[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5973108,"mediaKeyId","5855540-fb60ac222158e0d1d34117d44d7b7be3","parentId",5855540,"title","DPH discusses loaned OAE hearing screener for home-birth midwives; community to define sharing plan","audioSeconds",81,"startMs",1774000,"endMs",1855000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5855540-fb60ac222158e0d1d34117d44d7b7be3&start=1774&end=1855","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5855540-fb60ac222158e0d1d34117d44d7b7be3/thumbnail_1774000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5973108/Connecticut/DPH-discusses-loaned-OAE-hearing-screener-for-home-birth-midwives-community-to-define-sharing-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973108-cc595fb8ca13fe3183a062dc68e55887/orig.mp4?Expires=1773660419&Signature=FyvIuATjlJntUCkbY8RaC054kBc0ZUflMrAYS8hTFEZ1ZNeguAj7ehKTB6Md2XcbuB8kuMe2qJ5Ot2oBQcbbxg8vDlBP4DV80XhldGV0nLZxquqezwenl131R3WzMYzAiMrVCgDrrZT~BIk3Qi~nnF9cv0BpjTqzu3Gma4fup6mKOJnXDxA0wn8ajdpfS2cLa9D~6SGiTNUI6b0jEOThqXJav7M7LBYgSyBbNbT7s2tkvl6yMZgIqn-R2xoXsHmdYEla6pwdSIbUCfor8jNgS2VPumLsHR4MQT8hOyH79w~Y2~kKMwtLJSMlrr8a3xdceU-ITX5yTPSJMY3sgioqDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Department of Public Health","date","2025-09-26T15:27:49Z","article","Connecticut Department of Public Health staff and members of the Midwives Working Group discussed whether a single OAE (otoacoustic emission) newborn hearing screener purchased by DPH could be shared among home-birth midwives to improve screening access for babies born outside hospitals.

John Lamb, of the Department of Public Health Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program, and Michelle Jubel, a program staff member, asked the working group whether midwives would be able to share a portable OAE device and what a loan-and-share process would look like. Michelle said DPH currently has “the potential to probably, buy 1 or maybe 2 equipments,” and asked for input on feasibility and logistics.

Members said sharing raises practical questions: how to rotate the device across geographic areas, who would sign for and be responsible for the equipment, how to replenish disposable ear tips and whether providers could charge for screening. One home-birth member noted an existing practice — Birth and Beyond — had received one or two devices under a contract and served that practice’s families, but the device had not been shared broadly.

DPH staff said the first-year purchase and consumables could possibly be covered by the program but cautioned that ongoing funding for replacement tips or maintenance is uncertain. Michelle said the program could include supplies during the first year but would likely not be able to cover consumables after that because the program budget is limited.

DPH asked the midwife community to consider and propose a sharing framework and offered to collect feedback via email. John and Michelle asked the group to identify a point of contact for follow-up and proposed an email survey to gather specifics about equipment needs, geographic distribution and interest. Staff also said they would likely require users to sign an agreement for accountability and would request hearing-screen results be submitted to the program (child name, date of birth, screening result and device type) so the state can validate use and outcomes.

Members agreed to continue the conversation at a follow-up meeting and to circulate a set of specific questions so the group can return with proposals about rotation, scheduling and cost-sharing. DPH staff said they will receive the group’s feedback and report back at the next working-group meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Midwifery Working Group 9.26.25","oneSentenceSummary","Department of Public Health officials and working-group members discussed the potential purchase of a single otoacoustic emission (OAE) hearing screener for home-birth midwives to share, and outlined follow-up steps including an email survey and data reporting requirements.","taxTitle","Department of Public Health, Departments and Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Connecticut","taxId",15791,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5973113,"DPH-funded postpartum bracelet initiative readies statewide kickoff; outreach to home-birth midwives planned",196,1393000,1589000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5855540-fb60ac222158e0d1d34117d44d7b7be3&start=1393&end=1589","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5855540-fb60ac222158e0d1d34117d44d7b7be3/thumbnail_1393000.jpg","/articles/5973113/Connecticut/DPH-funded-postpartum-bracelet-initiative-readies-statewide-kickoff-outreach-to-home-birth-midwives-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973113-08ad6d82b24c4a52e29c0721e413ba9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773660419&Signature=X0UqcnvDywx0jDEpWC5eeXoDaChOdPiU8eF-SZj8wO5Jtr9-W~OH3fpm6QZUFNrk4LSsF3qZMwJ8aoy9Nt1fMyXEMJ2NjwNzc1GaIHUMwl0lbYJsqN2zhHOk1GUk~2ZnKNF08sjhk6g5mVWKxqe2nvSZBCGi8LHOKb-PoTew0xtUGqxIMr9wn-8Wn9UYd25GPrqMzJuk-8GGIm98GFKTYu8abXIYqFav1rBK2Q5ySbZPI1~aOHOvDT6ICQsh4U9z2P26z5F~tA92h4e9n8dw140yQDeTgwo4nBxOzS2TDHhw9cnpjRIAcXaPiuA29ofn~ZU5GHhEpWpMT6bDr8I-Nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Connecticut Department of Public Health updated the Midwives Working Group on a statewide postpartum bracelet initiative intended to help providers and emergency responders identify people in their first year postpartum and recognize urgent maternal warning signs.

Dr. Osei, speaking for the Department of Public Health, described the initiative as a DPH-funded project done “in partnership with the Connecticut Hospital Association, that’s supporting the Connecticut Perinatal Quality Collaborative.” He said the project is the collaborative’s first quality-improvement work after a period without funding and that it includes hospitals, community providers and emergency responders.

The program pairs a physical bracelet for a birthing person who chooses to wear one with training for providers and emergency personnel on maternal early-warning signs. Dr. Osei said the goal is to ensure that “every birthing person is given a bracelet if they want it, and the providers are trained about the early warning signs of urgent maternal health.” The bracelets are meant to help triage and to signal to emergency departments and EMS that a patient is within the first postpartum year and may need specific attention.

DPH staff said there will be an official kickoff at a Connecticut Perinatal Quality Collaborative meeting on the 30th and that participating hospitals and provider groups will receive allocations of bracelets at the kickoff. Dr. Osei and other staff asked the group to help ensure midwives who attend or provide home births are included in distribution plans and trainings.

Members asked how midwives who attend home births would receive bracelets and proposed designating the new co-chairs as contacts for outreach. Dante, a DPH staff member, acknowledged that final chair assignments would be known by the end of the meeting and noted the chairs could act as liaisons between the state and the home-birth community.

Staff offered to circulate program materials and links and asked working-group members to let DPH know if their practices want allocations. The organizers emphasized that participation is voluntary and that the bracelets are intended to improve recognition and triage, not to mandate care changes.

DPH staff asked that chairs or other designated contacts facilitate introductions so the initiative can distribute bracelets and training information to any midwife who performs home births and wishes to participate. Staff said they will circulate kickoff details and posted materials to the work group and follow up with the chairs after the meeting.","The Department of Public Health updated the Midwives Working Group on a postpartum warning-sign bracelet initiative funded by DPH in partnership with the Connecticut Hospital Association and the Connecticut Perinatal Quality Collaborative, and invited home-birth midwives to participate.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5973117,"Midwives working group elects three co-chairs after members choose to broaden leadership",2271,901000,3172000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5855540-fb60ac222158e0d1d34117d44d7b7be3&start=901&end=3172","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5855540-fb60ac222158e0d1d34117d44d7b7be3/thumbnail_901000.jpg","/articles/5973117/Connecticut/Midwives-working-group-elects-three-co-chairs-after-members-choose-to-broaden-leadership","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973117-970a237ae079a1c6bf1e0456bc6ed149/orig.mp4?Expires=1773660419&Signature=e~~08yRDc9QI~8lKNlC0YBGCf4XBwSCsQIcX5Xwl4J4XCdq0q9Pu~7jKuU4Q7hnNjXoDBd5Jo4lllkcoVwlGK0daxOcTQ6A9LsqjQziqqOknvRKV0nFjw1pfKM1-jfCMG8Ot1cJHJhFHvtD~BdR64~JzcmOD-Uhe5xBqziFJZHMeXsKSkIdUIE0bPn~xaGdj5eaWKuafAI~bGrZog-w-Hom-UoBJpGirog2Ip7XyUgVghLs8d27hNxomKrXP8eaN508h5UIOJLjlOwgO5GLaPEZdOnxBctBaC~1YJmBGzzqCZKOcbNRWfkP~GehJYB5BnxnpQJBLy31gRs8zEkb3UQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Connecticut Department of Public Health Midwives Working Group voted on how many co-chairs the group should have and then elected three co-chairs during a regular meeting. The group first voted 7–5 to permit three co-chairs and then used chat voting to pick which members would serve.

The vote to allow three co-chairs was taken by voice and roll call after the group’s facilitator laid out options for one, two or three co-chairs. Dante, a staff member facilitating the meeting, explained the plan for nominations and roll-call voting and asked members whether they preferred two or three co-chairs.

Members said the group wanted to ensure leadership that included midwives who practice outside hospitals; speakers repeatedly emphasized protecting space for home-birth and community midwives in leadership. After discussion, the facilitator ran a roll call for members’ preference on co-chair number. The tally was seven votes for three co-chairs and five votes for two co-chairs. Veil, a staff member who recorded the chat votes, then read the final individual tallies: “Cara with 9 votes, Sianor with 8 votes, Genji with 8 votes,” and announced those three as the co-chairs.

Members nominated several candidates before the chat vote, including Genji, Cara and Sianor, and discussed workload and the reason for choosing three chairs — several participants said three chairs would let members share responsibilities given heavy workloads. Multiple members expressed reluctance to assume leadership but supported three co-chairs so duties could be divided.

The new co-chairs were named at the meeting and members were told the vote counts would be recorded in the minutes. Staff said DPH would continue to support the chairs with logistics, speaker outreach and agenda-setting.

The meeting also included routine housekeeping: the group approved minutes from the June 27 meeting on a motion from Kara, seconded by Don. The chair election and minutes approval will be reflected in the meeting record and minutes.

Members who raised concerns about leadership composition asked that at least one co-chair represent home-birth or community midwifery in any two- or three-chair configuration; the group agreed that protecting a voice for midwives who practice outside hospitals was important. Staff said DPH would support the chairs and that the chairs would steer agendas going forward.

Looking ahead, staff asked the new chairs to help set agendas for coming meetings and encouraged them to reach out to DPH staff for logistical support.","Members of the Connecticut Department of Public Health Midwives Working Group voted to allow three co-chairs, then selected Cara, Sianor and Genji in a follow-up tally.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DPH discusses loaned OAE hearing screener for home-birth midwives; community to define sharing plan

DPH-funded postpartum bracelet initiative readies statewide kickoff; outreach to home-birth midwives planned

Midwives working group elects three co-chairs after members choose to broaden leadership