Past Special Projects

MAAA has participated in special projects in the past. Below are listed past initiatives and partnerships.

Return to current special projects.

Elder Refugee Initiative
Pam Zimmerman, Project Manager
Implementation of the Elder Refugee Project began in April, 2006. This initiative is a two-year grant project funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement and designed to increase effectiveness of the information, referral, and assistance systems for refugee elders, families, and service providers. Thus far, the project has focused on identifying unmet needs and trends within various communities including the Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Burmese. An advisory committee with representation from refugee elders, caregivers, and service providers will further guide project activities and advise on the development of a web-based tool kit which will contain Minnesota-specific information about services, rights, benefits, and community long-term care options available to refugee elders. Upcoming activities will include continued relationship building and information gathering via focus groups, participating in community outreach events to increase visibility of the project and service options among refugee populations, and encouraging collaboration and resource sharing to increase accessibility to mainstream services.

Encompass Project
The Encompass Project is a new model of health care for seniors in the east metro. Health services are coordinated and delivered through the clinic’s own staff in collaboration with a broad array of community service providers. Home and community-based services are coordinated by experienced care managers and by the community resource specialist (CRS) at the clinic, in close cooperation with the physicians. A CRS from MAAA is stationed at the clinic and works directly with senior patients and caregivers. MAAA is assisting in project development and implementation.

Golden Tracks (2006-2007)
The focus of the Golden Tracks project is to build on the foundation of the Aging & Disability Resource Center grant that Hennepin County received through the Minnesota Board on Aging. This grant is directed at providing people with information and tools to make informed choices about long-term care as well as streamlining access to resources and services. The information can be obtained in multiple ways: by telephone (Senior LinkAge Line®), online (www.MinnesotaHelp.info) (Off Site), in written form, and face-to-face.

Supporting Seniors Across Systems (2004-2005)
Leveraging the networks of health care professionals, area agencies on aging, counties, and faith-based organizations the Supporting Seniors project, funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Medica Foundation, worked to:

• Inventory parish nurse and faith-based services in a 23 county area.
• Create linkages between parish nurses, Living at Home Block Nurse programs, counties, area agencies on aging, social service providers and health care professionals through technology, referral tools, training and other venues.
• Conduct information exchanges, mentoring and training in key subjects such as risk management for faith-based services.
• Provide a virtual learning center for faith-based service development through the North Central Region Health Ministries Network (Off Site).
• Offer information about faith-based supports for seniors and caregivers utilizing MinnesotaHelp.info (Off Site).
• Demonstrate the effectiveness of parish nursing to reduce acute health care and long-term care costs.

Vital Aging Network Technical Administration & Coordination (2003-2006)
The Vital Aging Network (Off Site) is a network affiliated with the University of Minnesota’s College of Continuing Education. VAN works to promote the sharing of the strengths of individuals and organizations, which in turn promotes and supports the self-sufficiency, community participation, and quality of life of older adults. MAAA provides website administration, distributes monthly Bulletin and Forum notes, provides website planning and email and listserv administration as well as coordination of VAN business meetings and forums. MAAA partnered with VAN, Twin Cities Public Television and, Evercare to welcome Dr. Bill Thomas, founder of the Eden Alternative to speak at the February 2006 VAN Forum.