KANSAS
Grant Information
- Name of Grantee
- Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, Resource Development
- Title of Grant
- Kansas 21st Century LongTerm Care Project
- Type of Grant
- Real Choice Systems Change
- Amount of Grant
- $1,385,000
- Year Original Funding Received
- 2002
Contact Information
Brent Widick, Grant Manager
Docking State Office Building, 6th Floor
915 SW Harrison Street
Topeka, KS 66612
7852964723
BAZW@srskansas.org
Subcontractor(s)
Request for Proposal has been issued; subcontractor has not been identified yet.
Target Population(s)
Individuals of all ages with disabilities or longterm illness.
Goals
- Develop a strategic plan to guide future systems change.
- Investigate the potential of improved screening instruments for functional eligibility determination and deinstitutionalization.
- Enhance the Diversion project by providing shortterm case management services to divert individuals who are atrisk of institutional placement upon discharge from a hospital.
- Provide technical assistance to expand capacity to deliver communitybased services based on currently identified needs, and needs articulated in the strategic plan, including increasing the systems' flexibility to accommodate both the unique needs of consumers and the state.
- Develop and present effective education materials among the broad range of service providers and other longterm care stakeholders.
Activities
- Convene a strategic planning task force comprised of relevant stakeholders to develop a 3 year action plan to articulate a philosophy and direction for systems change.
- Implement new or modified longterm care level of care screening tools.
- Establish a technical assistance pool to provide technical assistance to local service providers in developing local resources to meet the needs of individuals to remain in (or return to) and participate in the community.
- Conduct professional development/continuing education programs aimed at changing referral patterns from institutional dependence to the fullest possible participation in the community.
Abstract
The Real Choice Systems Change project seeks to build upon the incremental improvements in longterm care, which Kansas has implemented through Medicaid home and communitybased services waivers. The primary purpose of the project is to make home and communitybased services as accessible to individuals with disabilities or longterm illness as institutional care.
A Strategic Planning Committee including consumer, provider, funding, and regulatory stakeholders will address legal, regulatory, and policy barriers to a communityfirst longterm care system, including funding issues, capacities of service providers to provide access to necessary supports and services, and employment related issues. The 3year action plan seeks to expand selfdetermination by providing additional control over supports and services for all individuals with disabilities or longterm illness based on the premise of selfdetermination, independent living, and personal autonomy.