Effective Statewide Outreach: One State’s Collaborative Approach for CILs and the SILC

1. Effective Statewide Outreach: One State’s Collaborative Approach for CILs and the SILC Part 2—Implementing Outreach Programs October 16, 2013 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT Presenters: Bruce Darling Heather Francisco Laurel Kelly Toni McEniry Brad Williams

2. Slide 2 Introduction • Identifying areas & individuals that are not receiving IL services is a critical part of the SPIL process. Identifying service gaps, making plans for improvement, and creating programs that fill those gaps is a complex process requiring careful planning and collaboration. • Brad Williams, presenter in Part One, shared an example of the New York SILC’s effective statewide process including developing an outreach committee; gathering, analyzing, and sharing findings with the IL network, consumers and other stakeholders; and informing the State Plan for Independent Living planning process. • Today’s webinar will identify effective methods for CILs’ outreach to unserved/underserved populations that include reporting on activities, outcomes, and impact of outreach activities and best practices of targeted outreach programs shared by SILC & CIL directors in the state of New York.

3. Slide 3 Toni McEniryARISEcontact: tmceniry@ariseinc.org

4. Slide 4 ARISE Operational Plan Objective: Reducing barriers, increasing access to services, enhance system-wide capacity to deliver programs to veterans with disabilities. • Veterans note numerous barriers to VA services leaving them “falling through the cracks.” Community groups must increase capacity to reach vets & streamline access to needed IL services. • Disability rate is 25.2% in NYS. Of veterans with a disability, 17.1% live in poverty as compared with 5.8% of veterans without a disability (a gap of 11.3%).

5. Slide 5 ARISE Operational Plan, cont’d. • January 2011 Bureau of Labor statistics show that while the unemployment rate was 9% for the general population, the rate for the era that includes veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) increased to 15.2% up from 11.7% in December 2010.

6. Slide 6 Primary Needs and Concerns of Veterans According to a 2008 needs assessment*, primary needs and concerns of veterans are: • Signs of PTSD often do not show until weeks or months after the veteran returns from duty; veterans run into trouble if the “window” for registering with the VA has closed. • Substance abuse is prevalent due to self-medicating to alleviate anxiety and depression. • Veterans feel alone in their adjustment; feeling it is difficult for other people to understand or relate to what they have gone through. *performed by the Center for Public Policy & Social Research at Central Connecticut State University and the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs

7. Slide 7 Primary Needs and Concerns of Veterans, cont’d. • Many veterans with mental health problems do not self identify, making it harder to estimate the true extent of need and meet those needs. • Many veterans face financial issues, e.g., accumulated debt, when returning from active duty. • Some have difficulty collecting unemployment because of delays in obtaining their DD-214 discharge papers. • Many veterans returning to school discover that their GI Bill tuition waiver does not cover college fees which makes it financially difficult to return to school.

8. Slide 8 Recruitment Plan/Staffing/Job Description • Goal—to hire a veteran with a disability, so we gave preference in hiring to veterans. It's a 25 hr. per wk. position with full benefits, enhancing our ability to recruit a qualified individual. • ARISE recognizes and values people for their abilities and our culture embraces diversity. Besides using our standard recruitment process, with this particular position we included reaching out to local agencies that serve veterans, such as the local VA offices.

9. Slide 9 Existing Resources/Independent Living Needs • Veterans with disabilities have variety of IL service needs—housing assistance, health care, mental health services, substance abuse counseling, education, job training, employment assistance, and assistance in applying for various types of benefits.

10. Slide 10 Outreach Plan/Project Timeline Each aspect of the plan addresses existing barriers and involves veterans, consumers, and local service providers in outreach & education activities. • Developing Project Materials—for specific cultural, ethnic, & linguistic groups; translation language services; TTY & other assistive devices; print materials in easy-to-read & alternate formats; approaches for sharing information with individuals with cognitive disabilities • Outreach Strategies—Outreach through partners/collaborators; education; material dissemination; word-of-mouth • Project Timeline—Detailed 3 year pilot plan • Project Evaluation—Data collection and reporting, consumer service records (CSR), Consumer Satisfaction & Feedback, Quality Assurance Department

11. Slide 11 Funding Plan/Project Sustainability • ARISE has a 32 year history of successfully securing funding to support our work—grant applications, local higher education institutions, local groups, in-kind donations, training revenue, fee-for-service, reinvestment. This particular Program is funded by the New York State Education Department (ACCESS-VR).

12. Slide 12 Partnership Agreements • ARISE elected to partner with agencies that, while currently providing some services to veterans, do not outreach to veterans.

13. Slide 13 Experience and Qualifications • ARISE currently has over 500 staff members who deliver more than 50 different programs to over 4,000 people with disabilities, their families, and the community each year. Objective: Providing comprehensive services to individuals with disabilities. • Profile and Needs of Veterans with Disabilities—There are over 35,000 veterans living in Onondaga County. Veterans most in need of support are the least likely to seek it. This reflects either distrust of the VA or concerns about being stigmatized or viewed as weak. These veterans are at risk of slipping into a downward spiral of family problems, job problems, and substance abuse.

14. Slide 14 Partnering Experience • ARISE is part of a strong network of dozens of local agencies with which we coordinate information and referrals. ARISE is also a formal partner with numerous organizations that enhance outreach and access to services for individuals with disabilities.

15. Slide 15 Experience Securing Funding • $2,251,000 from grants, another $202,000 through United Way, fee-for-service.

16. Slide 16 Consumer Involvement and Letters of Support  • Establishing a Focus Group comprised of veterans who not only provide input on our project, but reach out to veterans to increase awareness of available services • ARISE uses a variety of strategies to reach veterans with disabilities. Each aspect of the plan addresses existing barriers and involves veterans, consumers, and local service providers in outreach and education activities. • ARISE has formed a foundation which includes an Air force Lieutenant Colonel. This foundation significantly enhances our ability to secure more donors and raise unrestricted donations. One of the main purposes of the foundation is to create an endowment that allows ARISE to sustain programs beyond initial funding periods and to supplement funding.

17. Slide 17 Questions & Answers Got questions?

18. Slide 18 Heather Francisco Laurel Kelley Capital District Center for Independence, Inc. contact:Heather Francisco hfrancisco@cdciweb.comLaurel Kelleylkelley@cdciweb.com

19. Slide 19 Capital District Center for Independence, Inc. Healthy Living Program (HLP) Objective Reduce barriers, increase inclusion and access to health and wellness services, enhance ILC capacity to advocate for universal design and to deliver tools and info. necessary to make healthy choices and to prevent illness. • Individuals with disabilities communicate numerous barriers to accessing wellness and health promotion activities through the SPIL and center surveys. • CDC studies have shown individuals with disabilities are more likely to report: poorer overall health, less access to adequate health care, smoking and physical inactivity. • Health problems related to a disability can be treated. These secondary conditions can include pain, depression, and a greater risk for certain illnesses.

20. Slide 20 Capital District Center for Independence, Inc. Healthy Living Program (HLP) • Capital District Center for Independence, Inc. (CDCI) developed HLP as innovative outreach design to increase capacity in delivering healthy living & wellness programs to people with disabilities in Greater Capital Region. • Designed as outreach model, HLP addresses commonality of all individuals seeking independent healthy lifestyle regardless of disability by addressing a spectrum of interests: cross disability, age, culture, religion, gender, socio-economic status etc. • Inclusive seminars, workshops, and events simultaneously serve all identified underserved populations and address disparities revealed through regional quantitative tracked data.

21. Slide 21 CDCI Healthy Living Program—Program Models and Components • CDCI’s program increases delivery of inclusive healthy lifestyles models for people living with disabilities. • Models address nutrition, exercise, systems advocacy and tools to combat disease and secondary disabilities. • There are four main components of the program • An Accessible and Inclusive Exercise Center • Monthly Wellness Information Seminars • Evidenced Based, Chronic Disease Self Management Program • Aggressive Outreach to Underserved populations in the course of Systematic Advocacy and promotion of healthy lifestyle models

22. Slide 22 CDCI Healthy Living Program—Outreach Outreach is modeled after the Trans-Theoretical Model of Behavior Modification (TTM) which calls for unique service delivery systems that “Meet People Where They Are At.” This innovative outreach initiative attracts underserved populations by creating programs of common interest and insuring outreach is planned with inclusion at the forefront. • Outreach includes targeting underserved consumers to “meet people where they are at” and not just focusing on typical disability service providers. • Outreach to individuals is based on interest, goals and personal strengths and abilities ensuring the HLP is “meeting people where they are at.”

23. Slide 23 CDCI Healthy Living Program—Program Services • Information and Referral • Accessible Exercise and Education Center • Peer Supported Healthy Living Goal Planning • Monthly Wellness Seminars • Technical Assistance to the Community • Evidenced Based Programming • Interactive Cooking and Food Growing Classes • Inclusive Healthy Hike/Nature walk • Transitioning Youth Workshops on ‘Nutrition and Efficacy’ • Inclusive and Accessible Fitness Classes • Incentive Based Programs • Accessible Organic Community Garden Plots

24. Slide 24 CDCI HLP Promotion & Outreach—Tailored to each of the 12 Components • Monthly Health & Wellness Seminars • Seminars based on consumer input, identified up-to-date trends, topics, deficits, & developments in wellness field. • Outreach to service providers and community stakeholders (email blasts, traditional mailings, facebook, kick off events, sponsorship opportunities offered to businesses, & collaborative/joint events) • Evidenced Based Programs Stanford's Chronic Disease Self-Management Program and Stanford's Diabetes Management Program • Staff trained as peer leaders through collaboration with SUNY Albany Center for Excellence in Aging • Joint promotions and recruitment with Excellence in Aging

25. Slide 25 CDCI Healthy Living Program Interactive Cooking Classes • Cooking workshops feature whole nutrition and easy replicable meals for singles or families Outreach Efforts: • Cross-cultural, traditional, regional specialties in list of the presentations • Vary presentations to attract a range of age groups, and abilities • Outreach to business and community experts to sponsor events and/or to present (examples: Cornell Cooperative Extension; Capital District Community Gardens; Supermarkets, and Registered Dieticians)

26. Slide 26 CDCI Healthy Living Program, cont’d. Inclusive Healthy Hike Group • CDCI partnered with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Office of Parks and Recreation • Hike Group designed as an outreach model to provide a plan of action for individuals trying to access outdoor recreation for wellness and socialization • Outreach Efforts: Kick-off Event with scheduled demonstrations by relevant businesses, agencies, state departments staff, individual providers • Targeted outreach to recreational therapists, accessible clubs, human service agencies, community groups, disability advocacy groups and CDCI consumers

27. Slide 27 CDCI Healthy Living Program, cont’d. 2 Nutrition Workshop for Youth In Transition • Adaptable wellness workshop series—six 90-min. sessions incorporating Independent Living Skills Development, nutrition education, physical fitness activities & Independent Living Philosophy & empowerment. Designed for youth residing in residential treatment facilities to introduce ILC & self-efficacy development prior to “age-out” status Outreach: CDCI was contacted after CRT attended a CDCI event. Continued target outreach to residential treatment facilities Success! 100% of participants completed this voluntary workshop series and reported they felt more confident in living independently

28. Slide 28 CDCI Healthy Living Program, cont’d. 3 ADA Accessible Community Gardens Steps • Technical assistance to Capital District Community Gardens (CDCG) to promote IL Philosophy. CDCI advocated for accessible gardens on capital area bus line. MOU signed. CDCG donated plots. Private donations sought for the creation of an inclusive Community Garden site to be used as a working model of accessible organic gardening. • Outreach: Technical Assistance to non-disability service organization on universal design procedures. • Collaboration and training to community garden members • Grand opening event (inviting public officials to speak) • Volunteer requirement to create/maintain garden (scouts, school teams, student civic groups)

29. Slide 29 CDCI Healthy Living Program, cont’d. 4 • Tracking Success – Staff monthly & quarterly reports include • Activities and programs held and future schedules • Outreach techniques used • CSRs with healthy living goals and services provided • The number Healthy living program participants • The number of I&R for healthy living • Business and agencies involvement/ sponsorship • Consumer feedback • Examples of our success • 113 Capital Region Residents benefited from CDCI’s Healthy Living Program this past contract year • 5 New Community Programs developed targeting underserved populations through Community Collaboration

30. Slide 30 Bruce DarlingCenter for Disability Rightscontact: bdarling@cdrnys.org

31. Slide 31 Background Rochester has one of the largest per-capita populations of Deaf people and a vibrant Deaf community CIL had established strong connections to the Deaf community • Deaf community represented on Board and committees • Deaf staff providing IL services • Largest non-educational employer of Deaf individuals in the area • Full-time systems advocate devoted to Deaf issues

32. Slide 32 Unmet Need Identified by the Deaf Community Members of the Deaf community identified that Deaf-Blind individuals lacked needed services and supports • There were no services and supports available to assist these individuals locally • Deaf-Blind individuals were moving across the country (Seattle) to get the services and supports they needed  Issue was raised at multiple levels in the organization (membership, board committees, and staff)

33. Slide 33 Impact of Lack of Formal Supports on Deaf-Blind Individuals • Without formal supports, Deaf-Blind individuals need to rely on friends and family members to provide support. Rarely do those family and friends have formal training, and the volunteer support is not necessarily consistent or reliable. • Deaf-Blind individuals who rely on family and friends are often concerned about infringing on others’ time, leading the person to avoid going out into the community. This can lead to isolation, depression, low self-esteem, and frustration.

34. Slide 34 Center Determines that Developing Deaf-Blind Services is a Priority Issue • No funding stream available to provide these needed services and supports • General lack of awareness of the problem beyond the affected individuals • No other organizations were champions of this issue locally • Consistent with Center’s long term advocacy goal of assuring that people have the long term services and supports they need to live independent and integrated lives

35. Slide 35 Support Service Provider (SSP) Program Basics SSP can be any person, volunteer or professional, trained to act as a link between persons who are deaf-blind & their environment. They typically work with a single individual, & act as a guide & communication facilitator. The SSP serves as the eyes & ears of the person who is deaf-blind. There are two key components of an SSP’s function: • The SSP provides access to the community through assistance with travel and mobility. • The SSP relays visual and environmental information that may not be heard or seen by the person who is deaf-blind, in the person’s preferred language and communication mode.  The American Association of the Deaf Blind has a white paper on SSP: http://www.aadb.org/information/ssp/white_paper_ssp.html

36. Slide 36 Center Pilots a Small Scale Support Service Provider Program • Working in partnership with Deaf-Blind individuals, CIL established training and program policies • CIL Built on Existing Infrastructure • Attendant Service Program • Specialized Supports for Deaf Individuals with Developmental Disabilities • CIL provides in-kind program development and coordination

37. Slide 37 Pilot Program: Initial Funding • Funding is only used to pay SSPs • Funding sources: • Center uses surplus from other fee-for-service programs to fund SSPs • Deaf Community organizes fund-raising events for SSPs

38. Slide 38 Pilot Program: Initial Funding, cont’d. • Because of limited funding, very limited hours of support are available • The Deaf Blind individual decides how he or she wants to use their SSP services • People use them for: • shopping • reading mail • running/exercise • attending a variety of community events, and other pursuits

39. Slide 39 Need Identified as Part of SPIL Public Input Process • Center identified the issue in its SPIL recommendations • Center and local Deaf Community mobilized people to comment as part of the SPIL Public Input Process • SPIL ultimately funds a model project serving Deaf-Blind individuals

40. Slide 40 Project Implementation • Deaf-Blind Advisory Council Established • Advise the Center on Program • Provide Feedback on Implementation • Serve as Community Champions for the Program • Identifying Outreach and Funding Opportunities

41. Slide 41 Current Activities Direct Services: • We are assisting 17 individuals in three counties. • People may receive up to 20 hours of SSP per month. • Outreach and Marketing • Formalizing our program materials for replication • Expanding involvement of Deaf-Blind individuals in our Center • Educating our community (our Center, our network, and general public)

42. Slide 42 Sustainability • Continue small-scale fund-raising • Applying for grant and foundation funding to support SSPs • Advocating inclusion in Community First Choice Option (assistance with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) • Advocating for Dedicated Funding Stream

43. Slide 43 Lessons Learned • Create opportunities for people to bring issues to you. • Identify and work with leaders from the unserved and underserved community you are outreaching. • Have (or hire) staff who are directly connected to the community you are working with. • Make genuine commitment to work in partnership with the unserved and underserved community with staff time and resources. • Build on core competencies whenever possible. • Understand that even a small amount of assistance can make a HUGE difference. • Link the issues people are dealing with to promote understanding and a sense of community.

44. Slide 44 Questions & Answers Got questions?

45. Slide 45 Wrap Up and Evaluation Click the link below now to complete an evaluation of today’s program found at: https://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/12291g54342

46. Slide 46 CIL-NET Attribution Support for development of this Webinar/teleconference was provided by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration under grant number H132B070001. No official endorsement of the Department of Education should be inferred. Permission is granted for duplication of any portion of this PowerPoint presentation, providing that the following credit is given to the project: Developed as part of the CIL-NET, a project of the IL-NET, an ILRU/NCIL/APRIL National Training and Technical Assistance Program.