Local Nonprofit Receives Federal Grant for CA Newborn Hearing Screening Program

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - April 2, 2020 - PRLog -- NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing  is being awarded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration to support the current Newborn Hearing Screening Program with centralized services for families with infants who have been identified as deaf or hard of hearing.  This annual grant will allocate funding for the establishment of a statewide LEAD-K Family Services that includes Parent Mentor support and Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) related services, specifically Deaf Coach services.

"By ensuring families are connected to support services, this new statewide program is aligned with California's law that was passed in 2015 to address early language acquisition of children who are deaf or hard of hearing." Said Sheri Farinha, CEO.

"The Newborn Hearing Screening Program illustrates the importance of early detection and intervention. By ensuring that infants are screened for hearing at birth, parents can make informed choices about their care early on," said Congresswoman Matsui. "I have long advocated for the federal government to prioritize these initiatives. Most recently, Congress successfully passed, and the President signed into law my bill, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act, legislation to preserve federal funding that continually supports this critical work. I'm pleased that NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing will be able to implement these funds locally to make sure newborn screening and intervention programs can continue to improve our kids' health and well-being."

"I applaud the award of this grant to NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing," said Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. "This grant will support their Newborn Hearing Screening Program to address early language acquisition of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing has been a tremendous asset to the Sacramento County community, empowering deaf and hard of hearing individuals across California."

Congressman Garamendi on the grant: "I'm pleased that NorCal Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing has received this much-deserved support to bolster its services to the community. The organization will use these funds to educate, empower and advocate throughout our region. I'm deeply thankful for the work the people of NorCal Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing perform every day, and I congratulate them for earning this award."

Visit <a href="https://www.norcalcenter.org">
NorCal website</a> for details

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.