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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Evelyn M. Kintner, MA, MSW, Lisa Ferretti, LMSW, and Philip McCallion, PhD. School of Social Welfare, Center for Excellence in Aging Services, State University of New York at Albany, 135 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, 518-442-3360, ek8002@albany.edu

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 created a new drug prescription benefit, entitled Medicare Part D, for those individuals qualifying for Medicare Part A and/or those enrolled in Medicare Part B. To address the Medicare Part D informational needs of seniors in the Capital District region of New York, three County Area Agencies on Aging partnered with the Center for Excellence in Aging Services (CEAS) within the School of Social Welfare at the State University of New York at Albany, to develop, implement, and evaluate a volunteer based educational outreach program. Utilizing a participatory model, CEAS formally served as the mediating agent, facilitating the development of a regional plan that included: an informational self-guided workbook that consumers could use to “walk through” the series of decision steps needed to make a fully informed choice about Medicare Part D; training curricula for consumers, providers, and volunteer counselors; outreach strategies for each of the counties—to include ongoing “Medicare Part D Clinics” at strategically located sites, one-on-one counseling, and community presentations; and referral protocols for “at risk” consumers needing additional follow-up services. The study examines the three-county community-university venture, utilizing a research action based methodology to critique: the collaborative processes underlying the partnership; the utility of the products produced by the partnership organizations; and the impact that the collaborative effort had on the capacity of county government to respond to community informational needs.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Articulate how research action methodologies, including logic modeling, can be used to direct the development, implementation, and evaluation of policy.
• Develop action plans and evaluation strategies for programs implemented through complex partnerships involving universities, governmental agencies, and community participants.
• Evaluate programs using a participatory methodology that allows for "double loop" learning by participant organizations in complex partnerships involving governmental entities, universities, service providers, and consumers.

Keywords: Aging, Health Education Strategies

Related Web page: www.albany.edu/aging/index.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered