An E-Newsletter of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving

SAVE the DATE for the 2008 Rosalynn Carter Institute National Summit: October 23 & 24, 2008 on the Campus of Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia. More information to follow.

Introducing Quality Care Connections
The Johnson & Johnson / RCI Caregivers Program has a new name and focus: Quality Care Connections (QCC) will provide information, education and resources to help improve community based services for family caregivers.

Given the current caregiver crisis, the public needs to understand that there is hope – something can be done now to help support them in their caregiving roles. While many interventions with proven positive outcomes for caregivers have already been developed, most have not been translated into programs at the community level - programs that really help the caregivers.

The telephone learning series, launched by the RCI in June of 2007 has been a huge success and will continue in 2008.

In 2007, over 650 listeners participated in our series of seminars presented in a conference-call format. Listeners called the toll free number from across the United States and overseas for the opportunity to hear nationally recognized experts and ask questions relevant to their personal experiences.

GEORGIA NEWS

Mrs. Rosalynn Carter met with CARE-NET liaisons on December 10 for their quarterly meeting at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth in Macon, Georgia.

Georgia's Quality Care Network Launched
The RCI, in conjunction with the Georgia CARE-NETs, is scheduling statewide training on Evidence Based Programs (EBP) as the first joint effort of the “Georgia Quality Care Network.” At the December 10 meeting of the CARE-NETs in Macon, Dr. Richard Birkel, Executive Director, outlined the case for implementing evidence-based caregiver programs and detailed four programs that could potentially be implemented in Georgia after comprehensive training.

LOCAL / CAMPUS NEWS

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) in Americus has announced that it is accepting applications for the 2008-09 Pope Fellowships.

The Pope Fellowship/Scholarship Program was established in 1996 through an endowment from John and Betty Pope of Americus, to promote a better understanding of the importance of professional and family caregiving. The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving screens applicants, then grants and administers these fellowships and scholarships. Since 1996, 165 students have been awarded more than $600,000 in support. Pope Fellows may receive up to $5000 per academic year in 2008-2009.

RCI Accepting Applications for CASE Grants
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) at Georgia Southwestern State University will be awarding Carter Academic-Service Entrepreneur Grants this spring for service projects that can be conducted from March 1 through August 31, 2008 in the Americus / Sumter County region.

Americus is Recovering and Rebuilding
Knowing that anniversary dates of major disasters can trigger anxiety and stress for survivors, Project C.A.R.E. is calling together community leaders to plan an event that will hopefully ease the trauma for Americus residents. The tornado that ripped through our community on March 1 of 2007 left a path of devastation from which we continue to recover. There are people to honor, losses to grieve, and achievements to celebrate. It is important that all segments of the community plan together to make it a true city-wide event.

Help RCI Support More Caregivers

Your generosity can help ensure that the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving will continue to be the leader in providing research, education and support for caregivers in Americus, Georgia and across the nation. This important work is only possible through the continued generosity of our supporters. There are a variety of ways in which a gift can be made to our organization.