Family Leadership in Language and Learning Center

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding for the Family Leadership in Language and Learning (FL3) Center. HRSA takes a comprehensive approach to support the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) system. One form of support is provided through the EHDI National Technical Resource Center (NTRC) (HRSA-20-048) which supports state and territory EHDI systems and professionals. A second form of support, provided through the FL3 Center, focuses on families. The purpose of the FL3 Center is to provide technical support to national, state and territory, and local Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) systems of care1 in order to increase family engagement2 and leadership, and to strengthen family support3 for families, parents, and caregivers with newborns, infants, and young children up to 3 years of age4 who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH). 5 This will be achieved by providing national leadership in the following areas: 1) Supporting EHDI Program (HRSA-20-047) recipients in meeting their family engagement, leadership, and family support program objectives through technical assistance, training, education, quality improvement and evaluation. 2) Serving as a technical resource center to increase family engagement, leadership, and support for families, parents, and caregivers of children who are DHH in EHDI systems of care by analyzing, compiling, and disseminating evidence-based and innovative practices, policies, tools, and resources. 3) Increasing the number of parents and caregivers of children who are DHH who are trained to serve as family leaders in EHDI systems; and 4) Developing and sustaining collaborative partnerships with all EHDI Program (HRSA-20-047) recipients and their stakeholders. This includes the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention National Technical Resource Center (EHDI NTRC) (HRSA-20-048) recipient, Advancing Systems of Services for Children 1 For the purposes of this NOFO, the “EHDI systems of care” refers to families, consumers, providers, services, and programs that work towards developing coordinated and comprehensive state and territory systems so that families with newborns, infants, and young children who are deaf or hard of hearing receive appropriate and timely services that include hearing screening, diagnosis, and intervention. 2 For the purposes of this funding opportunity, “family engagement” is defined as the patients, families, their representatives, and health professionals working in active partnership at various levels across the health care system to improve health and health care. See the Background section of this NOFO for the full citation. 3 For the purposes of this funding opportunity, “family support” is defined as the practices that ensure that the holistic nature of the process for families is sustained through the timelines, policies, and procedures by the varying entities that the family encounters through hearing screening, diagnosis, early intervention, and beyond. See the Background section of this NOFO for the full citation. 4 For the purposes of this funding opportunity, “children” is defined as all newborns, infants, and young children up to 3 years of age. 5 For the purposes of this funding opportunity, “deaf and/or hard-of-hearing” or “DHH” is used to represent the entire spectrum of children with varying hearing levels (from mild to profound) and laterality, and is intended to be inclusive of those who also have other disabilities and/or conditions.and Youth with Special Health Care Needs ( HRSA-18-069) medical home focus area recipient, and other relevant national EHDI system organizations, stakeholders, and programs that represent and/or serve families with children who are DHH.

Any domestic public or private entity, including states (including the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the jurisdictions encompassing the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands). Domestic faith-based and community-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations (as those terms are defined at 25 U.S.C. 450b) are also eligible to apply.

Michelle Koplitz, MHS

(301)880-4480