Florida Coalition for Optimal Mental Health & Aging Newsletter, Winter/Spring 2005, Vol 8, No 1

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In April 2004, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that Florida was one of 12 states to receive a grant to create Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to help consumers learn about and access long-term supports, ranging from in-home services to nursing facility care. Florida was awarded nearly $800,000 to create its ADRCs. The grant program is a joint effort between HHS' Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The program is intended to give states an opportunity to effectively integrate their long-term support resources for consumers into a single coordinated system. The broad mandate of the program is to serve older adults and at least one disability population. Florida is one of the few states that chose to target mental health.

At about the same time the ADRC grants were announced, the 2004 Legislature passed Senate Bill 1226 which requires the progressive transitioning of all eleven of Florida's area agencies on aging (AAA) into Aging Resource Centers (ARCs). The ARC is a single administrative entity responsible for ensuring the optimal use of all available resources by serving as the entry point for all public long-term care. The Department of Elder Affairs recently announced that the pilot sites for the three ADRC/ARCs will be the AAA of Pasco-Pinellas, Senior Resource Alliance in Orlando, and the AAA of Broward County. They will begin operating their information and referral systems by June 30, 2005, and by September 30, 2005, are to begin serving adults (18 and older) with severe mental illness. The remaining eight area agencies are to transition to ARCs within two years, and if funding is available, the goal is to have all eleven ARCs include the mental health component.

The ADRC/ARCs will provide a single point of access for information, counseling, referral services, assessment and eligibility functions for both publicly and privately funded services by identifying an older person's or a caregiver's needs and then linking them to local agencies that can provide the needed service or information. Through cooperation between all parts of the aging network, ADRC/ARCs will emphasize a "no wrong-door" approach to accessing information for Florida's elders. To achieve this goal, Florida will have to collocate information and referral, screening and assessment, access to crisis intervention, medical and financial eligibility determination, and long-term care counseling options.

The ADRC/ARCs will be accessible through a number of locations within each community, such as senior centers, area agencies on aging, housing authorities, and mental health counseling centers, as well as by telephone or through the Internet. The area agency will continue as the designated entity responsible for area planning and, as an ADRC or ARC, will not provide any direct services. The lead agencies will continue to provide case management and coordinate service delivery at the consumer level.

The Florida Coalition has a unique opportunity to become involved in the early implementation of the ADRC/ARCs. For example, the Coalition could partner with DOEA and the area agencies on aging to help identify the mental health needs of elders. Members are encouraged to contact their local AAA to become involved with the initiative.

For additional information, please contact Sandi Smith, DOEA Project Director, at Smithsl@elderaffairs.org.

The members of the Suncoast Regional Coalition (SRC) are pleased to announce that they will be co-sponsors of the 8th Annual Florida Coalition conference that will be held in Tampa in October 2005. Lisa Smiler resigned as Chair, but will continue as an active member. The members of the Suncoast group wish to thank and congratulate Lisa for her hard work in helping to establish and provide leadership to the SRC. The new Chair is Shannon Martin, from Clearwater, the Client Services Coordinator at Aging Wisely, Inc. For more SRC information, contact Shannon at 727-586-2774. Meetings: 9:30 am on the 4th Friday of each month at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

Recently, the Broward Older Adult Workgroup conducted several local community focus groups regarding the behavioral health needs of older adults in Broward County. These activities were completed with consumers, family members, providers, and other stakeholders. As a result, the Workgroup has drafted and delivered an updated report. The Workgroup is also working on a local elder behavioral health strategic plan. The Broward Workgroup continues to hold monthly meetings at 2:00 pm on the 4th Friday at Broward County Elderly and Veterans Services Division. For more information, contact Stephen Ferrante, 954-537-2805.

The Central Florida Coalition on Mental Health and Aging is conducting a survey of providers and the "211 Network" in their local area with the goal of integrating the information. The regional coalition also plans to identify legislative/ advocacy items to put into an action statement. Contact: Frank Vande Loo at 407-245-0010, ext. 270. Meetings: 9:00 am on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Orange County Health and Family Services Building.