Community Human Services (CHS) with University of Pittsburgh Departments and Schools
Enhanced In-Home Specialist Program

Description:  The proposal is a collaboration between CHS and University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Family Medicine, Graduate School of Public Health/Behavioral & Community Health Sciences, and the Schools of Social Work and Nursing.  The partners integrate a continuum of services and resources to better serve homebound adults with mental and/or physical disabilities in their homes.  The program includes enhanced in-home specialist training, participant education related to managing chronic health problems, engaging participants in self advocacy, a peer support component that engages and connects participants to the community, and evaluation of the program model.  Without the program, participants likely would experience increased use of emergency services and institutionalization.  United Way funding will allow the agency to assist clients who are above the 125% and below 250% of poverty level, provide the full array of services, and evaluate the program rigorously to establish replicability.

The Program Serves a Population with Great Needs:  Adults ages 18-59 with disabilities who are homebound and in need of enhanced supports to remain safely in the community and maximize overall quality of life and social integration will be served by the program.  Of current participants, 95% have physical disabilities and a mental health diagnosis, and all are at 125% or below the Federal Poverty Guideline.  They reside in Beltzhoover/Knoxville/Mt. Oliver (15210), Oakland (15213), East Liberty/Morningside (15206), Hill District/Uptown (15219), Hazelwood/Greenfield/Glen Hazel (15207), Downtown/Strip District (15222), Bloomfield/Friendship (15224), Southside (15203), and Lawrenceville/Stanton Heights (15201).

The Program Achieves Measurable Results:  FY 2009-10, only 1 of 104 participants was moved from a community setting to an institutional placement.

The Program Applies a Sound Approach:  Theprogram has been proven to save an estimated $1.48 to $4.37 for every dollar spent on alternative care options.  The program also helps to increase the capacity of direct care workers to provide high quality care.

Alignment with Preferred Outcomes and Likelihood of Community Change:

• Remain safely in home/least restrictive community setting (90 of 100, or 90%)
• Adequate/improved nutritional, health, and/or functional status (90 of 100, or 90%)
• Necessary safety checks, home modifications, immunizations, and preventative health screenings (90 of 100, or 90%)

Community Outcomes:  The partners indicate they are committed to developing a program model that is replicable and can institute long-lasting system-wide transformation that will improve quality of life for homebound adults with disabilities.  Additionally, individuals in need of the services often are not engaged in program design or evaluation; this project builds self advocacy and systemic engagement into the services provided.