National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services

Project Title: Expanding Consumer-Directed Services through a Continuum of Peer-to-Peer Supports
Organization/State Lead: Northwest GA Area Agency on Aging
Contact Person: Karen Nelson

Project Goals:

• To increase the number of individuals accessing participant-directed services and increase retention rate of participants in participant-directed program
• To increase the number of peer supporters, including younger veterans
• To measure the effectiveness of peer-to-peer support in participant-directed services customer satisfaction surveys

Deliverables:

• A completed curriculum to train peer mentors for the aging network
• A minimum of twenty (20) program participants utilizing peer mentors by the end of the project
• A replicable model of "Expanding Participant-Directed Services through a Continuum of Peer-to-Peer Support” manual for implementation (including replicable copies of forms used in the program) along with a summary reports of stats, outcomes and lessons learned
• Project peer mentors will participate in the NRCPDS National Participant Network, and participating veterans and family members will be invited to do so

Project Description:

By expanding the peer support network currently used by disAbility Link NW to mentor potentially eligible individuals who may express hesitation to take on the challenges of participant-directed services, we will expand the number of individuals utilizing consumer-directed services. Applicants who express these concerns will be referred to disAbility Link NW for an initial consultation. If the applicant’s fears are ameliorated and the applicant chooses to enroll in participant-directed services, the applicant will be provided up to 40 additional hours of peer support to help acclimate him/her into participant-directed services.We believe that providing the additional peer support and mentoring will expand the number of individuals enrolling in the program and increase the retention rate of individuals already enrolled in the program. NWRGC AAA and disAbility Link will provide program reports on utilization of peer support/mentoring, enrollment and retention rates, along with an implementation manual for other regions/states wanting to replicate the model.

Milestone Goals Achieved (updated as the grant progresses):

• Recruitment continues and has recently including hosting informational luncheon meetings
• In January, Webinars will be offered for case managers and will include CEUs