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Worcester County Health Department (WCHD) Aging Initiative
| Topics |
Aging
Mental health
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| States served |
Maryland
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| Description |
This project, Worcester County Health Department (WCHD) Aging Initiative [formerly ACCESS]
proposed to expand services that promote independent, unrestricted living for Worcester County’s aging
population. Maryland Access Point (MAP) of Worcester County is a vital part of the Aging Initiative.
MAP was developed as a pilot project for an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) grant
received by the Maryland Department of Aging (MDoA).
Aging Initiative Project goals include the
provision of leadership and direction to the project, increased accessibility to services for the aging in
Worcester County, and increased utilization of available services. New and expanded services would
address two needs identified by both consumers and providers in the community: in-home care services
(including home improvement, chore, and personal care services) and accessible behavioral health
(including mental health and addictions services) for the older residents of Worcester County. |
| Services offered |
This goal was to provide leadership and direction to the MAP project by providing oversight of
Maryland Access Point collaborative and operations. This was accomplished by holding monthly MAP
team meetings and by conducting Core Leadership meetings at least quarterly. In addition, a MAP web
page was created by WCHD. The number of hits to this web page increased over the period of the project,
with 1361 hits in year two, and 1846 in year three. This represents an increase of 35.6% hits from year
two to year three of the project.
Worcester County is a designated Mental Health Healthcare Professional Service Area (HPSA).
Therefore, recruitment of staff, including psychiatrists continues to be a problem for our rural area in
Maryland. We have approached the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Mental Health
Administration and requested they develop and implement a process to streamline recruitment.
Identification of volunteer services was limited. However, through the Worcester G.O.L.D. Fund, an
increase in services is plausible. |
| Results |
There were two components of this goal: 1) Expansion of workforce and volunteer providers for
personal care and home improvement, 2) Creation of a MAP Behavioral Health (BH) Team. Initially, we
hosted an Asset Based Community Development Training resulting in asset mapping. Throughout the
grant period, we continued to foster community support for this project through outreach and education.
By the end of year three, the allocation for COA Gap Filling Services (personal chore capacity) increased
by 29% during the course of the project.
This increase in service capacity resulted in the reduction of the
number of people on the waiting list for such services by 18%. Worcester GOLD (Giving Other Lives
Dignity), a non-profit organization established a fund specifically for seniors served through the MAP
office to finance needed medical equipment, medications, etc. COA established a Supply Closet which
offered disposable or consumable items needed to maintain individuals at home.
The BH component included a modification of the IMPACT Model and PACT model. The
Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) linked with primary care providers through Modified IMPACT
model. The Mental Health Mobile Treatment Team served clients through the PACT model. Overall the BHS served 73 clients through both models. The BHS became an integral member of the MAP team and
was available to consult and visit patients as identified. |
| Replication |
This project is replicable in similar settings as it is based on a concept of education, linkage, and
accessible service delivery to best serve community members. With behavioral health personnel willing to
work in a variety of settings – home, physician’s office, and other community settings – and a focus on
educating providers of all kinds, this program could be successful in many rural settings.
The sustainability of the Behavioral Health component covered by the grant is facilitated by the
Mobile Treatment Team approval from the state allowing the continuation of our modified PACT
component through Medicaid reimbursements. This service is limited to reimbursement for Medicaid and
Maryland Mental Health Gray Zone patients, thus it generates a small amount of income. |
| Source |
Outreach Sourcebook, Vol. 13, 2005-2008, Office of Rural Health Policy
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| Contact person |
Rebecca Shockley
Worcester County Health Department
P.O. Box 249
Snow Hill, Maryland 21863-0149
Phone: (410) 632-1100
Fax: (410) 632-0906
Email: rebeccas@dhmh.state.md.us |
| Date added |
January 18, 2007 |
Summaries of success stories are provided by RAC for your convenience. Please contact the success story contact person directly for the most complete and current information.
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