Project Description:
The overall goal of the proposed project is for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) to be better informed healthcare consumers. Project CHAT aims to increase the knowledge and skills of 200 people with IDD in Central Virginia about basic health information and teach them how to communicate more effectively with health care providers, direct support providers and family members about their healthcare needs and priorities. Before developing the curriculum, extensive research will be conducted on existing models and input from an advisory board will be solicited. Building on the capacity of the Partnership's multifaceted and diverse relationships, the project will gather input from people with IDD along with state administrators from state agencies such as Virginia's Office of Integrated Health at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) in the planning, administration, implementation and sustainability of the training curriculum. A multidisciplinary advisory board of people with idsabilities, family members, representatives from disability support providers, and physicians will also advise the project's activities and curriculum.
Using a model that has proved effective in the past, the project will offer both a one session or four session training option to community disability providers so that they may determine which would be best suited to teach the people they support about becoming more self-determined and better informed regarding their healthcare. Using a take-away health passport, training will include information about preparing for medical care visits, maintaining personal medical information and effectively communicating health concerns, priorities and needs with healthcare providers, direct support providers and family members. A companion guide to reinforce the concepts will also be created to be used by healthcare professionals, direct support providers and family members. Dissemination and sustainability of training for Project CHAT will be coordinated by the advisory board with DBHDS facilitating connections to funding opportunities. DBHDS will utilize it's Health Support Network to disseminate information about Project CHAT to local healthcare providers to inform the people they serve about the project. The Partnership's evaluation team will develop instruments to measure participant's knowledge gain from Project CHAT training and use of the companion guide.
