Technical Assistance Exchange Issue Briefs

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The Technical Assistance Exchange and the ADSSP National Resource Center have authored a series of issue briefs and case studies to assist states in understanding key issues with program planning and implementation. We invite you to explore the resources on this page about TAE Issue Briefs and ADSSP National Resource Center studies.

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TAE Issue Brief - The Role of Prevention in an Aging and Disability Resource Center

Source: Technical Assistance Exchange
This TAE Issue Brief, updated in 2010, discusses disease prevention and health promotion in the context of Aging and Disability Resource Center development. It highlights strategies and resources that ADRCs can use to promote health and wellness at the community level.
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Associated Date: June 2010

TAE Issue Brief - Cultural Competence and ADRCs

Source: Technical Assistance Exchange
This TAE issue brief provides an overview of cultural competence and how ADRCs can increase their outreach and strengthen their relationship with diverse populations and community-based organizational partners. It also discusses the definition of cultural competence, strategies and tools for implementation, state examples, and provides additional resources.
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Added May 11, 2010

TAE Issue Brief: How ADRCs Can Effectively Assist Veterans

Source: Technical Assistance Exchange
The TAE Issue Brief "How ADRCs Can Effectively Assist Veterans" details programs and benefits relevant to helping ADRCs best serve older veterans and veterans with disabilities. The brief also contains details of the Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Services Program, which helps VA Medical Centers provide home and community supports to veterans. Finally, the brief provides advice and case studies for effective relationships between ADRCs and veterans services.
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Associated Date: January 2010

TAE Issue Brief: Role of ADRCs in Transportation Coordination Efforts

Source: Technical Assistance Exchange
Aging and Disability Resource Centers, designed to be coordinated entry points of services for older adults and people with disabilities, can become active in "mobility management" activities at the individual and systems levels to improve transportation options. This issue brief will assist ADRCs in identifying relevant resources and stakeholders that can assist with the provision of transportation coordination services to consumers, and it will demonstrate how ADRCs can connect with existing transportation coalitions in their communities to pursue broader changes in the transportation system.
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Associated Date: September 2009

Improving HCBS Delivery Systems for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities: Redesigning Information Technology and Business Processes to Support Participant Control, Quality, and Cost Effectiveness

Source: HCBS Strategies for the ADRC-TAE
HCBS delivery systems that provide greater control to participants will likely have a positive effect on the participants' psychological and physical health. However, delivery systems that promise greater control, but have flaws that prevent that control from materializing may do more harm than good. Whether consumer-directed HCBS results in better outcomes largely depends upon how well the infrastructure that supports the delivery of these services is provided. This issue brief examines potential approaches to designing this infrastructure.
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Added April 4, 2008

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief: Hospital-Based Nursing Facility Diversion Initiatives

Source: ADRC-TAE, The Lewin Group
This paper discusses ways to use the hospital discharge process to divert institutional placements or to trigger follow-up during the initial weeks following a nursing facility admission. It is intended to help states, ADRC pilot sites, or other community organizations to evaluate their options for establishing a hospital-based diversion program and, where appropriate, take steps toward implementing a successful program.
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Added February 25, 2008

TAE Issue Brief - Options for Assessing the Impact of ADRCs on Long Term Care Costs

Source: ADRC-TAE, The Lewin Group
Measuring the effect of ADRCs presents a major challenge because ADRCs comprise just one component of complicated and constantly evolving state long-term care systems. Nonetheless, there are multiple strategies for collecting evidence about the way ADRCs impact the broader LTC system. While ADRCs might result in cost savings for Medicaid programs, many would argue that reducing unnecessary utilization and supporting community integration are important goals regardless of fiscal considerations. This paper focuses on assessing the fiscal impact of ADRCs.
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Added January 21, 2008

TAE Issue Brief: Engaging Medicaid Agencies About ADRCs

Source: ADRC-TAE, The Lewin Group
The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) initiative marks a historic new partnership between aging networks and Medicaid at the federal level. At the state and local levels, ADRCs present an excellent opportunity for the aging and disability networks to partner together in collaborating with state and local Medicaid-related agencies. These relationships are essential to coordinating access to all publicly-funded long-term care (LTC) programs serving older persons and people with disabilities. However, developing such partnerships can be challenging. This Issue Brief provides an overview of how relationships can evolve between ADRCs and Medicaid-related agencies. It discusses current integration of ADRCs and Medicaid, the role of ADRCs in streamlining access to Medicaid, examples of state and local ADRC-Medicaid partnerships, and strategies for ADRCs to engage Medicaid-related agencies.

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Added January 11, 2008

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief: ADRCs' Potential Role in Managed Long Term Care

Source: ADRC-TAE
As states restructure systems of care, managed long-term care programs serving older adults and persons with disabilities will be considered and implemented in some states. ADRCs will need to be part of policy discussions to ensure that ADRCs can retain their role in the provision of information, referral, counseling, and streamlining access to supports for persons of all ages with long-term care needs. This issue brief will outline potential roles that ADRC staff can play to complement the activities of managed long-term care.
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Added June 13, 2007

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief - Long Term Support Options Counseling: Decision Support in ADRCs

Source: NASUA
This paper was published by the National Association of State Units on Aging. Long term care options counseling, a required component of an Aging & Disability Resource Center, supports informed long term care decision-making by assisting individuals and families understand their strengths, needs, preferences, and unique situations and translate this knowledge into possible support strategies, plans and tactics. This paper differentiates options counseling from long term care education and futures planning and highlights the important role of options counseling in a well-developed long term care system.
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Added June 13, 2007

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief - Online Medicaid Applications

Source: ADRC-TAE
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.
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Added June 5, 2007

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief - Health Literacy

Source: ADRC-TAE
ADRC staff must understand health literacy in order to conduct successful outreach to ADRC target audiences, provide culturally competent care, and gain community trust. This brief provides an overview of health literacy and its relevance to ADRCs and suggests action steps to address health literacy issues.
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Added April 23, 2007

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief - Private Industry Lessons: Branding and Marketing

Source: ADRC-TAE
This ADRC-TAE issue brief covers the issue of branding ADRCs. Branding is one strategy ADRC's can use to help build the Resource Center awareness and acceptance among clients, consumers, partners, and other stakeholders as trusted resources for long-term supports and services. Effective branding creates awareness of who you are, what you stand for and what unique and meaningful benefits you can deliver.
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Added February 13, 2007

TAE Issue Brief - Leadership Transition and Succession Planning

Source: Technical Assistance Exchange
Organizations operating Administration on Aging (AoA) long-term care programs—including Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), Community Living Program (CLP) initiatives, and Veteran Directed Home and Community Based Services (VDHCBS) programs can be affected by both internal and external changes in leadership. This issue brief describes how organizations can plan for and manage both internal and external leadership transitions to minimize disruptions and position themselves to take advantage of opportunities to strengthen collaboration and improve services.
(PDF)
Associated Date: February 2010

ADRC-TAE Tool: ADRC Business Plan Template

Source: Steve Lutzky, HCBS Strategies, Inc., The Lewin Group, ADRC-TAE
This document provides an overview of essential elements of a non-profit business plan for the ADRC. It includes recommendations and guidance for developing organizational and management plans, marketing plans, service forecasting and financial planning. The financial plan section outlines the two major components of an ADRC's financial plan: (a) an operating budget and (b) a plan for securing revenues. The section focuses more heavily on securing revenues through creating a business case to justify the investment of state funds; securing the maximum amount of federal financial participation (FFP); and obtaining additional funding from other sources.
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Added October 11, 2006

TAE Issue Brief - Electronic Kiosks

Source: ADRC-TAE
One challenge many ADRCs face is how to provide services over large geographic areas with small numbers of staff. Several states have chosen to use kiosks as part of their outreach and marketing or information and referral components. This issue brief explores kiosks in use by ADRC grantees and other organizations and discusses considerations in designing accessible kiosks.
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Added October 10, 2006

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief - Excellent Customer Service in an ADRC

Source: ADRC-TAE
This ADRC-TAE issue brief describes why excellent customer service is important within the context of an Aging and Disability Resource Center by illustrating lessons learned about providing excellent customer service from the private and public sectors and drawing practical implications for designing and operating an ADRC that provides excellent customer service.
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Added October 10, 2006

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief - Portable Technology

Source: ADRC-TAE
This ADRC-TAE issue brief provides some basic information on the most common types of mobile technology, examples of how other non-profits and ADRCs have used mobile technology to serve customers, and sets out some issues to consider before adopting mobile technology.
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Added October 10, 2006

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief - Developing Accessible Websites

Source: ADRC-TAE
This brief addresses the adaptation of standard Web site construction techniques to meet the needs of the ADRC target populations. It includes considerations and strategies for designing Web sites that are informative, functional and useful for these populations.
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Added October 10, 2006

TAE Issue Brief - Marketing to External Audiences

Source: The Lewin Group, ADRC-TAE
The twofold purpose of this brief is to familiarize grantees with the principles of social marketing; and to provide a brief overview of the key steps involved in developing and implementing a social marketing campaign.
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Added October 10, 2006

TAE Issue Brief - The Medicare Modernization Act

Source: ADRC-TAE
This issue brief describes the implications of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 for consumers, state Medicaid agencies, health care providers, and the public and private entities that provide benefits counseling and supports to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Flow charts detailing the Medicare Part D process have been added to the brief.
(Word) Caption: Brief
(PDF) Caption: Brief and flow charts
(Powerpoint) Caption: Charts
Added October 10, 2006

TAE Issue Brief - Long Term Support for Individuals with Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities

Source: ADRC-TAE
This brief provides background information on characteristics of the MR/DD population and describes the major information and service needs of the MR/DD population and the existing supports and services system. The brief also addresses implications for grantees serving this population and provides additional resources to facilitate ADRC planning and operations.
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Added October 10, 2006

TAE Issue Brief - Facilitating a Productive Advisory Committee

Source: ADRC-TAE
This ADRC-TAE Issue Brief discusses how to establish an effective advisory committee, key considerations when forming and facilitating a committee, tips to promote ongoing involvement of a committee, and resources for more information.
(External Link)
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Added October 10, 2006

TAE Issue Brief - Supporting Adults with Physical Disabilities

Source: ADRC-TAE
The first in a series on supporting non-elderly populations, this paper highlights key topics to help ADRC grantees better understand how to support the needs and preferences of adults with physical disabilities.
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Added October 10, 2006

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief - Strategies for Building Collaboration

Source: ADRC-TAE
Aging and Disability Resource Center grants are infrastructure grants aimed at creating new or formalizing existing relationships among state and local agencies and public partners; collaboration among these entities is critical for ADRC development. This briefing paper will offer ideas and strategies for building a collaborative environment and forming effective partnerships.
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Added October 9, 2006

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief - Business Planning Tools

Source: ADRC-TAE
This ADRC-TAE issue brief discusses how to write a business plan for ADRCs. Topics covered include defining the business, market analysis, marketing, environmental scans, organizational structure, management, operations, and sustainability.
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Added October 9, 2006

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief - Web-based Housing Registries

Source: The Lewin Group, ADRC-TAE
This ADRC-TAE issue brief provides summaries and examples of web-based housing registries in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Tennessee.
(External Link)
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Added October 9, 2006

TAE Issue Brief - Online Screening and Applications

Source: The Lewin Group, ADRC-TAE
This ADRC-TAE Issue brief describes how different states have designed and implemented online applications for assessing and determining eligibility for health and social service programs.
(External Link)
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Added October 9, 2006

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief - Public and Private Partnerships

Source: ADRC-TAE
The Lewin Group completed several case studies on existing successful aging and disability public-private partnerships. The case studies describe the approach, implementation, and outcomes of each partnership as well as reported 'lessons learned.'
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Added October 9, 2006

TAE Issue Brief - Annotated History of WI ADRCs

Source: ADRC-TAE
This TAE Issue Brief summarizes the Wisconsin Resource Center experience.
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Added October 9, 2006

TAE Issue Brief - ADRC Roles in Diversion

Source: ADRC-TAE
Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) can play important roles in states' efforts to rebalance long term care systems, particularly in supporting nursing home transition and diversion initiatives. This ADRC-TAE briefing paper focuses on diversions from institutional care. Another issue brief will take up transitions out of institutions. This brief provides background on diversion efforts, including many state examples, and an array of important considerations for ADRC projects.
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Added October 9, 2006

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief: Emergency Preparedness — An Overview for Aging and Disability Resource Centers

Source: The Lewin Group, ADRC-TAE
Seniors and people with disabilities are highly vulnerable to health and safety risks associated with all types of emergencies and disasters. Reports and studies following Hurricane Katrina noted that seniors, people with disabilities and individuals with mental illness were often at greater risk than others during crises because their needs were not considered in emergency planning, response or recover efforts. ADRCs, as providers of information and assistance services, are well-positioned to take active roles in emergency preparedness and response. This issue brief describes the role of ADRCs in planning for, responding to and recovering from emergencies. It provides checklists and resource information that will assist ADRCs prepare their staff and facilities for emergency situations as well as with meeting the specialized needs of seniors and people with all types of disabilities in crisis situations.
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Added July 6, 2006

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief: ADRCs and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

Source: Theresa N. Lambert, James Whaley, and Susan Shepherd of the National Aging Information & Referral Support Center, National Association of State Units on Aging
In light of HIPAA, Aging and Disability Resource Centers face an important challenge. Since an ADRC is designed to be a one-stop shop for consumers for long-term care information, assistance and access to services, it may be subject to HIPAA's requirements. This Issue Brief, prepared by the National Association of State Units on Aging, reviews the privacy and security provisions of HIPAA and highlights potential implications for ADRCs.
(External Link) • File type: pdf
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Added October 8, 2004

ADRC-TAE Issue Brief: Expediting Medicaid Financial Eligibility

Source: National Academy of State Health Policy, ADRC-TAE
This issue brief documents other states' efforts with fast-track Medicaid eligibility and presumptive eligibility. Information was gathered from CO, GA, KS, MI, NE, OH, OR, PA and WA by the National Academy for State Health Policy.
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Added July 15, 2004

Review of IT Systems for Single Point of Entry

Source: Randy Blume Associates, Community Living Exchange Collaborative
Medicaid directors, Aging directors, and MR/DD directors in 5 states describe their experiences implementing and developing an IT system to support a "single entry point" (SEP), or "no wrong door," service system. Prepared by the Community Living Exchange Collaborative for the ADRC grantees.
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Added June 4, 2004

A Closer Look: Individuals Living in the Community with Chronic Conditions & Functional Limitations

Source: The Lewin Group & ASPE
A research brief from The Lewin Group and the Department of Health & Human Services' Assistant Secretary for Planning & Evaluation on health care expenditures by those with both chronic conditions and functional limitations. It was distributed as a handout at the 2010 National Meeting.
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Added February 22, 2010

TAE Issue Brief: Home Modifications to Maximize Independence

Source: Technical Assistance Exchange
The effects of disability and advancing age can make it difficult for people to live independently in their own homes. Efforts to make the country’s housing more accessible for people with all types of disabilities have been an important focus of the independent living community for many decades. Through the use of home modifications and assistive technology, environments can be changed to eliminate barriers and promote independent functioning for people with all types of specialized housing needs and preferences. This issue brief describes how ADRCs can inform people about ways to make their homes safer, finance needed home modifications, and assist with finding a contractor to make improvements.
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Added August 6, 2009

TAE Issue Brief - Just1Call

Source: The Lewin Group, ADRC-TAE
This case study details the conception, design, and operation of the Just1Call program, a one-stop call center providing information and referral services to older adults and people with disabilities in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
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Added October 9, 2006

Streamlining Access to Home and Community-Based Services: Lessons from Washington

Source: Jennifer Gillespie and Robert Mollica of the National Academy for State Health Policy, Community Living Exchange
This issue brief describes access to home and community-based services in Washington as an example for other states interested in streamlining access. This is the first in a series of issue briefs from the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), Rutgers Center for State Health Policy (CSHP) and The Lewin Group highlighting states' efforts to streamline access to HCBS.
(Internal Link)
Added August 9, 2005

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