Grantee produced

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.

Georgia created this guide on developmental disabilities, including the definition, criteria for prevention and screening, and a list of specific conditions that fall under the heading of developmental disabilities. Each diagnosis contains an overview plus available resources. Also included is a disability related acronyms list and glossary.

The majority of people who are elderly and/or people with disabilities live out their lives in independent housing. Many utilize medications to maintain optimal health and improve their quality of life. Unfortunately, adverse medication events cost about $120 billion annually and result in illness, hospitalizations, stress on the individuals and their families, and premature deaths. Vermont is attempting to do something about this problem through their CMS Real Choices Supportive Housing Grant.

This report provides estimates of likely enrollments in Kentucky should the state implement a Buy-in program. The estimates are based on a statistical analysis of data from states that have implemented programs. The analysis takes into account both characteristics of the states and characteristics of the states’ programs that are likely to affect enrollments. Relevant considerations include the number of individuals with disabilities, participation rates and the state’s economy.

Working Healthy, the Kansas MIG program, offers people with disabilities who are working or interested in working the opportunity to get or keep Medicaid coverage while on the job. The website offers an interactive map of benefit specialist, a chart on premiums (SRS Form ES-3165) , information on Work Opportunities Reward Kansans (WORK), publications, and FAQs. Also review their brochure in English and Spanish and their one page fact sheet used for outreach.

Indiana Works (Indiana’s Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach Programs) received a MIG grant to conduct a statewide needs assessment in the disability community of the informational needs regarding state and federal programs and resources that support employment. The website contains general information about subjects and does not replace the expertise and assistance from trained benefits counselors. Also included for review are project overview and updates, fact sheets, and final reports.

The Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities contracting with Valek & Co. to design and provide services relating to the recruiting, training and matching of mentors/mentorees for those interested in sharing their experience about rejoining the workforce. Included are two versions of recruitment letters, phone scripts, booklet and flyers. They received 23 mentor applications and 19 mentoree applications. Review the extensive training materials, exit surveys, and final reports.

Illinois has joined the national movement to help people with disabilities return to work. The new program called Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD) started providing medical benefits in January 2002. Visit their site which provides program information and statistics, application and instructions, brochure and radio ads, FAQs, presentation requests and links, E-Pay, eligibility requirements, premium cost & co-pays, Rx Buying Club, plus information in Español.

The DB 101 Training covers public and private health, benefit and employment programs and protections, Benefits Planning Calculators, plus other information and tools. Participants include benefits planners, non-profit and state agency employees. Cross agency trainees achieve an awareness level knowledge that youth and adults with disabilities can access and retain needed benefits when working. The training spans public and private health, benefit and employment programs and protections.