Real Choice Systems Change

CMS has available approximately $8 million in funding to continue to support States' efforts to address complex issues in long-term care reform. In addition, CMS was also awarded $5 million for Aging and Disability Resource Center /Area Agencies on Aging grants. Applications are due no later than July 17, 2008. Please see the full solicitation for details. Also included for background is a list of FY2007 grant recipients focused on person-centered planning and state profile tools.

This is the third in a series of reports examining various state systems and processes directed to older adults to realize the goals of the Real Choice Systems Change grants. This report analyzes the results of twenty-four focus groups consisting of 240 participants representing older adults, caregivers to older adults, and HCBS providers. In general, the results indicate Illinois has a plethora of programs and services targeting older adults, but there are disparities between communities.

Established in 1985, the goal of this Center is to develop, implement, and disseminate a coordinated group of applied research, demonstration and training projects directed at meeting the needs of persons with disabilities and their families in community based settings. Visit the website which provides an overview of their Projects, News & Events, Publications (Early Childhood, School Age and Life Span), Early Intervention Specialist Program Trainings and many other resources.

The fundamental structure to both of Oklahoma's Real Choice System Change grants is an infrastructure that supports a service delivery system that is accountable to Oklahoma long-term care stakeholders. Grant monies will be used to create and support an Oklahoma Partnerships consisting of consumers and advocates. This handout offers an introduction to the system and terms used in the grant partnership.

This photo essay captures the people behind the design of Oklahoma's Consumer Directed Personal Assistant Supports and Services (CDPASS) design. The Oklahoma Partnership, organized to support Oklahoma's Real Choice System Change and the CDPASS grants. It was also designed to engage Consumer stakeholders in an interactive environment.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services Aging Service Division presents this documentation of the principles and processes used in supporting its consumer advisory committee for Real Choice System Change grant and CDPASS grant activities. Building and documenting a shared vision of effective public policy funded by public dollars is a fundamental responsibility of grant recipients. This paper helps explain the stakeholder experience and considers ways to create a quality process.

This trainings series was developed in the Fall of 2006 by DATA of Rhode Island. The goals are to provide a foundation of behavioral health care knowledge and skills for human service workers who work with adults with a range of disabilities, with an ultimate goal of human service workers helping to affect better outcomes for the persons they serve. Each of the 14 training seminar ranges in duration from 3-6 hours. Review each training curriculum module which contains the outline and slides.

The National Health Policy Forum Issue Brief provides information about Systems Change grants and the kinds of activities state Medicaid agencies have undertaken to transform their institutionally based systems. This brief raises critical policy questions related to public spending for long-term care in different settings that might be considered in tandem with future grant funding decisions.

This manual has been developed to both document the Fulton County point of entry (POE) experience and to offer help to others through the process of establishing a POE. Fulton County referred to as Central Assessment and Placement (CAP) may be viewed as a pilot project that can serve as a model for other groups to use in developing a POE system that fits into their local long-term care system.

This application offers a total of approximately $13 million in Real Choice Systems Change (RCSC) grants to qualifying States in two grant categories: State Profile Tool (SPT): Assessing a State's Long-Term Care System & Person-Centered Planning Implementation Grant. Persons with mental illnesses are noted as target populations for both grant categories. Applications are due by July 27, 2007.