Marian University is partnering with St. Joseph Hearing + Speech to study an initiative that connects infants who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families with timely services and support. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to human dignity, human flourishing, and service to the common good.
Supported by a $930,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to St. Joseph, the two-year 0-2-3 Pathway Initiative seeks to reduce delays between identifying hearing loss and connecting families with services across Indiana. The grant will support expanded intake coordination, outreach to hospitals and audiology practices, and improvements to program data systems for St. Joseph’s Listening and Spoken Language services and Hear It Begins program.
“This investment allows us to take a leap into a progressive and innovative future that will remove barriers for families and improve outcomes for children,” said Lindy Powell, president and CEO of St. Joseph Hearing + Speech.
Marian will conduct independent research on how families connect with the program, where barriers arise, and how services respond to the needs of participating children and families. The study will combine program data with input from families and providers to understand both children’s outcomes and families’ experiences. Findings will help St. Joseph strengthen its services and assess opportunities to sustain and expand the approach.
“As the nation’s exemplar Franciscan Research University, Marian understands research as a form of service to the common good,” said Jonathan Lowery, Ph.D., associate provost for research and dean of graduate affairs, who will lead Marian’s research contribution. “St. Joseph brings a longstanding commitment to children and families. Our role is to contribute careful, independent research that helps its team answer practical questions and strengthen services. This is a meaningful way to put our research mission into practice.”
Founded in 1837 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and now sponsored by St. Joseph Educational Ministries, St. Joseph continues a tradition of service that complements Marian’s Catholic and Franciscan mission. The partnership brings those commitments together through research intended to support children and families and advance human flourishing.