News
Spotlight on Innovations and Achievements: Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging
- By: USAging
- On: 07/16/2021 09:39:22
- In: Hot Topics in Aging
Learn how this agency led a quarterly meeting comprised of aging and behavioral health professionals whose focus is to break down the “silos” of multiple agencies working with individuals who have co-occurring medical and behavioral health issues.
We're proud to highlight the award-winning work of the 2020 winners of n4a's Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards in this weekly spotlight feature. This week, we are focusing on Three Rivers Aging and Behavioral Health Collaborative. The agency was a 2020 Aging Achievement Award winner in the Healthy Aging category. The 2020 AIA Awards were made possible thanks to the support of Centene.
The Three Rivers Aging and Behavioral Health Collaborative is a quarterly meeting comprised of aging and behavioral health professionals interested in breaking down the “silos” of multiple agencies working with individuals who have co-occurring medical and behavioral health issues. The meeting focuses on staffing difficult case management issues, providing useful information on community resources and offering social networking opportunities. The collaborative's training on aging and mental health issues helps direct care providers better serve their clients.
Recent successes include the certification of 20 Area Agency on Aging staff in Mental Health First Aid, training for two behavioral health community service boards on how to reduce prescription costs for their clients using a Medicare low-income subsidy, and placement of two individuals who had previously been unable to locate housing due to chronic mental health issues in personal care homes.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the AAA met virtually on Zoom but continued with the same agenda format that was used when meeting in-person. The AAA also shared COVID-19 resource information to benefit the clients served.
Interested in learning how your agency can replicate this program in your community? Contact Brian Bruggeman, bbruggeman@threeriversrc.com.
For more information about the 2020 winners, see the press release and read the book of winners! To read about past winners and find other best practices for your agency to consider, visit our Best Practices Clearinghouse page.