The Assistive Technology for Independent Living Program (AT/IL). The following report is from the AT/IL Program. Services are provided statewide through CARE Chest of Sierra Nevada. The report highlights 4 areas. 1. Funding sources and uses. 2. Estimated costs of the current caseload. 3. Consumer satisfaction and life impact surveys. 4. Consumer services, goals, and closures. 5. Calls into the program. The consumer information in this report is from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023 and will be reported in the NVSILCs annual report to the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Overview of the AT/IL Program: This is a statewide program that supports an individual’s choice to live in their community with the use of Assistive Technology (AT). The program's focus is on removing daily living barriers. The program can help individuals define their Independent Living goals and determine the appropriate Assistive Technology (AT) needed to care for themselves, or receive care, in their homes and their community. The program has resources to provide a variety of AT when no other resources are possible. Individuals that are currently in a care facility, or at high risk of placement in a facility, can be prioritized (if funding is available) for the services that are necessary for them to live independently in the community. It is our intent to make sure each consumer is well informed. We want you to know how the program works and what you can expect. A major goal of ours is to promote the Independent Living Philosophy emphasizing consumer control where people with disabilities are the best experts on their own needs and how to live, work, and take part in their communities. Particularly about services that powerfully affect their day-to-day lives and access to independence. 2024 Funding Sources: The total funding resources for the program are shown as they are funded on the state fiscal year from July to June of each year. The funding for both state fiscal years are described. Note that only the funding is reported on the state’s fiscal year. All the consumer service data will be aligned with the federal reporting year. The program operates on the state's fiscal year (SFY). The 2023 total budget was $1,628,643.94. The SFY 2024 budget is $1,455,666.26. This does not include the funding to reduce the waitlist that has not yet been added. Federal Part B NVSILC $77,882.19. This consisted of $35,000 from the 2023 NVSILC Part B funding; and funding that was unspent in SFY2023 of $42,882.19. Consisting of $2,478.10of 2022 Part B funding and $40,404.09 of the 2023 Part B funding. Both the 2022 and 2023 federal awards were funded late which resulted in portions of the funding to be carried over and added to the SFY 2024 budget. The understanding is that the NVSILC is reducing the amount of funding going forward. This would result in $65,000 to be provided later this year and when the federal program is able to send the award to ADSD and the NVSILC. Federal Assistive Technology $89,689.26. This consisted of $39,689.26 from the 2022 and $50,000 of the 2023 AT Act funding. State funding for the AT/IL Program $1,330,977 The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding is $1 million. There will also be $200,000 specifically for blind services. The current Estimated Costs for the entire caseload is $1,086,762. Currently there are 79 solutions areas without estimated cost, but those will be established as the case evolves. Estimated costs are direct services or Assistive Technology that are the solutions to meet consumer goals for daily living. Estimated costs change as the solutions are identified and confirmed with the consumer. Quotes from vendors are obtained once funding is available to purchase them. Where solutions have not been determined an estimated cost cannot be established but we know that there will be a cost in the future. Direct services funding at the current time is estimated at $982,059. CARE Chest of Sierra Nevada has secured an additional $277,778. Operational costs for the program: The funding sources and amounts for the program partners are as follows. These funds are for operational costs such as personnel, fringe, office space, mileage and can include a maximum of 10% for administrative costs. Administrative costs are only applicable to the operational costs and cannot be taken on the direct services funding. The majority of the funding is used for direct services which are issued by an authorization to vendors and paid upon completion of the service which the consumer must sign off for them to be paid. Staff provide direct services to the consumers assisting them to identify their Independent Living Goals, barriers, solutions, options, resources, and the coordination of services with vendors or other parties involved. There are typically 5 full-time staff statewide. Satisfaction and Life Impact Survey Data: For this reporting period has a 40.7% response rate from consumers. Our target is to have 50% or more returned. This equates to 44 of 108 consumers that completed the survey for services in this timeframe. I expect that surveys will come in over the next 45 days. The survey is voluntary and mailed to the consumer with a prepaid envelope returned directly to ADSD. The consumer is made aware that they do not have to identify themselves. The survey consists of both satisfaction and life impact questions. Are you satisfied with our services? Rate the service provided by the staff at CARE Chest: Excellent 93% Very Good 5% Good 0% Fair 0% Poor 2% Did you have choice and control over the Goals you set and the types of services you received? A lot of control and choice 78% Quite a bit of control and choice 20% A little control and choice 0 Not enough control and choice 2% Rate your overall satisfaction with the program: Which of the following best reflects your level of satisfaction with the services you received? Very Satisfied 93% Mostly Satisfied 5% Somewhat Satisfied 0% Not Satisfied 2% Rate the services provided by the vendors, building contractors, or businesses that you worked with: Excellent 84% Very Good 14% Good 0% Fair 0% Poor 2% Have the services provided made a positive impact on your life? Yes 98% No 2% Did the services provided impact your life? My overall quality of life: Improved a lot 71% Improved quite a bit 24% Improved a little 2% Did not change 2% Not Applicable or No response 0% My overall Independence related to the goals established: Improved a lot 73% Improved quite a bit 23% Improved a little 0% Did not change 2% Not Applicable or No response 2% My chances of staying OUT of a nursing home: Improved a lot 73% Improved quite a bit 14% Improved a little 0% Did not change 4% Not Applicable or No response 9% How often are the devices or modifications used? Daily 93% Weekly 4% Monthly 0% At least every 3 months 0% Not Applicable or No response 2% My ability to volunteer, be involved in my community, or do leisure activities: Improved a lot 44% Improved quite a bit 27% Improved a little 9% Did not change 7% Not Applicable or No response 14% Do you think the government should continue funding this program? Yes 98% No 2% Are you registered to vote or interested in being registered? Registered 74% Interested 7% Not Interested 13% Consumers that do not complete goals or leave the program are given surveys. There were 32 consumers that were surveyed and 4 consumers responded in this reporting period, 13% response rate. All surveys are provided with a pre-paid postage envelope and a letter. Do you think that developing Independent Living Goals is a good method of approaching the barriers in your life? Yes 100% No 0% Not applicable/No Answer 0% Was any part of the process confusing? Yes 0% No 100% Not applicable/No Answer 0% Was any part of the process hard to express my choice? Yes 0% No 100% Not applicable/No Answer 0% Please rate the service provided by the staff that work with you: Excellent 75% Very Good 25% Good 0% Fair 0% Poor 0% Not applicable/No Answer 0% Did you feel your Goals were achievable? Yes 75% No 25% (response had a note that said Somewhat) Not applicable/No Answer 0% Did you feel you had choice and control in the services you received (the goals you set and their priority in your life)? Yes, I was given a lot of control and choice 75% Yes, I was given quite a bit of control and choice 25% I was given a little control and choice 0% No, I was not given enough control and choice 0% Not applicable/No Answer 0% Current Independent Living Consumers and Case Information: Total caseload for the year 316 consumers Consumer cases carried from the previous year 190 Consumers new during the fiscal year 126 There were 126 Active Consumer Cases as of 9/30/2023. Active Consumer Case is where resources are available to purchase the assistive technology services with state funding sources. There were 46 consumers on the Waitlist as of 9/30/2023. The Waitlist consists of any consumer case that does not have resources available to purchase assistive technology services at this time. These cases are active with the consumer and the Independent Living Specialist working to find appropriate solutions and make sure all barriers are being addressed and the steps in this plan are being laid out. There are 19 cases drafted and/or pending Consumer signature. This section lists the Goals by type as well as the total number set and the total number met through this reporting timeframe: Self-Care goals are primarily addressing barriers to essential daily living needs such as bathing, toileting, personal hygiene, eating, cooking, or transferring. Self-Care goals are 49.2 % of all consumer goals. 438 Goals Set 168 Goals Met 218 Goals in progress 8 closed unable to contact 23 closed withdrawn 18 closed as passed away 3 closed as no solution available Community Based Living goals are primarily to address barriers to getting in, out, or within the home. Community Based Living goals are 17 % of all consumer goals. 140 Goals Set 76 Goals Met 49 Goals in progress 6 closed unable to contact 7 closed withdrawn 1 closed as passed away 1 closed as no solution available Mobility or Transportation goals. Mobility goals are personal mobility related and a mobility device is needed. Transportation goals are for personal transportation and primarily will be to address the consumers ability to access the vehicle with a mobility device, or to transport the mobility device, or to drive a vehicle. Mobility specific goals account for 6% and Transportation specific goals account for 17% of all goals. The combination of Mobility and Transportation account for 23% of all consumer goals. 191 Goals Set 50 Goals Met 125 Goals in progress 9 closed unable to contact 28 closed withdrawn 7 closed as passed away Communication goals are primarily to address barriers to hearing and speaking. Communication goals are 7 % of all consumer goals. 57 Goals Set 16 Goals Met 28 Goals in progress 4 closed unable to contact 5 closed withdrawn 3 closed as passed away Information and Access to Technology goals may address barriers related to vision loss or controlling one's environment within the home such as adjusting the thermostat or lighting. Information and Access to Technology goals are 1.7 % of all consumer goals. 13 Goals Set 2 Goals Met 9 Goals in progress 1 closed as passed away 1 closed withdrawn Other goals areas are unique barriers that don't quite fit anywhere else. 1 Goals Set and later the consumer withdrew it from the plan. Goals Prioritized as Relocation 0 Goals Prioritized as Prevention 107 63 consumers had at least one prioritized Goal. Consumer Goals according to status for all cases open through the reporting period: Total Goals Set 840 Goals Met 312 at 37 % Goals In Progress 441 at 48 % Goals Withdrawn 66 at 8 % Goals Unable to Contact 27 at 3 % Goals Passed Away 30 at 4 % Goals Solution not available 4 at 0.5 % Closure Reason by total and percentage Total Closed Cases 145 Closed Goals Met 100 at 69 % Closed Withdrawn 28 at 19 % Closed Died 11 at 8 % Closed Moved 4 at 3 % Closed Other 2 at 1 % The following information is collected from the calls coming into the program. This information can reflect if we are reaching consumers and if the services needed are appropriate to the people we are reaching. Reported information is on the federal year from October 2022 through June 2023. Statewide call information for program services: Total Calls 285 Calls from a Consumer 138 Calls from a Consumers Representative 107 Calls from non-representative or without authority 28 Calls from an Agency or Organization 9 Calls having mixed criteria 3 Program Applicant Information (PIP) was provided to 200 people. These are potential consumers that have said that they want to develop Independent Living Goals and explore their options, resources, and solutions. Only verbal information was provided to 59 of these callers. If the caller did not want to be provided with program information for review and decision making, they would be counted here. General Information Provided to 13 callers. General program information is provided to either pass onto a potential consumer or for a potential consumer that has not decided to participate yet. Referrals to Other Resources 533 Technical Assistance Provided 57 Potential Goals 271 Calls Related to a Transition 1 Calls Related to a Prevention 11