GEORGIA

Living Well Grant Summary

Grant Leadership Team Overview

The Administration on Disabilities (AoD) awarded a Living Well 

grant to the University of Georgia Institute on Human Development 

and Disability (IHDD) in 2017. 

Project Overview

Capacity Building

Georgia uses the College of Direct Supports (CDS), an online training platform, to advance professionalization of direct 

support professionals (DSPs). Through CDS, provider administrators can create specialized, site-specific modules and 

trainings for their staff members. DSPs and supervisors can view their progress along provider-specific career paths. 

All provider partners in Georgia have membership in the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, which gives 

access to additional resources and trainings curricula, such as the annual Informed Decision-Making training.

Data Collection, Dissemination, and Monitoring

The Georgia Living Well team is using the Therap General Event Reporting Tool to track processes, structures, and 

incidents. 

The data collected by the tool assists providers to identify risk factors and develop interventions to make improvements 

in identified areas.

Implementation, Evaluation, and Sustainability

For each training activity, Georgia conducts an outcomes assessment and experience survey to track training 

effectiveness and identify areas that require improvement. Looking ahead, the team is focused on Supporting Social 

Roles trainings, wrapping up the train-the-trainer code of ethics, finishing the IDM trainings, and aligning more closely 

with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

Living Well Grant Summary

Grant Leadership Team Overview

The Administration on Disabilities (AoD) awarded a Living Well 

grant to the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability 

(UNHIOD) in 2017. 

Project Overview

Capacity Building

New Hampshire developed an advisory board with strategic partners to oversee their Living Well grant. Self-advocates 

involved with the team are planning a self-advocacy conference as well as a Rights Training.

To identify additional needed supports in home and community-based service settings, the Living Well team collects 

data on systemic issues through surveys and focus groups. The grantee team will use these results to inform future goals 

and initiatives. The state translated trainings into Spanish, Nepali, and Dzongkha (Bhutanese) to increase access and 

understanding with staff for whom English is not a native language.

Data Collection, Dissemination, and Monitoring

UNHIOD is developing a statewide monitoring system to identify individuals who have signs of dementia and ensure 

that treatment is received. Furthermore, New Hampshire launched a pilot project to develop promising practices that 

address the needs of those with dual intellectual and developmental disability and mental health diagnoses. Lastly, there 

are plans to consolidate existing and future data into a singular platform.

Implementation, Evaluation, and Sustainability 

New Hampshire is developing a Quality Indicator assessment tool utilizing data from numerous national and state 

data sources. The grantee team anticipates potential scalability of this tool to additional states and on a national level. 

Additionally, the state is moving from paper to electronic data collection to identify baseline data and assess future 

progress. 

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VIRGINIA

Living Well Grant Summary

Grant Leadership Team Overview

The Administration on Disabilities (AoD) awarded a Living Well 

grant to the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Partnership 

for People with Disabilities in 2017. 

Project Overview

Capacity Building 

In partnership with self-advocates and families, Virginia is implementing Leadership for Empowerment and Abuse 

Prevention (LEAP), a training on the topics of healthy and unhealthy relationships. The target groups include individuals 

with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), direct support professionals, providers, and families.

Virginia is also building relationships with family members. For example, the state is creating a partnership with 

Richmond Public Schools to start parent academies that provide resources to families. Virginia is exploring options 

to host meetings via social media to increase accessibility. Similarly, the Centers for Independent Livings (CILs) are 

developing question and answer resource sessions for parents and child advocates.

Data Collection, Dissemination, and Monitoring 

Virginia is taking steps to improve the critical incident reporting process by refining its platform tool and data 

collection. The disAbility Law Center is involved with community monitoring by conducting interviews with individuals 

with I/DD. They conducted 42 interviews, surpassing their previous goal of 25 interviews.

The state recently expanded their pilot of Discovering Me, an age-appropriate program that assists children transitioning 

out of school or foster care settings through the assessment of interests and skill development.

Moving forward, the state will increase their focus on supporting individuals with dual I/DD and mental health 

diagnoses. Virginia is sourcing data from public and private databases to understand better the issues at hand.

Implementation, Evaluation, and Sustainability

Virginia incorporated current state resources into their work to extend their reach and impact. The grantee team is also 

utilizing partnerships to ensure that other organizations will continue with initiatives created by the Living Well grant. 

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ALASKA

Living Well Grant Summary

Grant Leadership Team Overview

The Administration on Disabilities (AoD) awarded a Living Well 

grant to the Alaska Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special 

Education (DD Council) in 2018. 

More information is available here.

Project Overview

Capacity Building 

With the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development, the Alaska Senior & Disability Services, and 

self-advocates, Alaska is developing training modules for self-advocates. For example, the grantee is developing a selfadvocate-led, in-person summit on how individuals with I/DD can live meaningful lives in the community. The state 

continuously seeks feedback from self-advocates and their families on intended work plans and models. Alaska is also 

looking to pilot two new smartphone apps, one for Direct Support Professionals focused on hiring and being job ready, 

and one for individuals with disabilities and their supporters regarding implementation for supported decision-making 

agreements. 

Data Collection, Dissemination, and Monitoring 

Alaska’s key initiatives to improve health and safety include: (1) the Supported Decision Making Agreement 

Communication Pilot, which seeks to increase the accuracy of first person reporting with Adult Protective Services and 

serve as a model for other state agencies to their communication with individuals with I/DD; (2) the state Environmental 

Modification and Home Modifications for Aging in Place accessibility programs; (3) the services referral system, 

particularly for individuals with the highest numbers of incident reports due to critical behavior; and (4) monitoring 

community placements and investigating incidents of abuse and harm through increased partnerships, such as with 

Adult Protective Services.

Implementation, Evaluation, and Sustainability 

Alaska is partnering with the State Exchange on Employment and Disability to create a brief series targeted to 

policymakers highlighting best or promising practices in other states as well as a high level policy forum with members 

of legislature, commissioners, directors, and members from the Governor’s office.

The DD Council is also integrating Living Well project activities into the Shared DD Vision, a state-wide planning 

framework, to promote sustainability. The team is engaging the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, a state 

corporation that administers a trust to improve the lives of individuals with I/DD, as a potential future funder. 

Furthermore, Alaska is exploring options for website improvement in order to have a permanent location for trainings 

developed as part of the Living Well grant. 

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Grant Leadership Team Overview

The Administration on Disabilities (AoD) awarded a Living Well 

grant to the Center on Disabilities and Human Development 

(CDHD) in 2018. 

More information is available here.

Project Overview

Capacity Building 

CDHD and grant partners, the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) and DisAbility Rights Idaho 

aligned its grant activities with Community Now! (CNOW), an existing workgroup made up of self-advocates and 

family members. Both ICDD and CNOW are incorporating person-centered training and planning into statewide home 

and community-based services trainings. The first round of trainings reached 599 family members, self-advocates, and 

providers statewide. 

The state launched a Culturally Responsive Advisory Committee to provide outreach and services to the Spanishspeaking community with a focus on bi-culturalism.

Idaho researched direct support professional trainings, certifications, and skills in other states to replicate models that 

facilitate position recruitment and reduce turnover.

Data Collection, Dissemination, and Monitoring 

Self-advocates of the Quality Assurance Workgroup within the CNOW team are leading initiatives to prevent and 

quantify abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The state is currently researching the development of a statewide reporting 

model for critical incidents. Idaho aims to integrate data from Medicaid, identify gaps in the Adult Protective Services 

program, and make the process more person-friendly and accessible.

Idaho is also developing a registry for staff with substantiated complaints of abuse and neglect. 

Implementation, Evaluation, and Sustainability 

The Idaho Living Well team has administered a statewide experience survey in the state to measure training effectiveness 

and identify areas that require improvement. This data will be used to develop future trainings. Additionally, a trainthe-trainer protocol has been developed. The state anticipates the continuation of initiatives started through Living Well 

because of their collaboration with CNOW and other stakeholders.

IDAHO

Living Well Grant Summary

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INDIANA

Living Well Grant Summary

Grant Leadership Team Overview

The Administration on Disabilities (AoD) awarded a Living Well 

grant to the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration 

(FSSA) in 2018. 

Project Overview

Capacity Building 

The Indiana Living Well team is building on the assessment created by the Task Force for Assessment of Services and 

Supports for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (from Act 1102). The state is prioritizing the voices 

of self-advocates through the Self-Advocates of Indiana (SAI), a non-profit advocacy group, in all grant efforts.

The state created a direct support professional workgroup to revise curricula and create toolkits using the Charting the 

LifeCourse (CtLC) framework to achieve a person-centered approach.

Data Collection, Dissemination, and Monitoring 

Indiana is visioning and developing community monitoring strategies through the lens of the CtLC framework. The 

grantee team is exploring is the use of Tableau, a data visualization software, to view reporting data from agencies. Using 

Tableau, users can find and visualize specialized information by county, race/ethnicity, gender, and diagnosis. 

Implementation, Evaluation, and Sustainability 

Indiana FSSA is working with the Human Services Research Institute and the University of Missouri – Kansas City to 

redesign state intellectual and developmental disabilities waivers, case management processes, and documentation using 

the CtLC framework. Similarly, Indiana is using an empowerment-based evaluation as a participatory method of process 

evaluation. These approaches advance Indiana’s goal of improved, people-oriented, qualitative data and outcomes.

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Grant Leadership Team Overview

The Administration on Disabilities (AoD) awarded a Living Well 

grant to the University of Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human 

Development (UMKC–IHD) in 2018. 

Project Overview

Capacity Building

Missouri is building on their existing network of partners to inform their Living Well project work. The state is creating 

community feedback loops using podcasts and other innovative communication strategies that facilitate outreach to 

self-advocates and families. These products also serve as accessible resources for potential usage in trainings.

The UMKC-IHD is developing a victimization prevention toolkit through Missouri Developmental Disability Council 

funding, which the Living Well leadership group disseminates and uses for training.

Data Collection, Dissemination, and Monitoring

Missouri is working with project partners to brainstorm strategic indicators for risk, safety, and “living well” that will 

inform future project activities.

The leadership team plans to identify and collect data around quality of life that has not been formally built into 

National Core Indicators surveys. The team is currently focused on mapping current data collection methods to both 

understand what is being collected, better synthesize and utilize collected information, and identify potential gaps in 

data collection. This mapping is based on a set of indicators aligned with the Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) framework 

and developed with Living Well stakeholder feedback. The team is also piloting the use of electronic documentation 

systems within a pilot group of providers to develop and test person-level outcome indicators.With these data, Missouri 

plans to transition from long reports with technical research jargon to more usable and accessible formats.

Implementation, Evaluation, and Sustainability 

As the creator of the CtLC model, UMKC-IHD uses the CtLC framework and person-centered thinking as the 

organizing principles for their projects and to enhance data driven decision making at all project levels. The state also 

plans to build awareness and capacity of the Living Well Quality Outcomes through the development of short podcasts 

and videos, and the Living Well/CtLC Ambassador Series for System Transformation.

MISSOURI

Living Well Grant Summary

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WISCONSIN

Living Well Grant Summary

Grant Leadership Team Overview

The Administration on Disabilities (AoD) awarded a Living Well 

grant to the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental 

Disabilities (BPDD) in 2018. 

More information is available here. 

Project Overview

Capacity Building 

Wisconsin partnered with In Control Wisconsin and People First Wisconsin to develop self-advocacy trainings 

focused on safety and well-being. The team selected six pilot sites through a competitive request for proposals. Pilot 

organizations will work with mentor organizations and a coaching team to assess their strengths and needs, develop 

an action plan and implement an intervention package. The intervention package includes Personal Outcome Measure 

(POM) interviews and collaboration with family-based organizations to provide education and develop peer networks. 

Data Collection, Dissemination, and Monitoring

Wisconsin is meeting with agencies engaged in monitoring and critical incident reporting to understand current issues 

and system processes. The state is developing strategies to support a comprehensive community monitoring system 

utilizing National Core Indicators.

Looking forward, the state plans to produce standardized definitions surrounding abuse and neglect to use in training 

sessions with law enforcement and direct support professionals led by self-advocates.

Implementation, Evaluation, and Sustainability 

Wisconsin is working closely with the Council on Quality and Leadership to use the POM survey that measures 

achieved outcomes in 21 key life domains. Data gained from POM will measure the well-being of individuals with I/DD 

living inhome and community-based service settings and will inform a person-centered plan.

Wisconsin Living Well is also expanding BPDD’s Building Full Lives initiative, to develop high quality communitybased supports and incorporate them into the Living Well project pilot sites. Pilot site activities and consortium 

recommendations inform a multi-agency policy team that will develop and advocate for state and federal policy and 

practice recommendations. 

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