Graduate Student Internship Program

2009 Catalog of Internship Opportunities

Early Hearing Detection & Intervention-Early ACCESS Data Integration Project

Iowa Department of Public Health/Bureau of Family Health
Iowa Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program, Des Moines, IA
Skill Area: Data Analysis and Monitoring

Agency Information

The internship project will be housed in the Bureau of Family Health (BFH). In the BFH, the intern will be immersed in the hub of Iowa's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program. The intern will play an integral role in conducting a data match between Iowa's EHDI program data and Early ACCESS program data (Iowa's IDEA, Part C program) and thus contributing to data integration between these two key programs. The purpose of this data integration project is to determine if the children with hearing loss identified through the EHDI program are enrolled in Iowa's early intervention program (EA) and if children enrolled in EA identified with a hearing loss are a part of the EHDI data system and to identify the barriers that may contribute to a lack of data integration between the EHDI program and the EA program. The intern will work closely with the MCH Epidemiologist and the Iowa EHDI Coordinator in addition to EA personnel at the Iowa Department of Education to carry out this project.

Although Iowa's EHDI program Iowa has existed for a number of years, it has evolved in the last five years to become a comprehensive surveillance system, with referral for follow up services including early intervention and family support. As of January 1, 2004, Iowa mandated that every newborn be screened for hearing loss prior to hospital discharge. This requirement also applies to those children born outside of a hospital setting such as a birth center or a home birth. In order to ensure timely referral and follow-up, the law also requires that providers report the results of all hearing screens, re-screens, and diagnostic assessments for children under the age of three to IDPH. In addition, any child diagnosed with hearing loss is automatically eligible for early intervention services. Data integration is a critical to support this comprehensive surveillance system.

The BFH has a long history of welcoming and mentoring interns and students. Many interns have returned to the BFH as full-time, permanent employees.

Purpose, goals, and objectives of internship

The project's purpose is to examine whether children diagnosed with hearing loss are receiving early intervention services through EA and if the children enrolled in EA are included in the EHDI data system.

The goals for the intern are to develop skills in: 1) interdisciplinary collaboration, 2) data base development and management, 3) data results presentation, and 4) preparation of written reports.

To meet the project objectives the intern will: 1) develop an algorithm to match the two data sets (EHDI and EA), 2) determine which children diagnosed with a hearing loss are receiving early intervention services and which children are receiving early intervention services for which there is no confirmed hearing loss in the EHDI data base, 3) outline barriers that may exist to obtaining data to conduct sufficient data match and integration, 4) determine programming needs within data system(s) to conduct a data match with certainty.

Data or analytic tasks and activities

In collaboration with the MCH Epidemiologist, Iowa EHDI Coordinator and the EA Liaison the intern will:

1. Develop an algorithm for conducting the data match
2. Develop a database/spreadsheet to be used for data management, analysis and ongoing surveillance for children with hearing loss
3. Conduct data match
4. Analyze data that resulted from the match
5. Make recommendations that will guide program activities and strategic planning including barriers, program development needs, education or training.
6. Prepare and present the report to the EHDI program staff, EA State Coordinator and Iowa EHDI Advisory Committee

Data or analytic skills required

The intern will need to be comfortable manipulating and analyzing data using Excel and SAS. The intern will also need to be proficient in other Word programs such as Word, PowerPoint. In addition to data and analytic skills, the intern needs to have effective interpersonal skills, effective communication skills, and the ability to work with an interdisciplinary team.

Supervisors

Primary: Debra Kane, PhD

Secondary: Tammy O'Hollearn, LBSW

Internship begins

The start date is negotiable. It should take 12-14 weeks to complete this assignment.

Housing

IDPH staff can assist the student in locating and securing housing. There are a variety of housing options available such as campus dorms and furnished apartments.

Transportation

The Lucas Building is accessible via public transportation.

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