Spotlight on Innovations and Achievements: Seattle Human Services Department, Aging and Disability Services
We're proud to highlight the award-winning work of the 2021 winners of USAging's Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards in this monthly spotlight feature. Read about this AAA’s new approach that enables community-based agencies to determine how they will collectively deliver services.
This month, we are focusing on Seattle Human Services Department, Aging and Disability Services' Community Living Connections Collaborative Funding Process program. The agency was a 2021 Aging Innovations Award winner in the Agency Operations category. The 2021 AIA Awards were made possible thanks to the support of iN2L.
The Seattle Human Services Department, Aging and Disability Services’ (ADS) Community Living Connections offers a strong central access point via telephone and an integrated network of culturally and linguistically diverse community agencies that provide information and assistance, individual consultation, care coordination and family caregiver support services. With service gaps, no additional money to bring new providers on board and a need for an even stronger focus on meeting ADS’ racial equity goals, ADS devised the Collaborative Funding Process.
The Collaborative Funding Process is a new approach that enables community-based agencies to determine how they will collectively deliver services. Unlike a traditional funding process where the AAA or, in this agency’s case, a panel, makes funding recommendations, collaborative funding means agencies work together to decide funding allocations and service expectations. Over seven months, participating agencies met with a racial equity consultant as they identified funding and service delivery levels for each network provider agency.
The Collaborative Funding Process resulted in more than $3.7 million allocated across 19 provider contracts, five of which were added during the process, beginning in January 2020. Collaboration enabled network expansion to support new agencies serving LGBTQ+ individuals, South Asian older adults and African American caregivers. The network also has greater capacity to serve south King County residents, where needs are greatest.
For other great program ideas, check out the new 2021 AIA-winning programs: see the press release and read this year's book of winners! To read about past winners and find other best practices for your organization to consider, visit our Best Practices Clearinghouse page.
This month, we are focusing on Seattle Human Services Department, Aging and Disability Services' Community Living Connections Collaborative Funding Process program. The agency was a 2021 Aging Innovations Award winner in the Agency Operations category. The 2021 AIA Awards were made possible thanks to the support of iN2L.
The Seattle Human Services Department, Aging and Disability Services’ (ADS) Community Living Connections offers a strong central access point via telephone and an integrated network of culturally and linguistically diverse community agencies that provide information and assistance, individual consultation, care coordination and family caregiver support services. With service gaps, no additional money to bring new providers on board and a need for an even stronger focus on meeting ADS’ racial equity goals, ADS devised the Collaborative Funding Process.
The Collaborative Funding Process is a new approach that enables community-based agencies to determine how they will collectively deliver services. Unlike a traditional funding process where the AAA or, in this agency’s case, a panel, makes funding recommendations, collaborative funding means agencies work together to decide funding allocations and service expectations. Over seven months, participating agencies met with a racial equity consultant as they identified funding and service delivery levels for each network provider agency.
The Collaborative Funding Process resulted in more than $3.7 million allocated across 19 provider contracts, five of which were added during the process, beginning in January 2020. Collaboration enabled network expansion to support new agencies serving LGBTQ+ individuals, South Asian older adults and African American caregivers. The network also has greater capacity to serve south King County residents, where needs are greatest.
For other great program ideas, check out the new 2021 AIA-winning programs: see the press release and read this year's book of winners! To read about past winners and find other best practices for your organization to consider, visit our Best Practices Clearinghouse page.