Arkansas: CDC State Funded Programs

Posted on by AAHD

Level 2 Funding from 2002-2007

Lead Agency

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Partners for Inclusive Communities
2001 Pershing Circle, Suite 300
North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114
Mark E. Swanson, MD, MPH, Principal Investigator
Phone: (501) 682-9900 Fax: (501) 682-9901
SwansonMarkE@uams.edu
Vanessa Nehus, Program Manager
nehusvanessar@uams.edu
Yvonne Bradshaw, Project Coordinator
bradshawyvonnem@uams.edu
Website
http://www.uams.edu/partners/

Collaborating Agencies

  1. Arkansas Department of Health
  2. Community Health Centers of Arkansas
  3. Arkansas Department of Emergency Management
  4. Spinal Cord Commission
  5. Division of Aging and Adult Services
  6. Consumer Advisory Board
  7. AARP
  8. Arkansas Independent Living Centers
  9. Arkansas Governors Council for Developmental Disabilities
  10. Community Coalition proposed consisting of: Chamber of Commerce, churches, health service agencies, government service agencies and transportation agencies.

Project Goal

The project goal is to advance and implement programs that improve the health and wellness of individuals with disabilities.

Major Program Activities

  1. Health professionals providing primary care for people with disabilities will be targeted to receive training regarding basic access, effective communication, secondary conditions and other topic areas as they are needed.
  2. The Consumer Directed Model training materials will be used to improve personal attendant services for three different groups: those in an Independent Choices program, those using Independent Living Services, and those using Spinal Cord Commission services.
  3. The Livable Communities: An Evaluation Guide, developed and published by the AARPwill be used to improve access for people with physical disabilities and improve civic engagement for people with disabilities within their communities. Technical assistance will be provided as needed and improvements in the media will be highlighted.
  4. The knowledge and awareness of the emergency preparedness needs of people with disabilities will be improved through training provided both to emergency responders and people with disabilities.
  5. The awareness of abuse and violence for people with disabilities will be increased to improve their safety through conducting relationship skills classes for people with disabilities and family members. Technical assistance and training will also be offered to service providers.
  6. Health promotion information regarding people with disabilities will be disseminated to the general public through a media campaign.
  7. Health promotion information regarding people with disabilities will be disseminated to stakeholders in the disability community through a quarterly newsletter, annual conference, and the Arkansas Department of Health.

Evaluation and Research

  1. Further evaluation of the Consumer Directed Model training curriculum and its impact on the individuals quality of life is planned. Individuals in 3 different services settings will be provided the training materials using different training delivery approaches: individual training delivery, mentoring training delivery and provision of written materials. Information for personal care attendants includes: communication/conflict resolution, disability etiquette, understanding and supporting behavior, crisis intervention, incident reporting, caregiver abuse, and stress management. Outcome measures include: knowledge levels, management skills, satisfaction, quality of life, empowerment, health conditions, and secondary conditions.
  2. Relationships training will be evaluated for people with developmental disabilities. Adapted measures will be developed and tested.

Surveillance

In collaboration with the Arkansas Department of Health, a disability-specific module will be added to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The data will include the behaviors of individuals with disabilities, functional ability, and behavioral risk factors.

Materials and Publications

BRFSS
2003 Chartbook on Disability in Arkansas: 2003 Arkansas BRFSS
Newletter
DisAbility Wellness Newsletter, published quarterly
Training Manuals
Consumer Directed Model Training Manual
Consumer Directed Model Personal Attendant Handbook
Presentations
Bradshaw, Y., Davies, J. (2004, November). Aging in place: Promoting the use of Universal Design in our communities. Arkansas Aging Conference, Hot Springs AR.
Hart, A., Bradshaw, Y. (2004, November). Resources for the Consumer Directed Model. Arkansas Aging Conference, Hot Springs AR.
Bradshaw, Y., Hart, A., Nehus, V., Swanson, M. (2004, November). Consumer Directed Model: A training resource for effectively managing personal care services. American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C.
Hart, A., Bradshaw, Y., Nehus, V., Swanson, M. (2004, November). Consumer Directed Model: A training resource for effectively managing personal care services. Annual Meeting of the Association of University Centers on Disability, Washington, D.C.
Hart, A. D., Bradshaw, Y. M., Swanson, M. E., (2003, November). Secondary conditions: A mediator of relations between limiting health conditions, independence, and depression. American Public Health Association, San Francisco, CA.
Bradshaw, Y. M., Hart, A. D., Swanson, M. E., (2003, November). Isolation and Depression: Significant Correlates of Mobility and Accessibility Issues. American Public Health Association, San Francisco, CA.
Swanson, M. E., Bradshaw, Y. M., & Hart, A. D. (September, 2002). Expanding and evaluating personal assistance options. The First National Conference on Birth Defects, Developmental Disabilities, and Disability and Health, Atlanta, Georgia.