Meeting with EPICS Scholars Focuses on Practicum Preparation

by Guam CEDDERS CEDDERS CORE EPICS
February 20, 2019: Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director and EPICS Liaison met with Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Public School System Special Education staff to discuss upcoming practicum options for the Saipan-based scholars. Front Row (L-R): Terrie Fejarang; Suzanne Lizama, CNMI PSS Special Education Director. Back Row (L-R): Nora Pangelinan, Data Management and Compliance Program Manager and Donna Flores, Data Management and Compliance Program Manager.
February 20, 2019: Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director and Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project Fitme Project Director, met with Angie Mister, CCC-AuD, CNMI EHDI Coordinator at the CNMI Public Health Center, Saipan, to discuss upcoming events within the EHDI Projects.
February 20, 2019: Saipan-based EPICS scholars met with EPICS staff to discuss upcoming practicum activities. EPICS stands for “Educating Pacific Island Clinicians in Speech Pathology” a personnel preparation project funded through a U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Program (OSEP) grant. The grant supports the delivery of SJSU’s graduate program in Speech Language Pathology to Pacific scholars. (L-R): Catherine Roszala, EPICS Scholar; Ignacio Dela Cruz, EPICS Scholar; Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director and EPICS On-site Liaison; and Keokia Mendiola, CCC-SLP, EPICS/San Jose State University Clinical Practicum Supervisor. Not shown: Tricia Taitano, EPICS Scholar.

Guam EHDI Parents & Staff Visit North Carolina D/HH Programs

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Department of Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Early Intervention System
February 20, 2019: Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Project, Guam Positive Parents Together, and Guam Department of Education – Guam Early Intervention System met with North Carolina Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) staff. Both EHDI Teams were able to share their experiences and the resources within their programs with one another. Front row left to right: Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS, Research Associate, Marie Wusstig, Guam EHDI, Training Associate; Beth Whitfield, NC Early Learning Sensory Support Program; Tisha Suzuki, Parent Mentor; Susan Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Coordinator; Cathy Tydingco, GDOE-GEIS, School Program Coordinator; Ann Marie Cruz, GPPT Board President; Johnnie Sexton, CARE Project, Founder, Executive Director; NC-EHDI staffs; Evelyn Topasna, Parent Mentor; Tanya Simer, Guam EHDI, Hearing Screening Paraprofessional.
February 21, 2019: Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Project, Guam Positive Parents Together (GPPT), and Guam Department of Education (GDOE) – Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS) toured the Greensboro County Deaf Education programs at Frazier Elementary School, Hunter Elementary School, Johnson Street School, and Grimsley High School. The Deaf Education program provides equal educational access for deaf and hard of hearing students. Support services are provided for different hearing loss and communication needs which consist of American Sign Language Interpreting and Assistive Technology devices. Pictured left to right: Joann Mapas, GCS Deaf Education Lead; Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate; Tanya Simer, Guam EHDI Hearing Screening Paraprofessional; Ann Marie Cruz, GPPT Board President; Evelyn Topasna, Parent Mentor; Susan Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Coordinator; Marie Wusstig, Guam EHDI Training Associate; Trisha Suzuki, Parent Mentor; Cathy Tydingco, School Program Coordinator, GDOE-GEIS.

Train-the-trainer Self-Advocacy Workshop Held

by Guam CEDDERS CEDDERS CORE Self-Advocacy
February 16, 2019: Five Self-Advocates gather with Guam CEDDERS staff following completion of a 2-day Self-Advocacy Train the Trainer Workshop, February 9 and 16, 2019 at GSAT. Front row (L-R): Self-Advocates Maria Bontogon, Barbara Johnson, and Candice Perry. Back row (L-R): Kunta Edmond, UOG Social Work Intern; Mary Kidd, CEDDERS Consultant, Esther Gina Arca and Silvestre San Nicolas, Self-Advocates; and Tanya Simer, Guam CEDDERS staff.
February 16, 2019: Self-Advocates review an activity in one of five modules of the Self-Advocacy Training Program for Individuals with Disabilities at a Train the Trainer Workshop held at GSAT. Seated clockwise are: Silvestre San Nicolas, Self-Advocate; Mary Kidd, CEDDERS Consultant; Maria Bontogon, Candice Perry, and Barbara Johnson, Self-Advocates; and Kunta Edmond, UOG Social Work Intern.
February 9, 2019: (Clockwise) Maria Bontogon, Barbara Johnson, Candice Perry and Silvestre San Nicolas participate in a Train-the-Trainer Self-Advocacy Workshop with E. Gina Arca (not shown) at GSAT. Facilitating is Mary Kidd with Evangelis Babauta, ASL interpreter.

EHDI Meets CSDHH

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Department of Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Early Intervention System
February 19. 2019: Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Project, Guam Positive Parents Together, and Guam Department of Education – Guam Early Intervention System met with Communication Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CSDHH) staff in Greensboro, North Carolina to discuss the programs and services CSDHH provide. CSDHH is a non-profit organization that provides services for Individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) and their families, which consists of advocacy, American Sign Language (ASL) classes, interpreting, and social activities. Pictured from left to right: Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate; Cathy Tydingco, School Program Coordinator, Guam Department of Education; Ann Marie Cruz, GPPT Board President; Tanya Simer, Guam CEDDERS Hearing Screening Paraprofessional; Paige Sprinkle, CSDHH, Program Coordinator; Susan Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Coordinator; Trisha Suzuki, Parent Mentor; Meredith Kaplan, CSDHH, Outreach Coordinator; Jen Dunn, NC Early Learning Sensory Support Program; Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate; Evelyn Topasna, Parent Mentor. Not pictured is Kelle Owens, MPA, Executive Director, CSDHH.
February 19, 2019: Guam Positive Parents Together are pictured from left to right: Ann Marie Cruz, GPPT Board President; Trisha Suzuki, Parent Mentor; Susan Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Program Coordinator; Evelyn Topasna, Parent Mentor; Meredith Kaplan, CSDHH, Outreach Coordinator.

EHDI Delivers DAE Toolkits to GDOE-GEIS

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Department of Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Early Intervention System Information Dissemination
February 15, 2019: Guam Department of Education Guam Early Intervention System (GDOE – GEIS) staff received ten Diagnostic Audiological Evaluation (DAE) Toolkits for infants referred for a DAE from Guam EHDI staff. Toolkits include materials to assist families to prepare for the infant’s diagnostic audiological evaluation. Pictured from left to right; Tanya Simer, Guam EHDI Hearing Screening Paraprofessional, and Nacrina Atoigue, Secretary, GDOE – GEIS. Not shown: EDLynn Beyond, Guam CEDDERS Student Office Assistant.

CA-LEND ZIKV Cohort 2 Prep for Case Conference Video Call

by Guam CEDDERS LEND
February 13, 2019: The CA-LEND ZIKV Cohort 2 participants met to prepare for a case conference video call on Genetics with cohort members in CNMI and American Samoa and faculty at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). UOG CEDDERS, through a sub-award from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), is currently facilitating the second cohort of the California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (CA-LEND) Health Professional Support Program for Children with Congenital Zika Virus (ZIKV) Infection in American Samoa and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Basin.
(Second from left) Vera Blaz, CEDDERS Training Associate and CA-LEND ZIKV Training Coordinator, talks about upcoming activities with cohort members.
Pictured (l to r): Tanya Simer, Hearing Screening Paraprofessional, CEDDERS; Vera Blaz, CEDDERS Training Associate and CA-LEND ZIKV Training Coordinator; EDLynn Beyond, CEDDERS Student Office Assistant and currently a student in the University of Guam Master of Public Administration Program; Jenesse Quan and Isabella Fagota, Social Workers, Karinu, Department of Public Health and Social Services.

Guam EHDI Participates in Call with Regional EHDI Teams

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
February 13, 2019: The Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project participated in a call with the EHDI Program coordinators from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, and Palau to discuss the agenda and process of the upcoming Territories Meeting scheduled for March 2 before the Annual EHDI Conference in Chicago. Shown in this screen shot are (L-R) Sheilla Marie Deray, Newborn Screener and Family Support Coordinator, and Angie Mister, CCC-A, CNMI EHDI Coordinator, who facilitated the meeting.

Project Fitme D/HH Parent Support Group and Guam EHDI Team Meet to Prepare for “Fieldtrip”

by Guam CEDDERS CEDDERS CORE Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
February 9, 2019: Parents of children who are deaf/hard of hearing and Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) staff and service providers, met in preparation for their upcoming site visit with the Parent and Professional Collaborative in Greensboro, North Carolina. The team will be attending a conference to help parents through their emotional journey and to improve their cultural communication. The team will also be visiting several programs in the area that provide an array of services to children who are D/HH and their families. Pictured from left to right: Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate; Susan Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Coordinator; Cathy Tydingco, School Program Coordinator, Guam Department of Education; Terrie Fejarang Guam CEDDERS Associate Director; Trisha Suzuki, Parent Mentor; Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate; Evelyn Topasna, Parent Mentor; Tanya Simer, Guam CEDDERS Hearing Screening Paraprofessional; Ann Marie Cruz, GPPT Board President; and Jecilla Cruz, Self-Advocate and daughter of Ann Marie Cruz.

EPICS Clinical Practicum in Guam DOE Schools to Start Soon

by Guam CEDDERS EPICS Guam Department of Education
February 6, 2019: The Guam-based scholars in the Educating Pacific Island Clinicians in Speech Pathology (EPICS) San Jose State University graduate program in Speech Language Pathology will be starting their practicum in Guam Department of Education Schools by the third week of February. Natasha Dela Cruz, Principal at MU Lujan Elementary School in Yona, met with Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director and EPICS on site Liaison, to discuss the latest project updates in preparation for the start of practicum. Ms. Dela Cruz is shown here signing consent forms to be sent to and signed by parents to give permission to the scholars to work with their child under the supervision of the licensed speech pathologist assigned to the school.
February 6, 2019: (L-R): Amalia Badua, Guam DOE Speech Therapist assigned to Agana Heights Elementary School (AHES); Hannah Gutierrez, Principal, AHES; and Meagan Terlaje, AHES Teacher and EPICS Scholar are excited about the anticipated start of student practicum by the end of the month.
February 7, 2019: (L-R): Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director and EPICS Project On-Site Liaison, met with Nancy Diaz, Principal, P.C. Lujan Elementary School, to facilitate the beginning of student practicum for the EPICS scholars.
February 7, 2019: Evangeline Iglesias, Principal, Wettengel Elementary School, signs off on documents to facilitate the student practicum process for EPICS scholars.

UOG Social Work Faculty Visit Guam CEDDERS

by Guam CEDDERS CEDDERS CORE Information Dissemination
February 4: Lisa Linda Natividad, Ph.D., and Tricia Lizama, Ph.D, UOG Social Work faculty, visited Guam CEDDERS to discuss the inclusion of a breakout session entitled, “The Behavioral Health Glossary in CHamoru: A Practical Tool Towards Health Literacy and Patient-Centered Care” during the upcoming National Association of Social Workers – Guam Chapter Annual Conference scheduled for March 18-19, 2019 at the Westin Resort Guam. Mariles Benavente, LCSW, and retired Guam CEDDERS Cultural and Linguistic Competence Coordinator, the editor of the Glossary, will be the lead presenter of the session. (L-R) Dr. Natividad and Dr. Lizama are shown holding copies of the Glossary.