Disability and Aging Focus Areas

Community Living

We work with states to design, implement, and evaluate programs for adults with long term services and support (LTSS) needs residing in community settings.  We use our extensive qualitative and quantitative analytic capacity to produce in-depth profiles of states' long term service support systems and evaluate performance across programs.  Our work helps policymakers identify service gaps as well as opportunities for enhancing community-based services.

Work in this area includes:

• Profiles of population and use trends of older adults and people with disabilities
• Profile of the “homelike” characteristics of residential care facilities
• Surveys and Interviews with people who use long term services and supports
• Assessment of programs that serve people with disabilities in Maine
• Implementation of programs and tools for people with Intellectual disabilities
• Evaluation of services provided by Area Agencies on Aging
• Quality management tools for State policy makers
• Addressing potential conflicts of interest in Colorado's program for persons with disabilities

 
Integrated Care Models

Integrated care models are designed to provide high quality, seamless care to patients requiring services from multiple delivery systems. We work with states to analyze, evaluate and report on key quality measures, such as cost and health outcomes, across behavioral health and chronic disease services.  We help states engage stakeholders and leverage data to develop value-based purchasing initiatives, such as selective contracting, health homes, and accountable communities. We evaluate the implementation and outcomes of these programs.

Work in this area includes:

• Research on the relationship between mental illness and diabetes
• Profiles of people who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid in Maine
• Implementation and evaluation of health homes in Maine
• Evaluation of State Demonstrations to Integrate Care for Dual Eligible Beneficiaries
• Managed Long Term Care Services and Supports (MLTSS)
  
  

Workforce development and training

We work with state leaders and program managers to develop training initiatives and workforce reforms designed to build, strengthen, and educate the pool of workers who provide services and supports to adults with disabilities and seniors in the community.  Working with states, we design quality improvement processes for overseeing the qualifications of workers, identify opportunities for streamlining certification systems, and build systems to facilitate worker retention and career progression. 

Work in this area includes:

• Development of a cross disciplinary training program for direct service workers
• Profile of Maine direct service workforce
• Strengthening Maine’s mental health workforce