AGENCY AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Agency and Community Resources

RCI's goal is to support Quality Care in long-term, home, and community-based services. We believe that increasing the use of "science that works" is a critical part of this effort and that evidence-based programs have the greatest chance of improving health and well-being of caregivers. However, research and experience have shown that agencies and communities face a number of challenges in adopting and sustaining evidence-based caregiver programs. Our aim is to provide tools and resources to facilitate the process of moving science to practice in the community and to create networks in which first-hand experience in this "translational work" can be shared.

FOR AGENCIES:

Recommended steps that agencies should take if interested in implementing an evidence-based caregiver program (adapted from the Center for Healthy Aging):

Step 1: Identify an important caregiver issue and the population at risk.

• Review epidemiological and other data to identify key health/functional conditions and risk factors for caregivers in the community.
• Specify the characteristics and contexts of the population at risk and of the broader community (ie: income, education, culture, geographic location, accessibility to services).

Step 2: Identify effective intervention(s)

• Systematically identify and review relevant research and information on proven interventions or models that address the targeted conditions of risk factors. See our Evidence-Based Caregiver Intervention Resource Center.
  

Step 3: Establish broad-based partnerships

• Recruit community partners to help interpret data on caregiver health conditions and risk factors, select among available interventions, and establish priorities.
• Articulate methods and detailed procedures for addressing identified caregiver health issues through planned actions that include the involvement of relevant community stakeholders.

Step 4: Select an intervention

• Select a proven evidence-based intervention or model that will be appropriate for the target community, suitable for adoption by providers, and feasible given available provider and community resources.

Step 5: Translate the intervention into a program

• Translate the tested intervention or model into a program suitable for implementation in the community while maintaining fidelity (i.e., the faithful and accurate reproduction of the intervention's core elements in the design and implementation of the translated program.
• Recruit and retain caregivers from the target population who can benefit from the intervention.
• Implement the translated program, maintaining fidelity to the core elements and design while adapting key characteristics of the program (e.g., outreach methods, language level, and location of the program) to the needs and characteristics of the target population.

Step 6: Evaluate the program

• Plan goals for process and outcomes evaluation, design instruments and protocols for data collection, and assign responsibilities for evaluation.
• Provide midcourse feedback on program operations and implementation and decide what adjustments (if any) need to be made.
• Measure and evaluate program delivery and outcomes to assess the effectiveness of the program or model and inform the next cycle of program planning.

Step 7: Sustain the program
Determine the information, activities, and resources that maintenance of successful individual and program outcomes will require. Ask the following questions:

• What long-term effects do we desire for program participants?
• How can we support these effects programatically?
• What resources and partnerships will we need to maintain desired individual level outcomes and institutionalize the program?

The Quality Care Center provides tools to assist agencies with adoption, implementation, and maintenance of evidence-based caregiver programs:

Tools and Resources

Evidence-Based Caregiver Intervention Resource Center - a database of caregiver programs

National Quality Care Network

Georgia Coalition for Caregiver Health

Quality Care Connections

2008 National Summit will provide important information for Agencies and Community Organizations

Plan to participate in our 2008 National Conference, Raising the Bar: Evidence-Based Programs for Caregivers. At our 2008 conference, we’ll provide a “road map” for how to practically move toward an evidence-based approach in supporting caregivers. You’ll leave the 2008 conference with a wealth of resources, ideas and practical suggestions designed to help you “raise the bar” and set a new standard for how caregivers are supported by your agency and community.

Presenters will be leading experts and practitioners involved in implementing effective caregiver support programs in communities around the country. “How-To” workshops, case studies, and collaborative planning opportunities will make this the one conference you must attend if you are serious about implementing evidence-based programs.