GFO 0506 2700000000003 1 WV ARFP FORM

Key Dates:

• Solicitation Closes: 07/20/2026 23:59
• Key Dates and Other Information Date of Release , 2026 Application Deadline July 20, 2026 Up to: $86,999 Funding Available Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health, West Virginia Newborn Hearing Screening Project, Health Resources and Services Administration Early Hearing Detection and Intervention State/Territory Program Grant Geographic Areas Statewide Eligible Applicants West Virginia Hands & Voices organization's Parent Support Program to deliver parent-to-parent follow- up services, parent support education, and family activities for infants referred to the Newborn Hearing Screening Project AFA PURPOSE AND ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS The purpose of this AFA is to ensure that statewide identification, follow-up, and support services are provided to all West Virginia infants who fail the newborn hearing screening or who are not screened at birth. The West Virginia Department of Health (WVDH), Bureau for Public Health (BPH), Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health (OMCFH), West Virginia Newborn Hearing Screening (NHS) Project is seeking proposals for facilitating one subaward to West Virginia Hands & Voices (WVH&V) organization that will deliver parent to parent follow- up services, parent support education, and family activities for infants referred to the NHS Project. These services are provided to deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children and their families across the state to help guide them through the early hearing and intervention system (EHDI) and to offer emotional support and understanding as they process their child's diagnosis of hearing loss. 2: July 6
• Section One: Introduction to the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health, WV Newborn Hearing Screening Project The Newborn Hearing Screening (NHS) Project is responsible for developing and maintaining a comprehensive statewide early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) system of services in West Virginia. EHDI refers to the process of identifying and serving infants and young children up to 3 years of age with hearing loss. Primary healthcare providers, birthing hospitals, audiologists, medical specialists, and early intervention programs are all a partner with different roles in the EHDI system, all with the same goal of optimizing the language, literacy, and social-emotional development of deaf and hard of hearing infants in West Virginia. In 1998, West Virginia (WV) passed legislation specifying that, as of , 1999, all licensed birthing facilities were required to screen newborns for hearing loss before discharge, and to provide information to parents of newborns birthed at home or in non-hospital facilities of the need to obtain hearing screening within the first month of life. The State Legislature amended Chapter Sixteen of the West Virginia Code by adding Articles 22A and 22B. Article 22A requires the testing of newborn infants for hearing loss. Article 22B codifies the WV Birth Score System and requires that all birthing facilities, attending physicians, and other persons attending a birth ensure a risk assessment is completed on all resident births. It is the goal of the NHS Project to ensure:
• All infants in WV receive timely and appropriate early hearing detection and intervention services and support according to the 1-3-6 guidelines established by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH): o 1- All infants are screened for hearing loss by one month of age o 3- All deaf or hard of hearing infants are identified by three months of age o 6- All deaf or hard of hearing infants are enrolled in early intervention by six months of age
• All families receive culturally competent and unbiased information about communication options, programs, and resources.
• Infants are fitted with appropriate technology, if chosen, by six months of age.
• All families of infants who pass newborn hearing screening receive education on risk factors of late onset and progressive hearing loss and the importance of monitoring speech and language milestones. 3: July 1
• Section Two: Objectives, Activities and Performance Outputs This funding opportunity is based upon an approved budget for a one-year period (, 2025, through March 31, 2026). Funds will be dispersed via a subrecipient grant agreement from the West Virginia Department of Health (WVDH) with potential annual renewal, based upon performance, program success and funding availability. If awarded funding, the implementing organization will be expected to meet the following required objectives, activities and performance outputs: Objectives: 1. The grantee will provide parent-to-parent follow-up services for infants that fail or miss their initial newborn hearing screening in accordance with NHS policy and procedures. 2. The grantee will maintain accurate and timely operation of the NHS Project web-based data system and appropriate data reporting functions. 3. The grantee will provide parent support through education, family activities and engagement. Activities: The Grantee will:
• Work collaboratively with the NHS Project Director to establish and implement an efficient protocol for conducting follow-up to families whose infants fail or miss the initial hearing screening through mailings, telephone calls and/or face to face meetings through linkage to early intervention services.
• Ensure that individuals contracted to provide Parent Support Program services must be a parent of a child identified with hearing loss, an active member of West Virginia Hands & Voices (WVH&V) and is committed to providing services based on the WVH&V philosophy of unbiased support to families.
• Initiate follow-up services within two business days of receipt of referral either through the NHS Project data system or through the NHS Project Director.
• Maintain relevant knowledge of and abide by all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies related to the NHS Project.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with existing entities, groups and stakeholders that provide support for individuals with hearing loss and their families. 4: April 1
• Submission of quarterly financial reports of grant expenditures. Timeframes: 1. Grantee activities to be conducted from , 2025, to March 31, 2026. 2. Quarterly reporting of performance outputs related to follow-up services and family events and activities as set forth by OMCFH NHS will be followed through March 31, 2026, and submitted to OMCFH email address: nhsawv.gov . 3. Quarterly reporting of financial reports of grant expenditures as set forth by OMCFH NHS will be followed through March 31, 2027, and submitted to DHHROMCFHGrantswv.00v and the current project point of contact, Julie Jackson, Julie.a.jackson@wv.gov . 4. Monthly reporting of performance outputs related to NHS Project distribution as set forth by OMCFH NHS will be followed through March 31, 2027. As of July 2, 2022, all new grant documents are processed through the new West Virginia State Grant Processing System via the WVOASIS Vendor Self-Serve (VSS) Portal. As a result of this change your organization will be required to respond to all applicable Grant Funding Opportunities with a Grant Funding Application submitted through WVOASIS. Applicants should review and attach all applicable documents using the vendor self-serve portal located at www.wvoasis.gov . For this request for applications (RFA), OMCFH NHS, is asking that applicants submit the required RFA documents through the new WVOASIS VSS process AND through the centralized email process at DHHRBPHGrants@wv.gov . It is not the intent to create substantial work or duplicate efforts; however, the emails will ensure receipt of all documents and allow for ongoing communications and potential revisions. It should also be noted the documents utilized for both processes are the same and are consistent with previous years forms and documents. 6: April 1
• Application deadline: 2026-07-20