Reports

This final evaluation report reviews the Maine ADRC project which began with three sites designed to demonstrate the \"no wrong door\" concept. Part I of this report describes the experience of, and recommendations from, the DASH Network in Bangor. Part II of the report focuses on the experience of the 3 local coalitions and their member organizations and highlights coalitions' community development activities and recommendations for future development.

ADRCs have used a number of strategies to streamline access to long-term services and supports. One key strategy, used by many ADRCs, is to provide online applications for Medicaid or screening tools to assess eligibility for benefits. This issue brief provides details about ADRC grant efforts related to online applications. The report details both advantages and challenges plus provides a case example for South Carolina.

Whether by establishing strong referral protocols with local or state veterans agencies or by serving veterans directly, ADRC staff should be trained to assist veterans who come to ADRCs for information, assistance, or referral. This Issue Brief includes an overview of veterans, the services and benefits offered by the VA, examples of productive collaborations between veterans agencies and ADRCs, and resources for ADRCs.

Review the efforts to adopt and improve services and supports to people with disabilities, in conjunction with The Ticket to Work & Work Incentives Improvement Act. This report captures progress in the provision of personal assistance services; the provision of Medicaid type health insurance referred to as a Medicaid Buy-in, and; earnings data for workers with disabling conditions. By 2005, 31 states had Medicaid Buy-In programs compared to eight prior to passage of the Ticket legislation.

This Discussion paper summarizes the background and recommendations for potential changes to make the Minimum Data Set and related policies and practices more useful to states for identifying and supporting nursing home residents who wish to return to their homes and communities. Section Q of the MDS has, for some years, been discussed at state and national conferences, training sessions, on conference calls, during technical assistance visits, and in talks among state Medicaid staff.

This targeted Tools Update/Addendum is intended to compile information about states' efforts to transition individuals with Mental Retardation or Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD) from Medicaid funded facilities into the community and to provide support services to these individuals using techniques compatible with the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration program that has been created by the Deficit Reduction Act.

In response to the CFSR, states must prepare a Program Improvement Plan (PIP) that addresses deficiencies and builds upon strengths. The reviews examine several aspects of child welfare agency performance including outcomes for children as well as systemic factors supporting agency services. This brief summarizes specific effort in Rhode Island to address deficiencies in the Quality Assurance (QA) Systemic factor documented in PIPs completed in response to CFSR reviews between 2001 and 2003.

This report summarizes performance of CIS during its first year of operation. The program is an acute hospital diversion program that provides community-based services for youth (age 0 to 21) at risk for hospitalization or out-of home placement. During the first 12-months of program operations, nine community-based mental health agencies were certified to provide CIS services. The evaluation examines service utilization patterns and major findings while updates are provided in the issue briefs.

Findings from written survey of Employment Experiences and Focus Groups. The questionnaire sought to obtain information from individuals with disabilities about things that have helped them to get a job, barriers to employment, importance of medical benefits when making employment decisions, and how comfortable people feel disclosing their disability to an employer.

This report focuses on individuals with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The project instituted a comprehensive system to support enduring changes in the delivery of community-based assistance for Medicaid eligible persons with dementia. The projects two goals: facilitate hospital-to-home transitions for individuals wishing to stay in the community; and field test a nursing home-to-community transition program for eligible individuals. The workbook used in discharge planner training is included.