Agenda and Assignments

The O.U.R. Project team is trying something new! We are creating a space to reflect on past guest presenters and their information at regular intervals this 2025-26 season. Our theme this year is “Are You Ready?”, giving leaders from across our network a chance to reflect on their readiness to answer questions about abuse and neglect from families served. Come with your questions from the October session (an overview of the O.U.R. Project) or November session on bullying. (insert links)
Join in to learn from the “wisdom among us” about their takeaways and action steps going forward whether you were able to attend those sessions or not. We’ll share ideas to further our goals of increasing awareness, promoting prevention, increasing timely reporting of child abuse and neglect, and increasing awareness and reducing the incidence of bullying of deaf/hard of hearing children.

Best practices for having check-in conversations with our child and how to report concerns for any child we know will be included. All are welcome as we take this time to learn more prevention and support strategies to improve the health and well-being of children who are deaf/hard of hearing.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will have opportunities to reflect on what was learned about parent and child protective factors, and H&V resources related to prevention of abuse/neglect and responding when needed.
• Participants have opportunities to reflect and learn from each other about the prevalence and comparison of ACEs between children who are DHH, children with other special healthcare needs, and children with no disabilities as well as the prevalence of bullying in these populations.
• Participants will learn from each other about resources planned or existing in “This Month I Will,” our traditional closing of the meeting.  

To prepare for this session review these previous presentations:

Primary Audience 

Chapter and program leaders, family-based support organizations, EHDI system stakeholders, educators, and individual family members.

Led by the O.U.R. Project Core Team:

Janet DesGeorges, Harold Johnson, Ed.D, Chresta Brinkman, and Sara Kennedy

 

 

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Registration Form:

Fill out the form below and click the Submit button at the bottom to register your information.

*What is O.U.R. Children Safety Project - (Observe, Understand, and Respond)?

Hands & Voices has created a Community of Learners, comprised of parents, family members and professionals, to explore and develop activities that will work to increase the safety and success of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. This welcoming and inclusive community of learners values participation from Hands & Voices leadership including GBYS and ASTra program staff. Through discussion and critical reflection, the group focuses on issues to increase awareness and understanding surrounding prevention of child maltreatment for deaf, hard of hearing and DHH Plus children. Together, members of O.U.R. identify and determine action steps that support others in their local communities that serve to observe and respond to instances of abuse, neglect, and bullying, as well as cohesively work to enhance policies for prevention within the systems of care serving D/HH children and families. The O.U.R Children’s Safety Project incorporates the foundation and mission of Hands & Voices, and as such guides the message of prevention throughout Hands & Voices state and provincial chapters in order to carry out the work that enables deaf, hard of hearing and DHH Plus children to reach their highest potential.

 

Please join us and feel free to share this information with others!

For more information, please contact us at janet@handsandvoices.org.