COLORADO
Grant Information
- Name of Grantee
- Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Office of
Medical Assistance
- Title of Grant
- Colorado Transitions Project
- Type of Grant
- Nursing Facility Transitions, State Program
- Amount of Grant
- $800,000
- Year Original Funding Received
- 2001
Contact Information
Kathryn S. Garcia
1575 Sherman Street, 5th floor
Denver, CO
80203–1702
303–866–2530
kathryn.garcia@state.co.us
Subcontractor(s)
Center for People With Disabilities
David
Bolin
303–442–8662
Jane Schiele
303–442–8662
Target Population(s)
Individuals of any age with disabilities in nursing facilities,
particularly individuals with cognitive disabilities or mental
illness.
Goals
- Build capacity across the state to reach out and support the
transition of individuals in nursing facilities to a
community–integrated living arrangement.
- Assure that individuals who wish to make the transition have
developmentally appropriate information to make the decision and the
supports necessary to sustain long–term residence and participation in
the community.
Activities
- Create a State Transitions Resource Team to oversee and evaluate
the project.
- Identify barriers to transitions and strategies to address them.
- Document a comprehensive model for transitions.
- Establish 10 support networks through Independent Living Centers
to coordinate services, referrals, and follow–up.
- Inform over 1,200 individuals of their rights to live in the
community.
- Transition at least 130 individuals in nursing facilities to
community settings.
Abstract
The Colorado Transitions Project will create a state infrastructure
for transition efforts and provide choice information to over 1,200
individuals in nursing facilities resulting in 130 transitions to the
community. The approach will create a structure at the state level and
in 10 communities to link resources, address barriers, and expand
communication among providers to maximize the supports for community
transitions.
The existing Olmstead Planning Group collaborated to design this
proposal and will continue, with added members, as the State Resource
Team. More partners will be added as the project expands and identifies
additional key players.
A new product to be created through this project is a developmentally
appropriate approach to informed consent for individuals with
developmental disabilities, cognitive disabilities, brain injuries,
language/literacy barriers, or mental illness, or who are affected by
strokes. A video, a word board, and a picture book will be developed.
These will reach individuals in a respectful manner and can be
replicated in other states.
A Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing State
Transition Coordinator (0.5 full–time equivalent [FTE]) will coordinate
the state infrastructure development, and the Center for People with
Disabilities will hire a Project Coordinator (1.0 FTE) to implement the
Colorado Transitions Project through the network of 10 Independent
Living Centers across the state. The project will complement existing
state programs and identify and transition a variety of consumers from
nursing facilities to the community.