Accelerating Adoption of Consumer/Participant Direction Philosophy and Models, including the Cash and Counseling Model, throughout the Aging Network: Making Consumer Direction Accessible to All

Grant - Accelerating Adoption of Consumer/Participant Direction Philosophy and Models throughout the Aging Network: Making Consumer Direction Accessible to All ($500,000-year1):Concept: Award 3-year cooperative agreement to continue development of a workforce that supports the philosophy and implementation of consumer direction, and continued development of VD-HCBS. The primary focus: create Aging Network prepared to increase access to consumer direction for all individuals. This work will include key stakeholders in the aging and disability communities, national education system, and benefit entire LTSS workforce.In FY 2011, the recommended award for this cooperative agreement is $500,000. The recommended funded level for subsequent years is $750,000 for year two, and $1,000,000 for year three. With your approval, we may discuss the possibility of investment in this initiative by other agencies, primarily DOE and DOL. Activities and products of this effort will include: - Development of assessment system states can use to determine staff core competency related to consumer direction by job classification;- Development and implementation of course curriculum to support core competencies at all levels of the workforce to provide consumer directed services; and,- A technical assistance center to continue to develop the consumer direction component related to the VD-HCBS program. The assessment tools will be used by states, AAAs and CILs to assess the core competencies and identify workforce training/education needs. Training programs will be developed, implemented and evaluated, in alignment with core competencies by job occupations. The funded entity will work with AoA, Office of Disability, CMS and the DOL and DOE to embed the training programs in course curriculum in High Schools, Community Colleges, and Universities to assure that the current and future workforce is prepared to provide a consumer directed long term service/support system. Performance measures: include both output measures and outcome measures. Output measures include: % of the existing workforce assessed, % of the workforce in need of training/completing training, % of the workforce trained showing improvement in knowledge and performance of consumer directed activities based on core competencies; increased access to consumer directed programs in LTSS; other outcomes will be identified.