Systems Change Grants for Community Living Compendium Third Edition Georgia NFT ILP 2001

2001 Nursing Facility Transitions Grants

GEORGIA

Grant Information

Name of Grantee: disABILITY LINK
Title of Grant: TRANSITIONS: Introducing Institutionalized People with Disabilities to Community Living Alternatives
Type of Grant: Nursing Facility Transitions, Independent Living Partnership
Amount of Grant: $400,000
Year Original Funding Received: 2001

Contact Information

Rebecca Rumage-Tuttle, M.S.R.S.
Executive Director
disABILITY LINK
755 Commerce Drive, Suite 415
Decatur, GA 30030
404–687–8890
rrtuttle@disabilitylink.org

www.disabilitylink.org

Subcontractor(s)

Access Center for Independent Living
Robert McGarry
770–534–6656

Bainbridge Advocacy Individual Network
Virginia Harris
229–246–0150

Disability Connections
Jerilyn Leverett
478–743–9805

Living Independence for Everyone
Nicolas Steenhout
912–920–2414

Walton Options for Independent Living
Tiffany Johnston
706–724–6262

Target Population(s)

Persons of all ages with disabilities who are currently residing in nursing homes.

Goals

Develop a transition infrastructure within the Independent Living Network that will introduce people with disabilities to peer supporters and role models; expose interested persons to home and community based services; offer information, training, and skill development; develop community connections or circles of support; and develop comprehensive transition plans to assist those who choose to resettle in the community.
Develop a partnership with two nursing home chains to identify people with disabilities who want and need alternatives; and develop a collaborative process for both diverting people from nursing facility placement and transitioning those who want a community alternative.
Work with the Department of Community Health to address current problems—from the consumer perspective—with the HCBS waivers.

Activities

Subcontract with Centers for Independent Living (CILs) across the state to hire and train transition team leaders. These individuals, with the assistance of volunteer peer supporters, will go into nursing home facilities to identify individuals wishing to transition to the community.
Work with the Department of Community Health and two nursing home chains to identify and transition people with disabilities to their communities.
Expand existing community-based services to serve all those who wish to live in their communities.
Expand and strengthen the Consumer Systems Change Network.
Develop resource committees statewide.

Abstract

Georgia will use this grant to build state capacity to reach out and support the transition of individuals to a community-integrated living arrangement consistent with their needs and preferences, and assure that these individuals have the supports necessary to sustain long-term residence and participation in the community. A considerable amount of matching resources will also be allocated to this project.

disABILITY LINK in Atlanta will serve as the fiscal agent for the grant, house the project director and contract with five other consumer-controlled nonprofit CILs to accomplish the goals, objectives, and deliverables of this grant. The Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) will serve on the project's steering committee, meet quarterly, provide guidance and support to the project director, and assist with the development of the grant process. The SILC is a statewide organization that is consumer-controlled and includes disability groups that are most at risk for institutionalization—people with cognitive disabilities, mental disabilities, and severe physical disabilities.

The project's goals will be accomplished by securing a project director, securing transition team leaders in seven regions of the state through the CILs, supporting the participation of consumers in transition planning, providing information and training to all consumers and staff, developing resource materials, and evaluating the project.