Raising Awareness of CMV in Arizona

Raising Awareness of CMV in Arizona

Meet 2018 Public Health Awareness Mini Grant Recipient Melissa Selbt, MPH, Executive Director of The EAR Foundation of Arizona
 
What is the name of your project?
 
Raising Awareness of CMV in Arizona: Developing and Field Testing Educational Materials
 
Tell us a little about yourself and the EAR Foundation of Arizona?
 
I have worked for more than 30 years in public health joining the EAR Foundation in AZ (“EFAz”) in 2006 as the Executive Director.  The focus of my work with EFAz and other Arizona non-profit and governmental agencies has been on the development, implementation and evaluation of public health programs and policy.  My familiarity of hearing-related services/issues/policies was sparse prior to working with EFAz.  It was through a joint effort working on Newborn Screening expansion in the early 2000’s that I became aware of the issues surrounding NBHS and EHDI, and since have established and expanded programming and legislative efforts.
 
What drove you to apply for the National CMV Foundation mini grant?
 
CMV is a significant cause of both congenital and late onset hearing loss in children and a topic that we have not dedicated nearly enough time incorporating into our professional and client education. We do not have consistent messages nor have we developed Arizona guidance or policy. This grant will provide the incentive and base to build our Arizona effort.
 
How will the grant funds help you achieve your goals?
 
The grant funds will offset the in-kind support from our partner entities to cover mileage and materials for focus group participants, as well as a graduate student to assist with the surveys and focus groups. These funds are essential in assisting us initiating our Arizona project.
 
What are some of the first steps in implementing your grant?

• Develop and distribute announcement of grant award and project description.
• Coordinate the partner organizations to include an overview of the project, set the meeting schedule of the steering committee, as well as the stakeholders.
• Develop and distribute CMV health risk knowledge survey.
• Create the draft of educational materials for approval.
• Recruit focus group participants.
• Develop the educational messages and materials.