Contract Period: October 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007 |
| Highland Valley Elder Services (HVES), Inc., a federally designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA), and state designated Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), works in twenty-four communities in Hampshire and Hampden counties. Our mandate as a AAA is to support a comprehensive and coordinated local service delivery system of services for elders and their families. Our designation as an ASAP mandates us to give elders and their families access to resources for home and community based long term care. Our mission is to assist People Taking Charge of Their Lives and Communities for Quality Long Living. |
Procurement |
| This RFP seeks bidders interested in continuing to build the Caring Community Network in pursuit of the above mission and mandates. We are seeking proposals from individuals, Councils on Aging, local governments, civic groups, schools, libraries, human service agencies, faith-based groups, arts organizations, businesses and any other civically engaged entities with whom we can partner to expand the region’s capacity to support elders and family caregivers in "quality long living." |
Philosophy |
| All care is local. 80% of elder care has traditionally been, and continues to be, delivered by spouses, children, neighbors, and relatives. Our formal system delivers the remaining 20%. We seek to increase the capacity of local elders, families engaged in their care, caring citizens, and local communities to identify and meet their needs and to assist them to discover their own strengths, talents and solutions. We seek to bring state and federal funds and resources to bear to support and expand the informal resources of citizens in local caring communities. |
What Is A Caring Community? |
| A Caring Community begins with interested individuals who are connected to each other for mutual help and hospitality. Care already exists. Care works best and is most cost-efficient when supported on a local level. A Caring Community can result when concerned citizens within a neighborhood, a town, city or region are linked together to support each other and respond to local needs. |
A Perspective On Building Caring Communities |
"The best way for us to comprehensively prepare for the aging of the baby boom population is to create incentives for all sectors of our society to actively be involved. The Administration on Aging aims to shape and address our future by building Caring Communities and by expanding and providing community-based services."
Josefina G. Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging
2004 Compassion in Action Report
Over the years, HVES has invested in promoting the gifts of the area’s elders and the local caring and hospitality capacities of people banding together to be actively involved in its member communities.
The investment in local Councils on Aging over the years and in a network of Caring Communities are prime examples. As the publicly appointed local focus for the concerns of people as they age, Councils on Aging have a long history of building Caring Communities.
As a private, non-profit entity sharing its governance with Councils on Aging, HVES has invested its federal Title III funds historically in building on these focal points and reaching out to ever widening circles of caring. This work is ever more important with the boomer generation now ‘coming of age’ and bringing with them a fresh, new face to aging as well as to aging network systems. The recent Oh! The Places You’ll Go Boomer Expo and surveying carried out with the Massachusetts Council on Vital Aging (MCOVA) has yielded program directions and information, which is guiding this outreach.
Last year, thirty-seven individuals and agencies partnered with HVES to expand the network of Caring Communities and increase the number of elders, caregivers and families positively impacted by their work. Yet, still, people never know enough about what is available when they need help and there never seem to be enough resources available to get people the care they need.
Nor are people sufficiently supported in caring. Many resources remain undeveloped from lack of being asked or tapped and many needs go unmet because people do not know where to turn for help. People’s caring experience goes largely undetected and unshared.
Finally, there is never enough money to fund what is needed. Long-standing budget realities call for putting scarce resources to work to support people’s local solutions. A focus on people helping each other makes sense and cents.
This RFP seeks to further expand activities at the local level and link people who need help to the people who are available to help. It seeks to give citizens greater access to informal (each other) and formal (organizations and businesses) resources in their own town and to give them tools with which to build and sustain Caring Communities. It seeks to do this by building local and regional service delivery infrastructures to build and sustain this capacity over time. |
Tools for Building Caring Communities |
HVES functions as the Caring Community clearinghouse. Highland Valley Elder Services has developed an enhanced Information and Referral capacity at the local level by capturing data on care resources. This data has been shared with the local public via an internet based Caring Community Map system available at www.highlandvalley.org.
In addition, HVES has joined forces with the Pioneer Valley Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (PVALLE), the Center on Business and Society at the Isenberg School of Management at UMASS Amherst and the International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA) to build sustainable local economicpractices and infrastructures in support of caring.
These new partnerships are allowing the Caring Community work done over the years to now evolve to the CitizenMatch initiative. Emerging from the agency's faith in the people who provide elder care, agencies and businesses are joining people in this care. People and businesses are banding together as they strike up relationships that make a difference in their lives and communities.
CitizensMatch makes this care manifest and supports and expands it, building care from a local economic base, and offering a clearinghouse for citizen to citizen, citizen to business and business to business exchanges in a mutual exchange currency called CitizenChips. The clearinghouse, www.citizensmatch.org, adds an internet based marketplace where acts of caring are valued.
Caring Community Builders function on a street, neighborhood, community-wide or regional level and take responsibility to match NEEDS to OFFERS and broker these matches in the CitizenChip currency. Builders who can not meet needs within their local level, can work with builders from other parts of the regional network to assist in matching NEEDS to OFFERS.
Examples:
* Mrs. Doe is seeking homemaking assistance. She asks a Caring Community Builder (CCB) to help her. The CCB helps her earn CitizenChips by selling her floral arrangements in the CitizensMatch Marketplace and to post her NEED for care on the system. Two days later, Susan, who has seen the posting on the web, contacts the CCB to say she is interested. The CCB matches Susan up with Mrs. Doe, who pays for her care with what she has earned.
* Mr. Smith is seeking a ride to the supermarket on Saturday mornings. He calls his local Council on Aging (COA), which is set up as a CCB. The Council queries the CitizensMatch system and finds Jimmy, who is interested in doing community service and needs part-time work. The COA calls Mr. Smith back. He decides to interview Jimmy and they set up an arrangement for the next two months. Mr. Smith applies for a CitizenChips grant and pays Jimmy, who goes bowling with part of his earnings.
* A social service organization has reached the limit of what it has to offer Mr. and Mrs. Jones. There is still the NEED for transportation to chemotherapy and yard work. With Mr. and Mrs. Jones’ permission, these NEEDS are brought to the town’s Caring Community Coalition, which organizes to meet these NEEDS with local resources and pays people with CitizenChips, which they redeem at participating local businesses.
Caring Community Builder activity is supported in Activity #4, #12 and #14 below. Applicants in any of the other activity areas may also apply to be Caring Community Builders. |
Who Is A Caring Community Builder? |
| An individual or group that brings resources, citizens and organizations together to mobilize care resources for elders, their families, and/or caregivers. |
What Does A Caring Community Builder Do? |
Core Activities of Caring Community Builders |
Organize to identify the NEEDS of elders and their families seeking care and the OFFERS of individuals and/or agencies willing to assist them.
* Inventory NEEDS and OFFERS in the CitizensMatch database.
* Broadcast these NEEDS and OFFERS within the CitizensMatch community at large.
* Broker the matching of NEEDS with OFFERS utilizing the mutual exchange system:
a) Within your Caring Community.
b) With other Caring Communities. |
HVES Will Work Closely With Its Partners To Build Caring Communities Via: |
* Outreach and marketing support to promote the growing network of Caring Community Builders.
* Enhanced Information and Referral capacity at the local level by combining local NEEDS and OFFERS data with Highland Valley's computerized resources.
* Conduct joint care planning with Caring Community Builders on behalf of Home Care and Nutrition Program participants, who give their permission to Caring Community Builders to act as their agents.
* Allocate staff to work to support Caring Community Builders to triage, refer and help each other to meet local NEEDS.
* Connect Caring Community Builders to CitizensMatch.org as a clearinghouse place to connect and work together and to support participation in growing local currency exchanges through the use of CitizenChips, a mutual exchange currency.
* Build a comprehensive approach to elder care management by offering elder care and family care in-home assessments, education, consultation, counseling, resource/referral information, coordination of services, and caregiver consultation to all elders and their families. |
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| Bidders are encouraged to develop programs incorporating support of one or more of the following priority initiatives. All applicants should regard these federal funds as seed dollars to expand Caring Community capacities and not as funding for continuing formal programming. |
| # |
Type of Activity (not listed in any priority) |
Desired Outcome |
| 1 |
To purchase computer equipment and obtain/offer access to the internet and the NEEDS and OFFERS of the CitizensMatch system (limited funding for this). |
People accessing the Caring Community Map. |
| 2 |
Design, development and implementation of programs/activities in support of family caregivers. |
See appendix. |
| 3 |
To develop and provide programs that contribute to People Taking Charge of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, especially medication management, screening, education to promote accurate and safe medication administration to avoid adverse drug reactions and initiatives to improve end of life care. |
People equipped to take charge of their health, their disease and medication management. |
| 4 |
Implementation and support of a CCB position sited at local community dining center. This activity can be contracted at a negotiated rate when targeted to people enrolled in Highland Valley’s Home Care or Nutrition Programs. |
People doing acts of community service. |
| 5 |
Increase the number of workplaces developing employee assistance elder care management plans and offering employees direct access to www.citizensmatch.org for their access to care resources. |
Employee eldercare NEEDS and OFFERS supported at places of employment. |
| 6 |
Demonstrate that primary health care is an effective and efficient point of caregiver intervention and that family caregivers with appropriate knowledge and skills can interact more effectively with both health care professionals and the health care system. |
Early and supportive intervention to caregivers via their primary care physicians. |
| 7 |
Expand the capacities of families providing care for persons near the end of life. |
Families are supported for end of life care. |
| 8 |
Mitigate circumstances that might thrust a caregiver into crisis or intervene early enough to diffuse what could become a crisis. A priority will be given to innovations respecting the reluctance of families to view themselves as caregivers and maximizing naturally occurring venues where people already discuss their needs and offers, such as faith communities, hairdressers, bars, bowling alleys, and the like. |
Caregiver burn out is prevented. |
| 9 |
Care receiver efficacy interventions that address key concerns of caregivers including care receiver knowledge, attitudes and behaviors that affect the care process. This is designed to reduce the sense of powerlessness and increase the sense of efficacy of care receivers by increasing knowledge and skills of as partners in their care process. As a result of the intervention, care receivers are better able to overcome the challenges of care receiving and assist their caregivers. |
Persons aged 60 and older better able to partner with caregivers. |
| 10 |
To promote multi-generational programs, support groups, trainings, conferences and other organizing activities that entice community residents of any age to be involved in building culturally appropriate Caring Communities that support elders and family caregivers. |
Generations engaged together in building Caring Communities. |
| 11 |
To develop companion and/or transportation options that tap citizen interest in addressing unmet transportation NEEDS, such as escorting people for shopping, medical appointments, etc.within the CitizensMatch system. |
NEEDS for rides met by people OFFERING rides. |
| 12 |
Implementation and support of a CCB position to develop and implement resident-based quality of life councils sited at elder housing or other community sites. |
Associational groups sponsoring Caring Community. |
| 13 |
To develop appropriate sources of information for elders,who may be under served or who face barriers to access, to take control of their service NEEDS and to bring their special OFFERS. This includes specialized Information and Referral for people caring for others (e.g. for people with dementia, families of nursing facility residents, younger people caring for their parents, spouse support groups, etc.), as well as for recent immigrants, non-English speaking elders, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender elders, residents of rural communities and low-income elders. Newsletters, outreach and program support focused on such NEEDS and OFFERS are encouraged in this activity area. |
NEEDS and OFFERS of people with access barriers addressed. |
| 14 |
Implementation of a CCB position to broadly cultivate, inventory, and match NEEDS and OFFERS on behalf of elders and family caregivers supported by a mutual exchange currency system. |
Development of infrastructure to support core activities in the community. |
| 15 |
Other activities or models not listed above but consistent with RFP intent. |
As negotiated. |
Criteria For Selection |
Funds will be awarded on a competitive basis taking into consideration:
(1) The overall quality of the application.
(2) Responsiveness to established priorities.
(3) Initiative in addressing documented needs of elders and their families.
A Community Advisory Council provides input on the priorities and applications to be funded. The following criteria will be used to evaluate the applications. |
| Criteria |
Weight |
| 1. Does the proposal place elders and their families as active participants in the development and implementation of the initiative? |
20 |
| 2. How effectively does the proposal utilize the seed funding to attract and/or leverage additional support of the initiative? |
20 |
| 3. How creative is the applicant at using local resources or at developing new resources to support the initiative? |
20 |
| 4. What is the capacity for the program/practice to be sustained over time? |
20 |
| 5. To what extent does the applicant's plan reach out to under-served portions of the population, including elders at risk of losing or maintaining their independence, low-income, minority, non-English speaking, rural, persons with low to moderate incomes, including Highland Valley program eligible participants, or other traditionally under-served elders and persons with social needs within requirements of Federal Older Americans Act Title III funding? |
20 |
All applicants who are Councils on Aging must also apply for their Formula Grant from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs in order to be considered for funding. |
Application Instructions |
Contract Period: October 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007 |
| 1. Highland Valley's 24 town service area includes: Amherst, Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Easthampton, Goshen, Granville, Hadley, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Northampton, Pelham, Plainfield, Russell, Southampton, Southwick, Tolland, Westfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg, and Worthington.
Activities proposed by applicants must cover one or more of the above communities. |
2. Proposals are being sought on a competitive basis for the 12 month period beginning October 1, 2006 and ending September 30, 2007. All grants will be subject to the availability of funds. Grants to individual applicants are limited to $2,000 unless a responsible fiscal agent is identified as part of the application.
Applications for October 1, 2006 start-ups are due by 5:00 p.m. on
Monday, August 7, 2006.
Informational meetings will be held to review the RFP with interested, potential applicants on Friday July 14, 2006 and Tuesday July 18, 2006 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Highland Valley Elder Services 320 Riverside Drive, Suite B, Florence, MA 01062-2700.
Applicants and/or their representatives are encouraged to attend at least one of the informational sessions. Additional technical assistance will also be provided upon request.
Inquiries are welcome at Highland Valley Elder Services at the address above, by e-mail at qll@highlandvalley.org, or by phone at 413-586-2000 or 1-800-322-0551, extension 164.
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| 3. This RFP anticipates the availability of approximately $57,000Fiscal Year 2007 Federal Older Americans Act Title IIIB funding (a portion of this amount must be allocated by federal formula), $8,700 for Title IIID, negotiated amounts for Title IIIC (Nutrition Program), and approximately $80,000 through the Massachusetts National Family Caregiver Program. A portion of funds will be reserved to allow applications for activity to be accepted at any time during the Fiscal Year 2007 period until all funds have been awarded. Grants and contracts will be selected within the criteria stated in the RFP. Since funding is limited, partial funding may be negotiated and awarded. |
| 4. Title III funds are intended to benefit persons age 60 and over. Participation is open to all age groups as long as the primary benefit is derived by persons age 60 and over. Applicants should seek to give preference to elders in greatest social and economic need. This category includes low income rural and minority elders. |
| 5. Each grantee must give participants in Title III funded programs an opportunity to contribute voluntarily to the cost of the activities. The charging of a fee is prohibited. Contributions must remain confidential. However, no person may be denied involvement if he or she chooses not to contribute. Contributions are used to expand the services of programs being funded under this procurement. All contributions received must be returned to HVES. |
| 6. If an activity requires participants to come to a site, the site must be handicapped accessible. |
| 7. Please use the attached application and budget forms or file electronically at www.highlandvalley.org. Only one original submission is required. |
| 8. HVES will monitor all grants that are awarded as required by the federal and state government to ensure that the services are proceeding as planned and are effective. |
| 9. Applicants will be notified about the outcome of their application the week of September 11, 2006. |
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After submitting you will have an opportunity to print what you have submitted. |
Appendix |
The key areas of focus of the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) are: |
| 1. Information. Information about available services is power to anyone struggling with a long-term care situation. Families thrust into these situations need accurate information about services and options. Through information and outreach efforts at the community level, the Corporation seeks to educate older people and their caregivers about the benefits and services available to them and offer a broad range of information resources to help caregivers gain access to support services in a targeted and timely manner. Information about caregiver programs are aimed at large groups of people who may benefit from other services directed toward individual caregivers. |
| 2. Assistance. Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to supports is vital to helping individuals remain in their homes and communities. Opportunities for individual one-to-one contact to assess the problems and capacities of caregivers and to link caregivers to the opportunities and services available. Assistance may be accessed via care coordination in situations where the older individual or their caregiver experiences diminished functional capacity, personal conditions or other characteristics, which require the provision of services by formal providers. Activities such as case management include assessing needs, developing care plans, authorizing services, arranging services, coordinating the provision of services among providers, and follow-up and reassessment as required. Access also includes referral services and other information targeted to individual caregivers. This activity has a special focus on reaching out to special populations and caregivers who may not be connected to service delivery networks. |
| 3. Individual Counseling, Support Groups, and Training. Advice and guidance made available to caregivers to minimize the negative financial, physical and emotional consequences of caregiving. Caregiving is stressful in its own right and even more so when combined with other personal demands and competing priorities. In some cases, emotional stress can lead to depression, thereby impairing a caregiver’s ability to provide care. Informal caregivers can become so overwhelmed with their caregiving responsibilities that they neglect their personal health and life. This activity area provides opportunities for caregivers to talk about these challenges, with counselors and peers in similar situations, so they are able to make better care-related decisions and better cope with problems or unique situations that may arise. Training and instruction made available to caregivers can diminish the negative consequences associated with caregiving as well. Performing informal caregiving tasks can be physically demanding, especially for those individuals who require assistance with Activities of Daily Living (bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, and assistance with walking or transferring). Proper caregiver training, such as appropriate lifting techniques for transferring a loved one from a chair to a bed, protects the care recipient and the caregiver from injury. Moreover, well-trained informal caregivers are less likely to rely on more costly, formal supports. This activity helps caregivers acquire the necessary skills to be able to perform their caregiving duties. |
| 4. Respite Care. Temporary, substitute supports or living arrangements to provide a brief period of relief or rest for caregivers can be provided in the form of in-home respite, adult day care respite or institutional respite for an overnight stay on an intermittent, occasional or emergency basis. Respite services are most often requested by caregivers when they become ill and cannot perform their normal care-related responsibilities; when caregivers perform intense support activities for persons with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or dementia; and/or when the caregiver simply needs a night or weekend off to avoid burnout or to take care of their own personal needs and priorities. Older Americans Act Title III-E requirements stipulate that the care recipient must have two or more Activities of Daily Living limitations or a cognitive impairment for the caregiver to be eligible for respite services. The NFCSP helps caregivers who need a break, take a break. These intermittent service options revitalize caregivers and allow care recipients to remain at home. |
| 5. Supplemental Services. Supplemental services are caregiver-centered and offered on a limited basis to complement the care provided by caregivers. They are flexible and responsive to the unique and often diverse needs of families. These service options may include, but are not limited to, home or vehicle modifications, assistive technologies, emergency response systems, equipment/supplies, transportation services, legal and financial planning and family-directed services. Older Americans Act Title III-E requirements stipulate that the care recipient must have two or more Activities of Daily Living limitations or a cognitive impairment for the caregiver to be eligible for supplemental services. Title III-E requirements also stipulate that it is a state option to provide families additional assistance in directing services and supports. By providing maximum flexibility and opportunities of greater choice for families, the NFCSP allows a caregiver’s situation to often dictate the solution. |