Finding and Retaining Your Respite Worker Benefits of a Web-Based Registry Rewarding Work Resources, Inc WORK (9675) National Lifespan Respite ConferenceNovember 2011

Presenters Elenore Parker Elenore Parker President, Rewarding Work Resources President, Rewarding Work Resources Jeffrey A. Keilson Jeffrey A. Keilson Vice President, Rewarding Work Resources

Who is Rewarding Work? Non profit corporation founded in 2004 Non profit corporation founded in 2004 Created and manages the online matching services registry, RewardingWork.org Created and manages the online matching services registry, RewardingWork.org Currently operates in five states Currently operates in five states Created and manages the Massachusetts PCA Referral Directory Created and manages the Massachusetts PCA Referral Directory

Mission The mission of Rewarding Work Resources is to connect. We connect elders, people with disabilities, and their families to personal care assistants (PCAs), respite workers, and other direct care workers. And, we connect respite workers with employers.

Learning objectives How to: Use a web-based registry as a resource for caregivers to connect with respite and emergency workers Use a web-based registry as a resource for caregivers to connect with respite and emergency workers Develop partnerships to enhance the effectiveness of a web-based registry of respite and emergency workers Develop partnerships to enhance the effectiveness of a web-based registry of respite and emergency workers Use a web-based registry to collaborate across elder and disability communities Use a web-based registry to collaborate across elder and disability communities

The Situation Need for respite and emergency workers will continue to grow dramatically: Population aging: By 2050, 40 percent of people age 65 will survive to age 90 Population aging: By 2050, 40 percent of people age 65 will survive to age 90 More people living in communities of their choice More people living in communities of their choice The estimated need for direct support workers will grow by 60% in less than a decade The estimated need for direct support workers will grow by 60% in less than a decade

Significant shift in employment settings Facility settings

Finding qualified respite workers Traditional networks inadequate Family & Friends: Exhaustion Family & Friends: Exhaustion Private agencies: Expensive, inconsistent, and/or limited choice Private agencies: Expensive, inconsistent, and/or limited choice Advertise: Expensive, limited, time consuming Advertise: Expensive, limited, time consuming Rewarding Work: Excellent alternative! Rewarding Work: Excellent alternative!

Using a Web-based Registry

What is Rewarding Work? A Web-based self-directed registry A Web-based self-directed registry Assists people with disabilities, elders, and families in connecting with respite workers Assists people with disabilities, elders, and families in connecting with respite workers Access candidates where you live Access candidates where you live Comprehensive information about candidates Comprehensive information about candidates Resources and links to key information to assist caregivers Resources and links to key information to assist caregivers

Registry can be modified to suit needs of individual states State specific web site State specific web site States select application questions States select application questions States determine content for pages States determine content for pages State-specific outreach State-specific outreach

States design programs to suit specific needs Connecticut – Free for DDS consumers Connecticut – Free for DDS consumers Massachusetts – Free for Medicaid users Massachusetts – Free for Medicaid users New Jersey - Paid subscriptions for most New Jersey - Paid subscriptions for most Rhode Island – Free for Medicaid users Rhode Island – Free for Medicaid users Vermont – Free for all residents Vermont – Free for all residents

Rewarding Work adapts for users in specific region State consumers State consumers Private pay Private pay State agencies State agencies Private non-profit agencies Private non-profit agencies Others Others

What else? Connects to existing resources Connects to existing resources Means for collaborating across disability and elder communities Means for collaborating across disability and elder communities Call center available 24/7 Call center available 24/7 Outreach to existing and potential workers Outreach to existing and potential workers Extensive customer services to employers and workers Extensive customer services to employers and workers

Find someone who lives nearby Who has qualities you need: Lives near you Lives near you Interested in providing respite Interested in providing respite Has experience you are looking for Has experience you are looking for Available hours you need Available hours you need Has a driver’s license Has a driver’s license Has desired certifications Has desired certifications

How it Works! To ensure security everyone needs to register Register Register Log-in Log-in Applicant Search – Preliminary Applicant Search – Preliminary Applicant Search – Advanced Applicant Search – Advanced Save Search Criteria Save Search Criteria Sort Applicants Sort Applicants View Applicants View Applicants Contact Applicants Contact Applicants

View list of candidates on Applicant Search Enter your zip code Enter your zip code From pull-down menu, enter from 1 to 50 miles From pull-down menu, enter from 1 to 50 miles Select choices that match your needs, such as providing respite care or is available on an emergency basis Select choices that match your needs, such as providing respite care or is available on an emergency basis Click Search Now to view results Click Search Now to view results Most recent names are on top Most recent names are on top Candidates update applications to remain active Candidates update applications to remain active

Save your search Save your current search criteria Name your search to identify it Return later to view new candidates who match your criteria See your criteria at any time

Sort Results Change the “look” of your selection Change the “look” of your selection Check up to 3 columns, such as Tel number, Experience, and Certification Check up to 3 columns, such as Tel number, Experience, and Certification Click on Update Column Options Click on Update Column Options See quick overview of your choices See quick overview of your choices

View View candidate’s complete application View candidate’s complete application Contact people who meet your specific needs Contact people who meet your specific needs Contact by or phone Contact by or phone Read “Useful Tips” before hiring Read “Useful Tips” before hiring Call Toll-free WORK (9675) if you need additional help Call Toll-free WORK (9675) if you need additional help

Resources on Rewarding Work Instructions for use Instructions for use Helpful resources for each state Helpful resources for each state Tips for hiring staff Tips for hiring staff Information can be modified for specific respite use Information can be modified for specific respite use Consumers may post job openings Consumers may post job openings

Benefits of dynamic database Database updated daily Database updated daily New prospects added everyday New prospects added everyday Search by specific need Search by specific need ● Geography (zip code search) ● Interested in providing respite ● Experience and education ● Access to transportation

Developing Partnerships

Registry Consumers Government agencies Workers Private agencies FamiliesBusinessSchools Partnerships

Partners: consumers People with disabilities Elders Children Adults Families

Partners: schools Vocational High Schools Vocational High Schools Community Colleges Community Colleges Colleges Colleges Technical schools Technical schools

Partners: government agencies Medicaid Medicaid State Human Service Departments State Human Service Departments Elder Affairs Elder Affairs Local Departments Local Departments Housing Authorities Housing Authorities

Partners: private agencies Personal Care Management Agencies Personal Care Management Agencies Hospitals Hospitals Independent Living Centers Independent Living Centers Area Agencies on Aging (AAA)/Aging Service Access Points (ASAP) Area Agencies on Aging (AAA)/Aging Service Access Points (ASAP) Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) Human service providers Human service providers Other affiliated agencies Other affiliated agencies

Partners: businesses Banks Banks Foundations Foundations Corporations Corporations Chambers of Commerce Chambers of Commerce

Recruiting workers Word of mouth of workers Word of mouth of workers Families Families Website Website Online marketing Online marketing Brochures and posters Brochures and posters Agencies Agencies Training workers Training workers

Training workers Workers training workers Workers training workers Community colleges Community colleges Technical colleges Technical colleges College of Direct Support College of Direct Support State training programs State training programs Vocational high schools Vocational high schools

Collaboration across elder and disability communities Collaboration required to ensure success Collaboration required to ensure success Need to break down separate silos Need to break down separate silos Managing information enhances collaboration Managing information enhances collaboration

Collaboration: enhanced quality of life People with disabilities: get respite workers they need People with disabilities: get respite workers they need Elders: able to stay in their homes Elders: able to stay in their homes

Collaboration: supporting caregivers Easy access to respite worker Easy access to respite worker Effective system to identify and hire workers Effective system to identify and hire workers Caregivers get a break Caregivers get a break Loved ones can remain living at home Loved ones can remain living at home

Everybody wins State agencies: State agencies: ● Save money ● People stay in the community and avoid institutions Private agencies: Able to do their job better Private agencies: Able to do their job better Community: Wins Community: Wins

Review A web-based registry is a resource for caregivers to connect with respite and emergency workers A web-based registry is a resource for caregivers to connect with respite and emergency workers Partnerships enhance effectiveness of a web-based registry of respite workers Partnerships enhance effectiveness of a web-based registry of respite workers A web-based registry supports collaboration across elder and disability communities A web-based registry supports collaboration across elder and disability communities

Consumer testimonial “ Up until now my only resource was word of mouth or ads in newspapers which was time consuming. In just one week with I have interviewed four people, two of whom I hired. Thank you again. This Website is a lifesaver!” ---Family Member

The end result Families/caregivers can easily find quality respite and emergency workers.