New assistance grants to help people with disabilities

May 30, 2004

Published: Sunday, 30-May-2004 News-Medical.net

HHS Secretary Tommy G. has announced five new demonstration

grants aimed at helping recruit, train and retain direct service workers

who provide personal assistance to people with disabilities who need

help with eating, bathing, dressing and other activities of daily

living.

Grants totaling nearly $5.6 million will be distributed to pay for the

demonstrations, three of which will test offering health insurance

benefits for workers to determine if that would help keep workers on the

job.

" We need to find ways to attract and support caregivers who provide

these vital services, " Secretary said. " These additional

demonstration projects will help us learn what actions are necessary to

increase and stabilize this workforce. "

A part of the President's New Freedom Initiative, the Demonstration to

Improve the Direct Service Community Workforce will grant $1.4 million

each to the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Home

Care Quality Authority, a Washington state agency, and Bridges, Inc., a

non-profit service agency in Indiana. Each of these grantees will be

offering health insurance to direct service workers during the

three-year demonstration. Grants of $680,000 each will go to the

Arkansas Department of Human Services and Seven Counties Services, Inc.,

a service provider in Kentucky, for developing educational materials,

training of service workers, mentorship programs and other activities.

" A compassionate and competent direct care workforce is an essential

element of our community-based long term care system, " CMS Administrator

Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., said. " These demonstrations will help

determine if access to health insurance and other work incentives will

attract and retain these workers. "

In 2001, President Bush launched the New Freedom Initiative, which

promotes the goal of removing barriers to community living for people

with disabilities. Under this initiative, 10 federal agencies have

collaborated to remove barriers to community living. Secretary

established the HHS Office on Disability in October 2002 to lead HHS

agencies in addressing the New Freedom Initiative.

More information about this program and the President's New Freedom

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