walkers

1. Walkers/Talkers: The National Model for Community Based Outreach LaCHIP Outreach Conference 2009 New Orleans, LA November 5, 2009

3. What is Health Care For All? Neighbor to neighbor outreach strategy Door-to-door outreach Reduce barriers that families face in accessing supportive services Educate the community about Medicaid/LaCHIP and Food Stamps Assist families in completing the application process Since 1999 - Over 6,000 individuals enrolled in Medicaid/LaCHIP Since 2006 - Over 5,000 individuals enrolled in Food Stamps Referrals for mental health support services Covering Kids & Families Bayou Region Important that folks understand that we are not a case management program and that our encounter is a one time encounter mostly, unless there is a problem with the respective state office. Also important that folks understand that we would not be as successful as we are without the partnership with DHH in terms of training and the quarterly meetings and the reports they provide for usImportant that folks understand that we are not a case management program and that our encounter is a one time encounter mostly, unless there is a problem with the respective state office. Also important that folks understand that we would not be as successful as we are without the partnership with DHH in terms of training and the quarterly meetings and the reports they provide for us

4. Organizational Structure 2 service locations Program Manager Manage all program operations and budgets, write grants, prepare reports, develop outreach and enrollment strategies for Walkers/Talkers 2 Program Supervisors Manage daily program activities, supervise staff, prepare reports, facilitate community relationships 2 FT Program Secretaries General program support, data entry, appointment scheduling 7 Walkers/Talkers Community outreach, complete assessments and enrollment, education, and data collection and entry into data systems 1 Walker/Talker II Assists with reports, coordinates outreach activities, performs regular duties of Walker/Talker

5. Understanding the Community What are the needs of the community? What are the barriers? Where are the resources? Who is currently providing services? What are the gaps in resources? What do community members want?

6. Laying the Ground Work for Implementation Building Relationships - Get out and talk to people Identify key community stakeholders Community groups, churches, schools, police dept., faith-based groups, businesses, city and state agencies, community members Need buy-in for the program Seek input from the community Identify a target area Canvassing/Preparing the community for outreach

7. Working in the Community Things to consider Hiring staff from the community Staff need to be easily identifiable Neighborhood safety External environmental factors Getting input and sharing ideas with the community What have we done? Work with community partners to identify individuals Staff wear uniforms and agency id cards Partners for outreach, safety codes and procedures, safe havens Host community gatherings with partners

8. Outreach Strategies Door-to-door Door hangers and flyers Enrollment clinics Community events Business outreach Take-one holders, pay check inserts Annual Campaigns Cover the Uninsured Week, Back-to-School

9. Training and Development Needs Investing in staff development is critical to the success of our program We meet staff where they are in their personal and professional development Comprehensive training (working in the community, establishing boundaries, interviewing techniques, safety in the field, Medicaid & Food Stamp app.) Development is on-going and must be done in partnership with staff to identify needs (computer skills, professional communications, public speaking, education)

10. Putting Processes in Place Scheduling and appointment procedures Data collection Completing applications in the field Laptops, printers, scanners, paper applications Processing and submitting paperwork and applications Medicaid-Electronic submission, fax documents Food Stamp-Drop off daily at local offices

11. Tracking Our Efforts Walkers/Talkers collect data on how many individuals they serve and enroll Secretaries input data into Client Management System Walkers/Talkers submit monthly reports on enrollment numbers AIS & Monthly Log of Services (demographic data) Louisiana Pubic Health Institute provides reports on the impact of our enrollment in Medicaid/LaCHIP and Food Stamp Monthly Medicaid/LaCHIP enrollment reports by parish & zip code from DHH Electronic Medicaid Transmittal Logs Sample Zip code report, Latest LPHI map ,Peola to have a dummy file w/ forms. Outreach tools – door hangers, flyer, paycheck stuffer Last year for the first time DHH gave us a report showing of the applications we submitted, how many were approved and for what program, how many denied and reason for denial. Majority of the approvals were for the lower income eligible programs, LaCHIP IV or Take Charge. Denials- not eligible based on category & income.Sample Zip code report, Latest LPHI map ,Peola to have a dummy file w/ forms. Outreach tools – door hangers, flyer, paycheck stuffer Last year for the first time DHH gave us a report showing of the applications we submitted, how many were approved and for what program, how many denied and reason for denial. Majority of the approvals were for the lower income eligible programs, LaCHIP IV or Take Charge. Denials- not eligible based on category & income.

12. Estimated Costs Things to consider Costs vary depending on size of program, number of program staff, salaries and benefits Mileage reimbursement Cell phone reimbursement Supplies & equipment Promotional items Office space Administrative costs How does HCFA compare? Salary and benefits for 13 full-time staff Mileage reimbursement for all staff Cell phone reimbursement for Walkers/Talkers and supervisors For Fiscal Year 2008/2009, we received about $600,000 for program support (staff spread across 4 office locations)

13. Replicating the Walker/Talker Model Our Replication Efforts Algiers Community 2006 – 2008 Established a satellite site to meet the need of resettled NO residents Covering Kids and Families 2007 – Began providing LaCHIP outreach & promotion in the Bayou Region NO East Community 2008 – Established a satellite site to serve residents

14. Sustainability On-going need to secure funding to keep the program operating Finding grants that match the program mission and services vs. changing the program to meet grant requirements Pros & Cons of receiving support from private foundations Importance of program monitoring and evaluation

15. Challenges Adapting the Walker/Talker model to meet the needs of different communities within our service areas Documenting barriers/issues families face in a format that can be used by advocacy groups Getting others to understand what it takes to replicate the model and why we have been successful External environmental factors High crime rate areas, areas severely impacted by Katrina Staff turnover Sustaining the program at current capacity without compromising our mission Figuring out where to go from here after 10 years of success with the Walker/Talker model

16. The Value of the Walker/Talker Model Community is actively involved in all aspects of the program Provides access to health care and other supportive services to individuals who otherwise would have limited access Work from within the community to promote awareness and empower community members Provides personal and professional development opportunities for community members Creates a model of leadership that can affect change within the community

17. Walk Good! Kristina Gibson Program Supervisor Health Care For All Kingsley House 1600 Constance Street New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: (504) 523-6221 x152 E-mail: kgibson@kingsleyhouse.org www.kingsleyhouse.org Include KH goodies in packetInclude KH goodies in packet