Program Evaluation (Coursework Sample)

Central MS Planning & Development District: Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program Terrianna Nelson April Jordan Shantwana Rose Dr. J. Schroeder November 8, 2022 Program Readiness Central Mississippi Planning Development District has a comprehensive strategy, one of many of its characteristics that makes the organization and program evaluable. The 2022 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is the result of a local planning process designed to guide the economic growth of the area. It includes both goals and objectives to assist local governments to create more jobs and improve living conditions. The strategy has two main goals, economic development and community development, which are supported by objectives that address both the challenges and issues the CMPDD region face. One of the goals of the strategy references the Elderly and Disabled Program. The goal refers to community development and is to encourage and facilitate efforts that would enhance the quality of life, future growth, and long-term prosperity of communities. The objective is to provide services benefiting elderly individuals. The goals are realistic, achievable, and the activities of the program are related to the stated objective. The activities of the E&D program include in home respite services, Home delivered meals, Personal care services, Case management, and adult day care. The Elderly and Disabled program serves the population in which it was designed. The target population include both elderly and disabled beneficiaries aged 21 or older. The program goal is also to provide beneficiaries with medical and social services in their homes or in a community-based setting, rather than a nursing facility, The program is allowed to serve 2,674 clients in the counties of Yazoo, Madison, hinds, Rankin, Simpson, warren, and Copiah. The program consistently works towards their goals through their home and community-based services as well as case management. CMPDD Program Processes and Outcome Medicaid recipients can get services in their own homes or communities, rather than in institutions or other isolated locations, through the home and community-based services (HCBS). People with mental illnesses, physical disabilities, and intellectual or developmental disabilities are just a few of the targeted populations that benefit from these programs. To ensure the health and welfare of waiver participants, states must demonstrate that they have an efficient incident management system and that they continuously identify, address, and attempt to prevent instances of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and unannounced death. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) offers resources to assist states in addressing health and welfare issues in their HCBS programs and develop robust incident management systems that enable states to respond proactively to incidents and take steps to lessen their likelihood occurring again. For the case of CMPDD, this program offers the following services: Services such as Personal Care Attendant, In-Home Respite, Institutional Respite, Adult Day Care, Home Delivered Meals, Extended Home Health, and Community Transition are available to qualified individuals who are moving from a nursing facility to a home or community-based setting. These services also include assistance with transportation to receive medical care and Home Delivered Meals. The Division of Medicaid must approve all services beforehand. Medicaid-approved providers can pay for all services. To make sure that all E&D Waiver services are provided, CMPDD employs Registered Nurses and Licensed Social Workers. Existence of Appropriate measures While there are no appropriate measures currently in place, CMPDD does have a couple of incentives worth looking into, one being a new job position called Social Work Trainee. This position is for social workers that have their bachelors and are working towards taking the licensure exam. The application for this job opportunity can be found on Indeed.com. In creating this position, it permits the trainee to acquire paid on the job training for the case management position before and after licensure has been obtained. Family members are also eligible for employment through provider companies and are compensated for caring for family members due to companies having staffing problems. Access to sources of data The organization and program have the capacity to provide data for evaluation. As stated on the application for 1915 HCSB Waiver, “The E&D program provides performance measures that focuses on uniformity of development, execution of provider agreements served by the program, and equal distribution of waiver openings in all areas.” The performance measures also include compliance with the home and community-based waiver service requirements. The first performance measure illustrates the number and percentage of monthly enrollments reports that indicates current census. Performance measure number two depicts the number and percentage of quarterly quality improvement strategy meetings. These are also held month...