational audiology can mean for your child’s school experience!

https://handsandvoices.org/astra/webinars/

09/02/2026

Did you know that infants that spend an extended period of time in the NICU should have their hearing screened regularly?

September officially marks NICU Awareness Month 💚

We’re celebrating the tiny fighters, their families, and the amazing NICU teams who support them. Every milestone matters! 👣✨

09/01/2026

Happy National Deaf Awareness Month! September is a time to celebrate Deaf culture, language, and community. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn, spread awareness, and better understand the barriers many Deaf and Hard of Hearing people face. By learning, listening, and including others, we can help break down barriers and create a more welcoming, inclusive, and connected community for everyone.

08/26/2026

NEW! ASTra Webinar Coming Soon: The Role of the Educational Audiologist

If your child is Deaf or hard of hearing, you may have heard the term educational audiologist—but what exactly do they do, and how is their role different from a clinical audiologist, Teacher of the Deaf (TOD), or speech-language pathologist (SLP)?
Join ASTra for a practical conversation about how educational audiologists help students access instruction and participate fully in the classroom. We’ll explore assessment beyond the audiogram, hearing assistive technology, collaboration with the school team, and what families can do when their district doesn’t have an educational audiologist on staff.

📅 September 29, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM–12:00 PM MT (adjust to your time zone)
🎙️ Presenter: Dr. Rachel Parkington, Au.D.

👉 Register today and come ready to learn what educational audiology can mean for your child’s school experience!

https://handsandvoices.org/astra/webinars/

08/25/2026

Take advantage of this great opportunity!

Registration is now open for the Fall semester! Please find attached the SDSD Modules flyer, which includes the registration link/QR code. There are two sections, and you can register for either one. This is a self-paced, semester-long course open to all SD K-12 educators. Participants need to complete all 15 modules for credit and will receive one graduate credit from the University of South Dakota, paid for by the SD Department of Health in collaboration with SDSD and USD. A courtesy transcript will be mailed out to students when grades are finalized for 1 graduate credit.

Scan the QR code below or click either link below to register:
https://aceware.usd.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?course=26FA-81857
https://aceware.usd.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?course=26FA-81858

Contact Sarah Lingle at 605-773-2224 with any questions.

Spread the word to any interested SD K-12 educator (including Birth to 3 providers and Early Childhood educators) who would be interested in graduate credit and learning more about working with students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing! Space is limited!

FAQ
1. Can I register today?
Yes, registration is open. Please note that there are two sections being offered this year. You will only register for ONE.
2. How much does it cost?
There is no registration fee. In addition, the SD Department of Health, in collaboration with SDSD and USD, is paying for ONE graduate credit at the University of SD for each participating teacher upon completion of the course.
3. When will the class start?
Classes start September 9th. You will receive an introductory email from Sarah Lingle with detailed course information.
4. What is the last day to register?
If there are spots available, the last day to register is September 18th.
5. What do I need for the course?
You will need access to the internet and either Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser, notetaking materials if you desire. There is not a required text for this course.
6. How long do I have to complete the course?
The course is a semester long self-paced course with instructor guidance throughout.
7. Who can take the course?
Any South Dakota K12 teacher (including preschool and B-3 providers). It is a graduate-level course, so an undergraduate degree is required to enroll.
8. I registered but received a message that the class is full, can I still take the course?
The class size is limited but there is a wait list your name will be added to if you register. There are occasions where someone decides the first week that they need to drop the course and then the next person on the wait list is added.

08/21/2026

This free monthly virtual series runs August–December and focuses on language acquisition for deaf and hard of hearing children. Register here https://forms.monday.com/forms/704f3740018fc9db6449905eb1c34d2f?r=use1

Feel free to share this opportunity with families, providers, partners, and others in your networks who may be interested.

08/19/2026

A professional development opportunity that may be of interest to those supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing infants, young children, and their families. Empowering Healthcare Providers to Optimize Language Development in Deaf Infants and Young Children, is open to professionals, students, researchers, and trainees interested in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI), language development, family support, and equitable care.

The series brings together leading experts in audiology, medicine, social work, early intervention, research, and advocacy to explore topics including bias in medical systems, language deprivation, sign language access, systems-level barriers, and approaches that center language, culture, and belonging.

This six-session ECHO series will be held on Wednesdays from September 2 to October 7, 2026. This is the third of three iterations of the current series and registration for Cohort 3 is now open.

Who should attend?
ENTs, audiologists, hearing screeners, pediatricians, early intervention providers, speech-language pathologists, social workers, NICU staff, and anyone working in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) pathways. Students considering or pursuing careers in EHDI are also welcome.

Series Details
• Wednesdays, September 2 to October 7, 2026
• 10:30 a.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. ET
• Live via Zoom
• Free to attend
• Continuing education credits available
• Session recordings available to registered participants
• Weekly takeaways and a curated resource package

Additional details can be found in the flyer linked here (also found at the bottom of this email).

Register here: tinyurl.com/ECHOML2

Please feel free to share this opportunity with colleagues, students, trainees, and professional networks who may be interested.

08/10/2026

A great opportunity!

Family Engagement 101: Enroll Now for Fall 2026

Our Family Engagement course explores the research behind effective family engagement and provides practical, evidence-based strategies educators can implement right away. Grounded in more than 50 years of research, participants will:

✔️ Explore the core beliefs of meaningful family engagement
✔️ Learn research-based strategies for classrooms and schools
✔️ Reflect on current family engagement practices
✔️ Develop a preliminary family engagement plan for their school or district

August 24, 2025 - Dec 7, 2026
Online, self-paced course hosted in Canvas
Register Now: sdsfec.org/family-engagement

08/06/2026

The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Collaborative's Touchpoints webinars return this month with "South Dakota Children and the Food/Nutrition Landscape" presented by Jennifer Noll Foillard.

https://sdcpcm.com/events/eccs-touchpoints-0811/

This presentation will provide an overview of how hunger and food or nutrition insecurity affect young children and families across our state. It will also highlight opportunities to better support South Dakota children’s health and well-being through nutrition.