CIRS-A Certification for Information and Referral Specialists

1. CIRS-ACertification for Information and Referral Specialists Examination Preparation Training Prepared by: Illinois Department on Aging

2. Certification is . . . • A measurement of documented ability in the field of I&R … reflecting specific competencies and related performance criteria, which describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and work-related behaviors needed by I&R practitioners to successfully execute their duties

3. Principles of the AIRS Certification Program History of Older Americans Act I&R Tenants/Bill of Rights, Philosophy of Aging I&R Professional Standards for Information and Referral ABC’s of I&R (preferably 2006 edition or later) CIRS-A Performance Based Competencies Information and Referral Models to Remember (an AIRS Journal article available from AIRS web site at www.airs.org) Preparing for AIRS CIRS-AOverview of materials to study

4. For CIRS-A Examination: • I&R Systems/Services 10% of exam • I&R Process 40% of exam • Special Interventions 10% of exam • Special Populations 10% of exam Aging Specific • Information/Scenarios 30% of exam (all approximate)

5. The CIRS-A Exam - What to expect: • 100 multiple choice questions with 4 options for each answer • 75% correct to pass (varies slightly on each exam because of varying degrees of difficulty) • Pass/Fail– no grade, no score • Review questions • Interactive training-review • Easy as ANE, CCP and CCC tests • You know most of the materials already!!

6. PPT Outline AIRS Standards ABCs of I&R sections CIRS-A Competencies NASUA online study outline – (for outline only, not for review of web sites) Tenents Principles of Certification History of Older Americans Act I&R CRIS-A Materials and Handouts

7. What is AIRS? • AIRS mission: “To provide leadership and support to its members and Affiliates to advance the capacity of a Standards-driven Information and Referral industry that brings people and services together." (www.airs.org)

8. I&R and the Aging Network – AoA, NASUA, NAAAA • Administration on Aging funds: • Eldercare Locator • National Aging Information and Referral Support Center • Annual Aging I&R Symposium-AIRS National Conference • National AIRS Board of Directors • Collaborated with AIRS to establish a specialized I&R Certification for the Aging Network

9. Principles of the AIRS Certification Program • AIRS has prepared a four page handout summarizing certification for all candidates. Also the CIRS-A application, and study outlines are available at www.airs.org

10. History of Older Americans Act Information and Referral (CIRS-A) • 1921 human service I&Rs • More important in 1960s & 1970s • Older Americans Act 1965 • 1973 – OAA mandated I&R – through AAAs • 1990 – AoA launched its two-pronged National I&R Initiative: • Eldercare Locator • National I&R Support Center

11. Tenants • I&R Bill of Rights • Philosophy of Information and Referral • Main Functions of an Information and Referral Service • Services for Older Adults and/or their Caregivers • Services for the Community

12. Accurate and comprehensive information Anonymous and/or confidential Inquirer’s personal value system Respect and sensitivity Barrier-free access to information Self-determination Appropriate level of support in obtaining services Empowered to the extent possible Access most appropriate service in community AIRS Information & Referral Bill of Rights

13. Understand inquirers situation Immediate and appropriate information, crisis emergency Empower not solve Help prioritize needs Help identify resources Do not overwhelm or provide too few options Advocate Follow up Philosophy of Information & Referral

14. Main Functions of Information and Referral Service • Database • Easy access • Provide I&R for human services • Problem solving assistance/advocacy • Follow up • Gaps for community planners, funding • Develop cooperative relations (coordinated systems), integrated service delivery and education activities

15. AIRS Standards For Professional Information And Referral Version 5.2 Revised May, 2007 • We need to start with the Standards • To apply the relationship of the Standards to the skills and techniques of I&R Services • The Standards are the foundation of AIRS accreditation • And an excellent training tool!

16. The Standards begin with: • Introduction • Information and Referral Bill of Rights • Philosophy of Information and Referral • Please highlight important contents of the Standards as these are reviewed

17. The Standards are grouped in six categories: • I. Service Delivery • II. Resource Database • III. Reports and Measures • IV. Cooperative Relationships • V. Organizational Requirements • VI. Disaster Preparedness

18. I. Service Delivery • Standard 1: Information Provision • Standard 2: Referral Process • Standard 3: Advocacy/ Intervention • Standard 4: Crisis Intervention • Standard 5: Follow-up

19. II. Resource Database • Standard 6: Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria • Standard 7: Data Elements • Standard 8: Classification System (Taxonomy) • Standard 9: Indexing the Resource Database/Search Methods • Standard 10: Database Maintenance

20. III. Reports and Measures • Standard 11: Inquirer Data Collection • Standard 12: Data Analysis and Reporting

21. IV. Cooperative Relationships • Standard 13: Cooperative Relationships within the Local I&R System • Standard 14: Cooperative Relationships within the Local Service Delivery System • Standard 15: Cooperative Relationships Among Local, State or Provincial, Regional, National, and International I&R Providers • Standard 16: Participation in State or Provincial, Regional, National, and International I&R Associations

22. V. Organizational Requirements • Standard 17: Governance • Standard 18: Personnel Administration • Standard 19: Staff Training • Standard 20: Promotion and Outreach

23. VI. Disaster Preparedness • Standard 21: Emergency Operations and Business Contingency Plan • Standard 22: Pre- and Post-Disaster Database • Standard 24: Disaster-Related I&R Service Delivery

24. VI. Disaster Preparedness • Standard 25: Disaster-Related Inquirer Data Collection/Reports • Standard 26: Disaster-Related Technology Requirements • Standard 27: Disaster Training and Exercise (These are the newest Standards)

25. Wrap-up-I&R Professional Standards • The Standards are an excellent training tool • How do the Standards relate to each chapter of the ABC’? • How do the Standards relate to CIRS-A Competencies? • What do the Standards say as we review all of the training materials?

26. ABCs Of I&R –Methodology for the 21 sections • Learning concepts and objectives • Section components • Introductory exercises • What the AIRS Standards say • What you need to know • Sample Test Questions

27. The Nature of Information and Referral • What is I&R? • What are the I&R Standards? • Roles of an I&R • Characteristics of an I&R • Information and Referral Bill of Rights • Principles of Information and Referral

28. Section 2: From Greeting to Closure – The I&R Process Overview of the 5 main stages of the I&R process • Contact • Assessment • Clarification • Information and Referral Giving • Closure

29. Section 3: Empowerment and Advocacy • Empowerment • Advocacy • Individual advocacy • When to advocate • Examples of advocacy • System advocacy

30. Section 4: Follow-up • Follow-up • Reasons for follow-up • Types of follow-up • Follow-up outcomes • Follow-up methods and processes • Outline for potential follow-up

31. Section 5: Crisis Intervention • Role of I&R in a crisis • Handling an immediate crisis • Types of crises • Defusing and handling a crisis situation • Elements of a suicide risk assessment

32. Section 6: Confidentiality • Confidentiality in I&R • Explicit permission • Reporting of abuse • Confidentiality and endangerment • Relevance of information

33. Section 7: Values, Self-Awareness and Self-Determination • Values and perceptions • Self-awareness • Self-determination • Withholding judgment

34. Section 8: Responding Effectively to “Challenging” Inquirers • Challenging people • Techniques to defuse anger • Mental health calls and “constant callers” • Setting boundaries • Face-to-face interviews

35. Section 9: Using the Resource Database for I&R Referrals • Nature of a resource database • Structure of a resource database • Searching a resource database • Sharing information with inquirers • Additional considerations when working with resource databases • Other information resources

36. Section 10: Special Populations-Serving Diverse Communities • The meaning of diversity • Diversity awareness • Serving people from diverse communities

37. Section 11: Special Populations- Serving People with Addictions • Characteristics of substance abuse • Alcoholism and drug addictions • Effects of addictions on families • Referral options for people with addictions • Methadone maintenance • Concurrent disorders, co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis • Problem gambling/gambling addictions

38. Section 12: Specials Populations-Serving Older Adults • Definitions of “older” and “elderly” • The aging process • Overcoming barriers to communications • Specific services for older adults • Elder abuse

39. Section 13: Special Populations-Serving Young People • Serving young people • Youth issues • At-risk youth • Runaway youth • Emancipation

40. Section 14: Special Populations-Serving People with Mental Illness • Nature and types of mental illnesses • Depression • Bipolar disorder • Schizophrenia • Anxiety disorders • Services available for people with mental illnesses • Communicating with people concerning mental illness • Consumer/survivors

41. Section 15: Special Populations-Serving Military Personnel and their Families • Needs of military personnel and their families • Deployment issues • Emotional cycle of separation • Basic structure of military family support services

42. Section 17: Resource Database-Overview • Function and contents of an I&R resource database • Database users • Database products • Functions of a Resource Specialist • Skills of a Resource Specialist

43. Section 18: Resource Database-Inclusion and Exclusion Policy • Nature of inclusion and exclusion criteria • Advantages of having a formally documented inclusion/exclusion policy • Inclusion • Exclusion • The gray areas • Managing the inclusion/exclusion policy

44. Section 19: Resource Database-Data Structure • Structure of a resource database • Organizations, sites and services/programs • Primary and secondary services • AIRS mandatory, recommended and optional data elements • Types of data elements • Advantages of a style guide.

45. Section 20: Resource Database-Classification Systems and Taxonomy • Organizing and indexing resource databases • Indexing by organization name • Indexing by geographic area • Service indexing • Structure and strengths of the AIRS/INFO LINE Taxonomy • Basic principles of Taxonomy indexing • Customizing the Taxonomy • Keyword lists

46. Section 21: Resource Database-Database Maintenance • Data maintenance standards • Annual updating processes • Interim updating processes • Gathering information on a new agency • Managing the updating process • Database security

47. Summary of ABCs, Introduction to the CIRS-A Competencies • The ABC’s incorporates the I&R Standards with skills, techniques procedures and provides the formal language and structure of I&R • The CIRS-A Competencies combines both the I&R Standards and the ABC’s with knowledge of services for older adults • The National I&R Support Center expanded the CIRS Competencies with an Aging Specialty

48. CRIS-A Study Guide • Tenents of I&R • Older Americans Act I&R • AIRS Mission • Philosophy of I&A • I&R Bill of Rights • Main Functions for I&R Services • Services for older adults and their caregivers • Services for the community

49. CRIS-A Study Guide • A. General knowledge of I&A • B. Demonstrated I&R skills and abilities • C. Attitudes and work related behaviors for the Aging Network

50. Online Resource Guide for Developing Aging Competence for I&R/A Specialists(17 Chapters) (page 1 of 2) • 1. Aging • 2. Aging Network • 3. Federal Laws & Programs • 4. Elder Rights & Resources • 5. Employment & Older Workers • 6. Family Caregiving & Kinship • 7. Health Care & Aging • 8. Health Promotion/ disease prevention