State helps expand service for Oklahomans affected by hearing loss

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which oversees Oklahoma’s American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA-SLFRF), recognizes its partner, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), for a recent milestone in a project to expand access to sound and hearing care for Oklahomans affected by deafness or hearing loss.

Patients, families, donors, staff and state leaders gathered to witness the groundbreaking for the expansion of the Hearts for Hearing (HFH) clinic on Jan. 22 in Oklahoma City. This expansion will add 30,800 square feet to effectively serve the needs of Oklahomans from all 77 counties.

“We are excited to announce this important new chapter in our growth as a leader in hearing health care,” said Jennifer Burton, president and CEO. “This expansion strengthens our ability to better serve the Oklahoma community with high-quality care and innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of our patients.”

The state Legislature appropriated $10 million of the APRA-SLFRF to OSDH to expand the capacity to serve those in need of hearing care by offering additional facilities and mobile services, technology upgrades, counseling and other social services. Of the total award, $935,374.33 has been disbursed to OSDH from OMES and $273,337.05 has been expended by HFH. Visit the ARPA-SLFRF Program Tracker for the most up-to-date disbursement metrics.

“Every day Hearts for Hearing is making a difference in the lives of Oklahoma children and adults by addressing their individual hearing needs in an efficient and caring way,” said Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony. “I'm happy to be a part of this excellent effort.”

"Breaking ground on this new facility is a testament to the dedication to providing life-changing support, education and technology for individuals with hearing loss,” said Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee. “It was an honor to attend this event, and I look forward to seeing Hearts for Hearing continue expanding its mission to empower individuals and families on their hearing journey. This new space will make a lasting impact for generations to come."

HFH is a local nonprofit recognized for its unwavering commitment to teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing infants and children to listen and talk, as well as offering comprehensive adult clinic services to help patients achieve their fullest potential.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the deaf and hearing impaired community was significantly impacted by mask-wearing and an inability to access elective inpatient services. Despite the protection provided against the spread of the virus, masks made it especially difficult for people who rely on lipreading when communicating with others.

According to HFH, its core service of teaching children who were born deaf to listen and talk was impacted, and valuable treatment time was lost during the pandemic. Any delay in diagnosis can create irretrievable loss of time for therapy.

With early identification and appropriate services, deaf children can develop communication skills at the same rate as their hearing peers. HFH is committed to helping children and adults with hearing loss learn to listen for a lifetime. According to HFH’s website, the nonprofit strives to serve all Oklahomans regardless of socioeconomic status. They believe the cost of hearing aids shouldn’t be a barrier for children learning to listen and talk. Therefore, HFH provides the first set of hearing aids at no cost to all newly diagnosed infants and children up to age 18 in Oklahoma.

At the time of HFH’s request to the Legislature, 65% of its patients were covered under SoonerCare, the state’s Medicaid program. Additionally, many of the children served resided in rural areas lacking reliable broadband to accommodate virtual visits. Others had parents employed as essential workers and were unable to attend in-person appointments, providing yet another obstacle to receiving care.

As many Oklahomans learn to hear for the first time through this program, the expansion has been fittingly named the “Celebration of Sound.” In connection with that theme, the facility will house an interactive sculpture of a soundwave, signifying the daily gift of sound provided by HFH.

When a baby, child or adult receives the gift of sound at HFH, family and friends can gather alongside HFH staff under the sculpture to celebrate the occasion with music and lights of their choice.

HFH serves over 40,000 adults and children each year, and the expansion is projected to benefit 100,000-500,000 Oklahomans. The project includes constructing a new three-story wing with features that will elevate patient care, including specialized clinics such as vestibular and balance, a sensory room and storage for the HFH mobile clinic. According to HFH, space for the organization’s corporate office will be added to the new wing to centralize operations and ensure efficient delivery of services.

As state government’s main operating fund, the GRF is the key indicator of state government’s fiscal status and the predominant funding source for the annual appropriated state budget. GRF collections are revenues that remain for the appropriated state budget after rebates, refunds, other mandatory apportionments and after sales and use taxes are remitted back to municipalities. In contrast, gross collections, reported by the state treasurer, are all revenues remitted to the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

The facility expansion is slated to be complete and operational in the fall of 2026.

OMES looks forward to the abundant benefits and opportunities this program will bring to the people of Oklahoma. The OMES Grants Management Office commends OSDH and HFH for their dedication to transforming the lives of children and adults affected by hearing loss.

Christa Helfrey
christa.helfrey@omes.ok.gov

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services provides financial, property, purchasing, human resources and information technology services to all state agencies, and assists the Governor’s Office on budgetary policy matters. Our mission: Provide excellent service, expert guidance and continuous improvement in support of our partners’ goals. For more information, visit oklahoma.gov/omes.

The Grants Management Office is the central administering entity of the American Rescue Plan Act's State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund for the State of Oklahoma. Our team builds partnerships and collaborates with state agencies in the use of ARPA-SLFRF dollars. Our goal is to be a supportive partner to agencies to help them accomplish their ARPA-SLFRF project goals. For more information on the state’s ARPA-SLFRF progress, visit oklahoma.gov/arpa.