GPPT/Project Fitme Holds 2nd Family Social Event

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
December 30, 2018: Guam’s Positive Parents Together, Inc. (GPPT)/Project Fitme held their 2nd Family Social Event at the Onward Beach Resort Guam Water Park. The purpose of the Family Social Events is to promote social interaction between families who have young children with hearing loss and who are involved with the D/HH Family Support Group. Pictured front row from left to right: Evelyn Topasna; Gatbo Topasna; Caleb Suzuki; Liam Cruz. Back row: Susan Dugan (GPPT Staff); Ashley Babauta (GPPT Staff); Nathan Manibusan (ASL Community Interpreter) and Ivan Babauta (ASL Community Interpreter); Trisha Suzuki; Jay-Lynn Mendiola and John Mabayag.
Pictured are Parents Jay-Lynn Mendiola and John Mabayag with Liam Cruz.
Pictured are the Topasna family enjoying the river walk. From left to right: Evelyn Topasna; Tasa Topasna; Tinina Topasna; Inina Topasna; Javier Castro and Gatbo Topasna.

GPPT/Project Fitme Holds Their 1st Family Social Event

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
GPPT/Project Fitme family and friends gather for a group picture at our 1st Family Social Event held at Chuck E. Cheese’s. Families had the opportunity to meet and socialize during the event. (Seated L-R) Susan Dugan, Project FitMe Co-Ordinator; Julia Flores, Richard Flores, Joyce Tejeresas, Evelyn Topasna, and Jay-Lynn Mendiola. (Middle Row L-R) Mike Romero, Joseph Flores, Xavier De Jesus, Shane O’mallan, Caleb Suzuki, Trisha Suzuki, Jacob Suzuki, Wil Topasna, John Mabayag, Javier Castro, Inina Topasna, and Ashley Babauta; Project FitMe Staff. (Top Row L-R) William Tejerasas, Keoni Smau-Pescle, Gatbo Topasnas, Liam Mendiola, and Jase Almandres.
Father and son, Wil and Gatbo Topasna, enjoy playing air hockey at the 1st GPPT/Project Fitme Family Social Event at Chuck E. Cheese’s.
Caleb Suzuki and Xavier DeJesus play a video game during the 1st GPPT/Project Fitme Family Social Event at Chuck E. Cheese’s.

CEDDERS Expressed Their Appreciation to GMHA Staff

by Guam CEDDERS CEDDERS CORE Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
December 21, 2018: Guam CEDDERS expressed their appreciation to GMHA OB Ward and Nursery staff for continued collaboration throughout the year. Pictured from left to right: Ma Victoria (Marivic) Guaio, GMHA OB Ward Nursing Supervisor, and Tanya Simer, Guam CEDDERS. Not pictured: Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS.
Pictured from Left to right: Tanya Simer, Guam CEDDERS; Nursery staff; Avelina (Bing) Opena, GMHA NICU Supervisor; Elena Mariano, Nursing Staff; JennyLyn Pascual, GMHA Staff; and Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS.

GEIS Staff Receive Diagnostic Audiological Evaluation (DAE) Toolkits

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Early Intervention System
December 5, 2018: Guam Early Intervention System (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 Left to Right: Barbara Leon Guerrero, GEIS Data Clerk; Tanya Simer, Guam EHDI Hearing Screening Paraprofessional; Therese Sanchez, GEIS Service Coordinator. Not shown: Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS, Research Associate.

GPPT/Project Fitme Facilitates Parent Leadership Training on Self-Advocacy

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Self-Advocacy

November 17, 2018: Susan Dugan, GPPT/Project Fitme Coordinator, facilitated a Parent Leadership Training on Self-Advocacy for parents and family members at the Hagatna Library. The training focused on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Guam Legal Services Corporation-Disability Law Center (GLSC-DLC) and other resources parents can access to ensure their child receives Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Additional information on how Parent Mentors can offer additional support as parents navigate resources for their children’s needs. (Pictured from left to right) John Mabayag, Jay-Lynn Mendiola, Trisha Suzuki, Caleb Suzuki, Susan R. Dugan, Program Coordinator; Evelyn Topasna, and Ashley Babauta.

Learning Community Meeting Conducted on Zoom

by Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
November 16, 2018: Susan Dugan, Guam’s Positive Parents Together, Inc. (GPPT) Project Fitme Coordinator, facilitated a Learning Community Meeting via the Zoom meeting platform. Ms. Dugan shared information she learned when she attended the Hands & Voices Leadership Conference on September 14-16 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Topics that were covered in the workshops she attended included developing collaborative leadership skills for members of family organizations that support infants and children who are deaf or hard of hearing, supporting families without bias; and poverty & diversity. Information from a workshops titled, “Chronic Loneliness: A Health Concern for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing,” and “The Space Between Us: Parent Panel,” was also shared.

Parent Leadership Facilitates Training Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
November 3, 2018: Guam’s Positive Parents Together, Inc. (GPPT) Project Fitme Coordinator Susan Dugan facilitated an “Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) training session at the Hagatna Library for parents of children identified with a hearing loss. Parents received an overview of the IFSP process.
Pictured Left to Right: Jay-Lynn Mendiola, parent; Susan Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Project Coordinator; Evelyn Topasna, Parent Mentor; and Trisha Suzuki, Parent Mentor. Not pictured: Ashley Babauta, GPPT Project Fitme Support Staff.

Guam EHDI holds Sustainability Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention

November 1, 2018: The Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EDHI) Sustainability Planning Committee held a follow-up meeting to continue the development of initial plans for long-term system sustainability of the universal newborn hearing screening process and maintenance of the Guam ChildLink-EHDI database. Participating in the meeting were: L-R: Joseph Mendiola, Guam CEDDERS/Guam EHDI Interoperability Data Manager; Sherry Cruz, Service Provider, Guam Early Intervention System, Guam Department of Education; Pat Mantanona, Program Coordinator, Guam Early Intervention System, Guam Department of Education; Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director/Guam EHDI Project Director; Margarita B. Gay, Administrator, Bureau of Family Health and Nursing Services, Department of Public Health and Social Services; and Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS/Guam EHDI Program Coordinator.

New Guam EHDI Staff Meets with GMHA OB Ward and Nursery Staff

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
October 26, 2018: The newest team member of the Guam EHDI Project, Hearing Screening Paraprofessional, Tanya Simer met with GMHA OB Ward and Nursery staff. Pictured from Left to right: Tanya Simer, Guam CEDDERS and Ma. Victoria (Marivic) Guaio, GMHA OB Ward nursing supervisor. Not pictured: Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS.
Pictured from Left to right: Tanya Simer, Guam CEDDERS, Avelina (Bing) Opena and Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS.

Projects Participate in Guam Head Start Parent Engagement Conference

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Systems for Assistive Technology
October 27, 2018: The Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project Fitme participated in the 2018 Guam Head Start Parent Engagement Conference at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort. Information about initial screening for newborns was shared with participants. Pictured with participants is Tanya Simer, Guam EHDI Hearing Screening Paraprofessional.
October 27, 2018: The Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT) staff shared information about GSATs programs and services, with particular emphasis on various assistive technology devices that can assist children with communication and mobility. Pictured with an attendee is Shawni Acfalle, GSAT Center Assistant.
October 27, 2018: Guam EHDI Project Fitme with Guam Positive Parents Together (GPPT) participated in the 2018 Head Start Parent Engagement Conference at Dusit Thani Guam Resort. Information on the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Parent Support Group was shared with attendees. Pictured with attendees are Susan Duggan, GPPT Project Fitme Coordinator, and Tanya Simer, Guam EHDI Hearing Screening Paraprofessional.