The National Council on Independent Living and the Administration on Aging Present

A free teleconference and webcast:

Overview of Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) for Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils

October 15, 2009; 3:00-4:30pm Eastern Daylight Time

The ADRC initiative is part of a nationwide effort to restructure services and supports for older adults and persons with disabilities and it complements other long term care system change activities designed to enhance access to community living. The goal of the ADRC program is to empower individuals to make informed choices and to streamline access to long-term support. It is crucial that the Independent Living community be involved in the development of ADRCs. This training is an introductory course that provides an overview of the purpose, goals and activities of Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) from the Independent Living perspective. It details common challenges faced by CILs and SILCs in engaging in ADRC development and offers concrete solutions.

Audience: Staff at Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils.

Meet Your Trainers:

Barbara J. Ettner is a Consultant at the Lewin Group, a national health care and human services consulting firm.  Her work at Lewin includes providing technical assistance to Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) grantees in initiatives aimed at streamlining access to long-term care systems, facilitating use of home and community-based alternatives to institutional care, and assisting seniors and people with all disabilities plan for their long-term care needs.  Recent work at Lewin has been in the areas of providing supports for people with developmental and cognitive disabilities; emergency preparedness; program evaluation and assessment; project sustainability; staff and stakeholder training; and organizational/program evaluation.  Prior to joining Lewin, Barbara served in various positions including Director of Research, Policy and Evaluation at the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (DD Council) and Senior Legislative Assistant with the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission. Barbara has B.S., M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees from VCU and a Postgraduate Certificate in Aging Studies from the Medical College of Virginia.    

Elizabeth Leef has recently taken a position with the U.S. Administration on Aging within the U.S Department of Health and Human Services as an Aging Services Program Specialist. Elizabeth serves as a Project Officer managing grants within the Office of Planning and Policy Development and acting as a disability liaison. Prior to her position at AoA, Elizabeth worked with NCIL as a Health Care Policy Analyst. One of her duties was staffing the NCIL PAS Subcommittee, which focuses on ending the institutional bias.  Prior to this, she completed internships with U.S. Senator Tom Harkin and with the Office on Disability at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington DC. Paraplegic as a result of a car accident at a very young age, Elizabeth has extensive experience within the Independent Living Movement working as a peer counselor and an independent living specialist in three Centers, as well as serving on the Statewide Independent Living Councils in both Colorado and New Mexico. She is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado.

Jason Beloungy is a Policy Analyst for the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), in Washington, D.C. In this role, he works in the areas of healthcare and long-term care reform, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights and judicial issues, employment and social security reform, voting rights, and funding for CILs. Prior to arriving in Washington, D.C., Jason worked at Independent Living Resources, of La Crosse, Wisconsin and has done lobbying and legislative research with a state association in Wisconsin.

Agenda

I.  Welcome & Introductions

II. What is an ADRC?

     1. Background

     2. The ADRC Program

     3. ADRCs and CILs

III. Why should we get involved?  

     1. Build better communities

     2. Build better service systems through collaboration

     3. Collaboration to leverage funding

     4. Enhance advocacy and awareness

IV. Real Life - Challenges and Successes in Partnership

V.  Conclusion

     1. Final Question & Answer Session

     2. Post-Test and Course Evaluation