Affiliated Center in Adult Services and Community Living Program Area
Projects in Adult Services and Community Living Program Area
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Projects in Adult Services and Community Living Program Area

Enhancing the Self-Determination of Adults with Mental Retardation provides training to direct support workers to support self-determination among persons with mental retardation. This is a collaborative project with Minnesota residential service providers, and the project includes curricula, self-determination assessment instruments, workshops and an evaluation component. It assesses staff training needs to support adults with MR/DD to exercise self-determination and develops and evaluates a training program based on those needs. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), US Department of Education. Contact: Brian Abery, 612-625-5592, abery001@tc.umn.edu.

Evaluation of Minnesota's Consumer Support Grant Option delivers evaluation support to the Minnesota Consumer Support Grant demonstration, which provides individuals with cash grants to purchase their own services. Evaluation focuses on the recruitment, training, and support needed to assist people to make informed decisions and be successful should they select the option. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through subcontract with the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Contacts: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@tc.umn.edu; Deborah Anderson, 612-624-9506, ander022@tc.umn.edu; Sheryl A. Larson, 612-624-6024, larso072@tc.umn.edu.

Evaluation of Minnesota's Self-Determination Project provides a process evaluation and description of individual county efforts to integrate principles of self-determination into county social service practices. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), US Department of Education. Contact: John Smith, 612-624-0219, smith144@tc.umn.edu.

Evaluation of Project FIT provides evaluation of a project of Wilderness Inquiry: one that provides families of individuals with severe disabilities with integrated whole family outdoor recreation and adventure vacations. Funded by the US Department of Education (subcontract from Wilderness Inquiry). Contacts: John Smith, 612-624-0219, smith144@tc.umn.edu; Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@tc.umn.edu.

Evaluation of the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver Program collaborates with the Lewin Group to conduct state site visits and data analysis related to six Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services programs for persons with developmental disabilities. Funded by the Health Care Financing Administration (USDHHS) through a contract with The Lewin Group, Inc. Contacts: Mary Hayden, 612-625-6046, hayde001@tc.umn.edu; Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@tc.umn.edu; Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@tc.umn.edu.

Evaluation of the Minnesota Home and Community-Based Waiver Program evaluates Minnesota's Waiver Program for children and adults with developmental disabilities. It includes conducting face-to-face interviews with consumers and telephone interviews with county planners; surveying families, providers, and direct support staff; and conducting analysis of maltreatment reports data provided by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Contacts: Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@tc.umn.edu; Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@tc.umn.edu; Sheryl A. Larson, 612-624-6024, larso072@tc.umn.edu.

Improving the Community Integration of Older Persons with Mental Retardation conducts research utilizing data from federal statistical programs to assess the status, well-being, and needs of older persons with developmental disabilities. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), US Department of Education. Contacts: Deborah Anderson, 612-624-9506, ander022@tc.umn.edu; Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@tc.umn.edu.

Lifepages.org is a web site promoting resource information for all areas of people's lives, including recreation, housing, medical information, etc. Inter-agency use of shared resources is also addressed. Funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). Contact: Angela Amado, 651-698-5565, amado003@tc.umn.edu;

Making Personal Visions A Reality: An Educational and Technical Assistance Program to Support Person-Centered Planning in South Carolina works with the South Carolina Department of Disability and Special Needs to create a cadre of well-trained and experienced independent facilitators of person-centered planning who can work with persons with disabilities throughout the state, as well as trainers who can prepare and supervise others in South Carolina who have an interest in becoming person-centered planning facilitators. Funded by the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. Contacts: Marijo McBride, 612-624-6830, mcbri001@tc.umn.edu; Matt Ziegler, 612-626-7322, ziegl010@tc.umn.edu; Brian Abery, 612-625-5592, abery001@tc.umn.edu.

National Residential Informational Systems Project and Policy Studies (RISP) continues and expands over 20 years of national data collection efforts on residential and Medicaid-financed services in all states and nationally for persons with developmental disabilities. Funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD), Health Care Financing Administration. Contacts: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@tc.umn.edu; Bob Prouty, 612-626-2020, prout004@tc.umn.edu; Sheryl A. Larson, 612-624-6024, larso072@tc.umn.edu; Lynda Anderson, 612-626-7765, ander447@tc.umn.edu.

• Reinventing Quality is a web site that features exemplary and innovative programs that enhance the quality of community services for persons with developmental disabilities. Qualitymall.org contains profiles and descriptions of these programs and resources. Funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). Contacts: Angela Amado, 651-698-5565, amado003@tc.umn.edu; John Smith (612) 624-0219 smith144@tc.umn.edu.

National Resource Center on Community Integration provides information assistance as part of the National Resource Center on Community Integration at the Center on Human Policy at Syracuse University. In this project, the RRTC focuses in particular on policy and personnel-related data and information. Funded by a subcontract through Syracuse University and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Contacts: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@tc.umn.edu; Sheryl A. Larson, 612-624-6024, larso072@tc.umn.edu; Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@tc.umn.edu.

Our Home: A National Multi-Media, Web-Based Curriculum for Direct Support Personnel develops and delivers a national multi-media, interactive training program for direct support personnel for delivery via the internet and CD-ROM. Funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). Contacts: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@tc.umn.edu; Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098; hewit005@tc.umn.edu.

Parents as Case Managers empowers persons with developmental disabilities, and parents or guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities, to participate more fully in the management of the services being delivered to themselves or their children. The project offers ongoing technical assistance to those that have participated in the program. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), US Department of Education. Contact: Marijo McBride, 612-624-6830, mcbri001@tc.umn.edu.

Parents as Case Managers for People of Color collaborates with the African-American and Native American communities to empower individuals and families to participate more fully in the management of services being delivered to themselves or their children. The project offers ongoing technical assistance to those that have participated in the program. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), US Department of Education. Contact: Marijo McBride, 612-624-6830, mcbri001@tc.umn.edu.

Partnerships for Success: Retaining Incumbent Community Support Human Service Workers by Upgrading Their Skills and Strengthening Partnerships Among Workforce Centers, Educational Programs, and Private Business provides technical assistance to 27 businesses on strategies to reduce turnover and improve retention. The project offers some 700 incumbent direct support staff the opportunity to participate in the Postsecondary Community Supports Program, offered through the Minnesota Technical and Community Colleges. Training materials for supervisors, managers, and trainers is being developed on recruitment, retention, and training; supporting immigrant workers; and developing mentoring programs. Funded by the US Department of Labor. Contacts: Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@tc.umn.edu; Sheryl A. Larson, 612-624-6024, larso072@tc.umn.edu.

Pathways to Credential via Competency-Based Standards and Effective Assessment Strategies investigates the relationship between what is taught in classroom training environments and the quality of the learner's performance in the workplace. Develops performance-based assessments on multimedia interactive platforms to assess mastery of Community Support Skill Standards for Direct Support Professionals. Funded by the Human Services Research Institute, US Department of Education. Contact: Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@tc.umn.edu.

Person-Centered Service Practices offers training, technical assistance and evaluation services in Person-Centered Planning to support the self-determination of persons with developmental disabilities receiving services in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Funded by the Hennepin County Adult Services Department, Minnesota Department of Human Services. Contacts: Brian Abery, 612-625-5592, abery001@tc.umn.edu; Marijo McBride, 612-624-6830, mcbri001@tc.umn.edu

Promoting Quality Services for Individuals with Disabilities Through the Development and Delivery of Supervision and Management Training for Educators, Supervisors, and Mid-Level Managers develops and implements an interdisciplinary certificate program in supervision and management, and identifies assessment methods for supervisors and managers. Funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). Contacts: Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@tc.umn.edu; Teri Wallace, 612-626-7220, walla001@tc.umn.edu.

Reinventing Quality: Fostering Promising Practices in Person-Centered Community Services and Quality Assurance for People with Developmental Disabilities fosters person-centered services and related quality assurance and quality enhancement activities through a multi-year, multi-faceted project of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). A primary role of the RRTC/ICI through a subcontract with NASDDDS will be to establish and maintain an electronic "Quality Mall" serving as a "first stop in shopping for ways to promote person-centered lifestyles and support for people with developmental disabilities" through effective approaches in designing, assessing and improving the quality of publicly financed supports. Funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). Contacts: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@tc.umn.edu; John Smith, 612-624-0219, smith144@tc.umn.edu; Barb Polister, 612-624-4394, polis001@tc.umn.edu; Kurtis Scaletta, 612-624-1349, scale001@tc.umn.edu.

Removing the Revolving Door: Training for Supervisors and Administrators on Staff Recruitment, Retention, and Training provides a two day workshop and two follow-up training sessions for Home Care Service agencies in Hennepin County, MN. Topics include: staff recruitment and retention intervention techniques, peer mentoring programs, and one topic to be determined. Funded by the Hennepin County Department of Training and Employment Assistance. Contacts: Sheryl Larson, 612-624-6024, larso072@tc.umn.edu; Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@tc.umn.edu; Susan O'Nell, 612-624-0386, onell001@tc.umn.edu; John Sauer, 612-626-0535, sauer006@tc.umn.edu.

Studies of Persons with Developmental Disabilities in the 1994-1995 NHIS-DS describes people with mental retardation or developmental disabilities (MR/DD) who live in their own homes or with their families. Analyses will examine: 1) demographic, functional and health characteristics; 2) in-home services and supports; 3) access to health care; 4) services, devices and technology; 5) households with parents who have disabilities; 6) social roles and experiences of adults. This project will also examine the 1999 & 2000 National Health Interview Surveys to analyze the extent to which the disability goups indentified in the NHIS-D can be replicated in later surveys. Finally, the project will look at the inpact of recent changes in the DDAct definitions of disability on prevalence estimates. Funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). Contacts: Sheryl A. Larson, 612-624-6024, larso072@tc.umn.edu; Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@tc.umn.edu; Robert Doljanac, 612-625-1842, dolja001@tc.umn.edu.

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