What is the Guide-By-Your-Side-Program?

The Guide-By-Your-Side Program is an exciting service that provides an opportunity for a family who has just learned of their child's hearing loss to meet with another parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child. These are parents who understand what the new family may be experiencing and can answer their questions. The program serves families of children 0-6 years of age.

The Guide-By-Your Side Program can provide:

• The opportunity to establish a supportive relationship with another parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing;
• An understanding of the unique needs of infants and young children who are deaf or hard of hearing;
• Answers to questions or links to other knowledgeable resources available locally, regionally, statewide or even nationally;
• An interactive Parent notebook that helps parents and/or caregivers the opportunity to keep track of their child's appointments, progress and other valuable information.
• An introduction to the Early On ®, local school district, or other agencies/organizations who may be able to provide you and your child with additional support;
• An introduction to other parent support opportunities available to families of a deaf or hard of hearing child in Michigan.

What are Regional Parent Guides?

• Regional Parent Guides are English-speaking parents of children of various ages who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Birth population determines how many Parent Guides will be needed in a region. A local Parent Guide will try to contact a family within 24 hours of receiving the referral. 
• The Parent Guide will work with the family to find a convenient time to visit with the family in their home.
• The Parent Guide will be paid to visit with the family one time.  Parent Guides may choose to continue to support the family informally beyond this visit.

How can I make a referral to the

Guide-By-Your-Side Program?

• Enrolling in the Guide-By-Your-Side Program is easy, confidential and free.

Audiologists

• If a family that you work with is interested in meeting a Parent Guide you can make a referral by:
  • Faxing the  Audiologist/Medical form and check the box for Guide-By-Your-Side referral (the family's consent is needed in order to share information related to the child's hearing loss with the Guide-By-Your-Side Program.) 517-335-8036
  • Printing off the  Guide-By-Your-Side brochure and having the family sign it and either fax 517-335-8036 or send it to:

Guide-By-Your-Side Program
MDCH/EHDI
P.O. Box 30195
Lansing, MI 48909

• A Parent Guide will try and contact the family within 24 hours to schedule a visit.

Early Interventionists

• If a family that you work with is interested in meeting a Parent Guide you can make a referral by:
  • Printing off the  Guide-By-Your-Side brochure  and having the family sign it and either fax 517-335-8036 or send it to:

Guide-By-Your-Side Program
MDCH/EHDI
P.O. Box 30195
Lansing, MI 48909

• A Parent Guide will try and contact the family within 24 hours to schedule a visit.

Parents

• If you are interested in having a Parent Guide visit you please:
  • Print the  brochure and send it to: Guide-By-Your-Side Program

MDCH/EHDI
P.O. Box 30195
Lansing, MI 48909
Or     
Fax to 517-335-8036

• Call 517-335-8955 and ask for a brochure to be sent to you.