Reports

View an evaluation and grantee-written descriptions of Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) and New Freedom services for 2007 and 2008. JARC was established to address transportation challenges that welfare recipients and low-income individuals face in finding and keeping jobs. The New Freedom program was established to provide new public transportation services and alternatives to public transportation for people with disabilities.

Review an evaluation of the Johnson County and Linn County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) pilot sites. The evaluation assesses the process and outcomes of establishing a standardized entry point to long-term care supports and services, with emphasis on the role of the Options Counselor (OC) at both sites. Copies of surveys and interview techniques used are included.

Explore lessons learned in this report on The Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD) Projects, part of a broad initiative to encourage disability beneficiaries to return to work. Included are an overview of each of the projects, which shared common goals of improved educational and employment outcomes and reduced reliance on disability benefits. The diversity between initiatives provided an opportunity to explore factors that lead to successful program implementation.

Review national trends, gaps and barriers that threaten both the availability and quality of future services for people with disabilities. Research in this report has been aimed at better positioning the human resources sector for the future. Recommendations include identifying opportunities for public-private sector partnerships, promoting opportunities to encourage new entrants into critical occupations, and to establish systematic efforts to acquire information on worker supply.

Are you an advocate, program administrator, service provider or caregiver fighting for your state and local caregiver support programs? This report includes background information, statistics, talking points and a list of additional resources to help make the case for maintaining public funding for crucial caregiver support services. Additional resources are listed, as well as a chart detailing prevalence and economic value of family caregiving by state.

Review strategies states can adopt to increase recruitment and retention of direct-care workers and to improve the quality of the care those workers provide. Reported strategies include increasing wages and benefits, introducing peer mentoring programs, and giving workers a greater say in decision-making. The findings also suggest a targeted approach to recruitment, focusing on groups currently underrepresented in the direct-care workforce, such as men, immigrants, and older workers.

Does providing Medicaid long-term supports and services influence dually eligible Medicaid recipients’ use of Medicare? Third in a series, this report is intended to provide background information on the interplay of Medicare and Medicaid resources using data from one state (Maryland) as an example for analysts who are examining similar issues at state and federal levels.

Many assume that most of the long-term care population is elderly. Not so, according to this study. About half of community-dwelling Americans needing long-term care are younger than sixty five. Research and data collection focusing solely on older adults with long-term care needs misses half of the story. Recommendations of the study include a redistribution in long-term care spending from institutional to non-institutional settings, and from agencies to independent providers.

What health cost and health condition differences exist between employed caregivers of elderly relatives and non-caregivers? What is the cost differential for employers in terms of health care for working caregivers and other employees? This study, a collaborative project of the MMI, NAC, and the University of Pittsburgh, answers these questions and offers new insights and innovations for reducing health care costs for employers.

What ideas can improve access to affordable and reliable transportation for people with disabilities, older adults, and people with limited incomes? In 2009 more than 3,500 stakeholders from 50 U.S. states and DC who participated in the United We Ride National Dialogue were asked this question. See this report which includes a summary and analysis of the recommendations that emerged.