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Palo Alto, CA, October 6, 2020— The WITH Foundation is pleased to announce that $246,500 will be awarded to four organizations as a result of our previous open cycle. These grants will fund a variety of programs that promote comprehensive and accessible healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities.

“It is a privilege to support these efforts as they work to enhance healthcare delivery models, increase the understanding of supported decision-making, and address critical issues for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” said Ryan Easterly, Executive Director of the WITH Foundation.

The following projects were selected for funding:

National Center for Children in Poverty, Bank Street College of Education New York, NY

The proposed project, Improving Oral Health and Oral Health Care for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in New Jersey will identify and overcome barriers to high quality healthcare access by addressing inadequate Medicaid coverage and improving care coordination. The National Center for Children in Poverty will implement key elements of the statewide Oral Health Plan, developed for the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities , that aims to improve oral health/health care for adults with DD in New Jersey. The high-impact elements of the plan include improving NJ’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations’ coverage of oral health care and care management and improving the transition from pediatric to general dentistry.

The Arc of the United States Washington DC

Building on previous work funded by WITH, The Arc of the United States and the Board Resource Center will expand the impact and mission of the Talk About Sexual Violence project during this 3-year grant by applying a supported-decision making lens to previous and new project materials so health care professionals can have open, plain-language conversations with patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) when addressing sexual violence. The ultimate goal is to work within the healthcare system to create replicable tools and sustainable strategies to address sexual violence in the state of California and nationwide.

Community Catalyst Boston MA.

The Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation at Community Catalyst, will produce two videos for their series Re-envisioning Care for People with Disabilities. Targeted at clinicians and health system leaders, the series introduces a person-centered model of care built on the values of independent living. The videos will focus on the needs of people with IDD. The project will partner with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). The videos will focus on empowering people to make health care decisions based on their priorities and will address health needs during COVID-19 as well as other topics. Video content will be developed with input from people with IDD, advocates, researchers and experienced clinicians.

University of Alaska Center for Human Development  Anchorage, AK. 

The project Partners in Health (PIH) will improve healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by providing inclusive, in-person, or online PIH training for healthcare providers, self-advocates, and family members/caregivers. Self-advocate will co-facilitate trainings for providers aimed to increase understanding of patients with IDD, increase best practice communication strategies and include supported decision making in the patient/provider relationship. Self-advocate/family trainings will also aim to increase participation in their healthcare appointments and self-advocacy. The project will build Inclusive bridges between providers and empowered self-advocates and their families.

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WITH Foundation promotes comprehensive and accessible healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities.

withfoundation.org 

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Press Contact:  Laura Shumaker

Director of Communications, WITH

communications@withfoundation.org