Diverse Populations

Adult Day Programs

Programs that provide care and supervision in a protective setting for dependent adults living in the community during some portion of a 24-hour day. Services may include social and recreational activities, training that is essential for sustaining activities of daily living, hot meals, as appropriate and, if an adult day health care center, health and related services.

Adult Residential Treatment Facilities

Programs that provide a treatment-oriented living experience in a community-based facility for adults who have emotional disturbances and who, because of their disabilities, are unable to succeed in other placements, but who do not require inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. The service is geared to the specific needs of individual residents and their eventual return to the community as soon as their personal and social adjustment and development permit.

Advance Medical Directives

Programs that provide assistance for people who want to use the tools appropriate in their state to express their wishes regarding future medical treatment should they become incapacitated and/or to name the individual they would like to make health care decisions on their behalf. Included are programs that provide copies of necessary forms as well as those that help people complete them.

Aging and Disability Resource Centers

Programs that create a single, coordinated system of information and access for older adults and people with disabilities who are seeking long term support to minimize confusion, enhance individual choice, and support informed decision-making. ADRC centers serve as a single point of entry to public long term support programs and services. They offer information and counseling regarding available long term support options; assist individuals in determining their eligibility for public long term support programs and benefits including level of care determinations for Medicaid nursing facility and home and community-based service waiver programs; provide short-term case management to stabilize long term supports for individuals and their families in times of immediate need; help people plan for their future long term support needs; and provide information about and referral to other programs and benefits (such as health promotion and disease prevention, transportation services, housing and income support programs) that help people remain in the community.

Aging/Older Adult Support Groups

Mutual support groups whose members are individuals in the later years of their lives. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and allow participants to share their experience, strengths and hopes to solve the problems they have in common and to address the quality of life issues that affect them all.

Area Agencies on Aging

Substate organizations authorized under the Older Americans Act of 1965 to develop a comprehensive, coordinated system of community-based services for older adults within their planning and service area. State Units on Aging designate, provide federal and state funding, and monitor operations of AAAs. Eight states and the District of Columbia do not have AAAs and, therefore, serve the roles of both state and area agency. AAA's responsibilities include planning; development of local funding resources; and contracting with local service provider organizations to provide authorized services which include information and referral/assistance, outreach, case/care management, escort, transportation, homemaker/chore, personal care, home repair and rehabilitation, home delivered meals, congregate meals, adult day care, elder abuse prevention, nursing home ombudsman, legal assistance, employment and training, health promotion and disease prevention and senior centers as well as services that support caregivers including respite care, counseling and education programs. AAAs may provide a number of other services in situations where local service provider options are limited.

Assistive Technology Information

Programs that provide information about cognitive/learning aids, control and signaling aids, daily living aids, hearing augmentation aids, mobility aids, prosthetic/orthotic/seating devices, recreational aids, speech aids, and/or visual/reading aids which enables potential users to evaluate their alternatives and make informed choices.

Directory Assistance

Programs that provide access to residential and business telephone numbers. Included are 411 services and organizations that provide information about residential and business names, addresses and telephone numbers via an Internet website or another information channel.

Disability Related Center Based Employment

Programs that provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to learn and practice work skills in a separate and supported environment. Participants may be involved in the program on a transitional or ongoing basis, and are paid for their work, generally under a piecework arrangement. The nature of the work and the types of disabilities represented in the workforce vary widely by program and by the area in which the organization is located. Individuals participate in center-based employment for a variety of reasons including severity of disability, need for additional training or experience, need for a protected environment and/or lack of availability of community-based employment.

Disability Related Transportation

Programs that provide door-to-door (or curb-to-curb) transportation for purposes of shopping, banking, social events, medical appointments, getting to and from work, and similar activities for people with disabilities who need special accommodations and are unable to utilize other available means of transportation. Also included are programs that provide transportation for youngsters with disabilities who have no other means of accessing necessary specialized services and activities. Some but not all vehicles used for this purpose are equipped with wheelchair lifts.

Disability Rights Groups

Organizations that support the passage and enforcement of laws or other social measures that protect the rights of people who have physical, mental, developmental or learning disabilities and maximize their ability to enjoy the same opportunities, resources and privileges as the mainstream population.

Disease/Disability Information

Programs that provide information about the causes and origins, preventive measures, symptoms, screening/diagnostic procedures, and/or methods of treatment or management including the latest research for specific illnesses or disabling conditions.

Early Intervention for Children With Disabilities/Delays

Programs that identify infants, toddlers and in some cases, preschoolers who show evidence of or are at risk for lags in physical development, cognitive development, language and speech development, psychosocial development or self-help skills, and provide or coordinate the delivery of an enrichment program in order to minimize the potential for a developmental delay and to meet their current developmental needs. The program may include early identification activities (child find); a developmental evaluation; a review of family concerns, priorities and resources; meetings with the family to develop an individualized family service plan; service coordination to ensure that the individual and his or her family receive needed services which may include but are not limited to physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, health/medical services, nursing services, nutrition services, psychological services including specialized play groups or therapy sessions, counseling, speech and language assistance, special instructional services, transportation, and parenting skills development; and ongoing evaluation of the child's progress and his or her changing enrichment needs. Included are "birth to three" programs and federal, state or local programs that address the needs of slightly older children or children not otherwise eligible for "birth to three" programs.

Elder Abuse Prevention

Programs that attempt to reduce the incidence of financial, emotional, physical and sexual abuse or intimidation of elderly people and dependent adults by members of their families or other caregivers through a variety of educational interventions which are aimed at the likely victims of abuse, potential perpetrators, people who work with families and/or the community at large.

Elder Abuse Support Groups

Mutual support groups whose members are older adults or younger dependent adults who have experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse or intimidation, unreasonable physical restraint, financial abuse or prolonged deprivation of food and water by their caregivers, children, grandchildren or other individuals who are sharing their homes or are responsible for their care in a residential/nursing facility. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and provide emotional support, information and resources to help participants recover from their experience.

Elder Law

Programs that provide information and guidance for individuals who need assistance in the area of law which relates to the rights and needs of older adults, especially in the areas of age discrimination, consumer fraud, estate planning and management, living trusts, trust administration, probate, property law, retirement planning, pension benefits, Social Security benefits, Medicaid and Medicare, disability planning, long-term care alternatives, health care decisions, elder abuse, guardianships and conservatorships.

Geriatric Assessment

Programs, generally staffed by an interdisciplinary team comprising a geriatrician, a nurse, a social worker and a pharmacist, that evaluate the functional ability, physical health, cognitive and mental health and socioenvironmental situation of older adults, particular those who are frail or chronically ill, to identify health-related problems, develop plans for treatment and follow-up, coordinate care, determine the need for long-term care, and ensure the optimal use of health care resources. Beneficial outcomes may include greater diagnostic accuracy, improved functional and mental status, reduced mortality, decreased use of nursing facilities and acute care hospitals and increased satisfaction with care.

Geriatric Counseling

Programs that provide emotional support, information and guidance in a variety of settings for older adults who are having mental, emotional or social adjustment problems that have arisen as a result of the process of aging. Geriatric counseling services are provided primarily by social services professionals including licensed social workers rather that psychiatrists or other medical personnel.

Geriatric Dentistry

Programs that specialize in providing care for the teeth and associated structures in the oral cavities of frail and/or medically compromised older adults who may have conditions such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, hypertension and diabetes.

Home/Community Based Developmental Disabilities Programs

Programs for individuals with developmental disabilities that focus on enabling the individual to attain his or her maximum functional level and which may serve to reinforce skills or lessons taught in school, therapy or other settings. Services may be provided in the individual's home or outside the home in community-based settings.

Hospice Care

Programs that provide a full range of supportive services for terminally ill individuals who are in the final stages of their illnesses and for their families. Services may include medical care, pain and symptom management, home nurse visitation, case management, emotional and spiritual support, and bereavement services for the patient and members of the family. Hospice care may be provided at home, in a freestanding hospice facility, a hospice unit of a hospital or in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes. In order to qualify for Medicaid or Medicare reimbursement, an individual must have a life threatening illness and must be certified by their physician to have entered the last six months of life.

Older Adult/Disability Related Supportive Housing

Residential facilities for older adults and/or people with disabilities who are unable to function in an independent living environment because they need assistance with toileting, bathing, dressing, medication management and administration, meals and housekeeping and other activities of daily living, but do not require nursing care on a regular basis. Living options range from state institutions for individuals with the most severe disabilities who require intensive services to settings that enable individuals with disabilities to live with their own families or in their own homes or apartments with supportive services from community-based supported living providers. Alternatives in between include health care facilities for people with a primary need for developmental services in combination with an intermittent need for skilled nursing care; community care facilities (residential care homes or group homes) for people who require varying levels of supervision and assistance in the activities of daily living; assisted living facilities; continuing care retirement communities; life care communities; foster family placements for adults who will benefit from interaction in a family environment; and semi-independent living facilities for individuals with disabilities who need minimal levels of support to live and work in the community. Some of these facilities are licensed by the state.

Pain Management

Multidisciplinary programs that specialize in the treatment of individuals who have chronic, severe pain of organic origin that has not responded to medical or surgical therapy. Treatment is individualized and may include occupational therapy, muscle relaxation, behavior modification, stress management, biofeedback, psychological and psychosocial counseling, nutrition counseling, food allergy testing, exercise programs and a variety of physical intervention techniques including electrical stimulation of selected peripheral nerves and laser biostimulation.

Property Tax Payment Assistance

Programs that provide financial assistance to enable people to pay all or a portion of their property taxes with the objective of preventing them from becoming homeless. Property tax payment assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.

Reading Services for People with Disabilities

Programs that provide people with visual impairments or other disabilities that limit their ability to read print material with access to recorded tapes, readings from current popular publications or a volunteer who reads for them. Included are radio reading services which offer programming that features highlights from national newspapers, articles from periodicals, or novels and other special interest reading material; telephone reading services which provide access to prerecorded material via touch-tone telephone; and programs that arrange for a call or visit by a volunteer reader.

Residential Placement Services for People with Disabilities

Programs that maintain information about residential living options for people with disabilities including group homes, foster care, intermediate care, or semi-independent living residences, and link people who are looking for alternative living options with appropriate residential facilities.

Respite Care Registries

Programs that maintain lists of individuals or organizations which provide respite care services and link individuals or families who are in need of this service with appropriate resources.

Respite Care Subsidies

Programs that cover all or a portion of the cost of respite care in the home or in community settings/facilities in situations where family members, guardians or others who are the regular caregivers for dependent adults or children with disabilities need a brief period of rest or relief from their care giving responsibilities. Families generally select their own provider, negotiate their own rates and set their own schedules.

Senior Advocacy Groups

Organizations that support the passage and enforcement of laws and other social measures that protect and promote the rights and interests of older adults.

Senior Centers

Multipurpose centers that serve as focal points for older adults in the community and which offer, at a single location, a wide variety of services and activities that are needed by and of interest to this population.

Senior Community Service Employment Programs

Programs funded under Title V of the Older Americans Act (OAA) and administered by the U.S. Department of Labor whose purpose is to develop workforce skills in unemployed, low-income older adults age 55 and older with poor employment prospects. Program participants are assigned to paid community service placements with a non-profit organization or governmental entity for purposes of training and acquisition or improvement of skills that may lead to unsubsidized employment or a job that is not subsidized by the program. In collaboration with the participant, the program must develop an Individual Employment Plan, which outlines steps for achieving goals as determined through personal interviews and assessment instruments. Participants may be offered supportive services such as transportation, counseling, work equipment and other items to assist them in participating in the SCSEP and preparing them for a permanent job.

Senior Housing Information and Referral

Programs that maintain information about retirement residences, residential care facilities and nursing homes, and link older adults who are looking for alternative living options with appropriate independent or supervised living resources.

Senior Ride Programs

Programs that provide door-to-door (or curb-to-curb) transportation for purposes of medical appointments, shopping, banking, social events, and other similar activities for older adults who need special accommodations and are unable to utilize other available means of transportation.

Service Animal Purchase Assistance

Programs that provide financial assistance to help people with disabilities obtain a dog guide, autism service animal, mobility assistance service animal, psychiatric service dog, seizure dog, signal dog or other type of animal who has been trained to provide specific forms of support. The assistance may help cover the purchase and transport of the animal, transportation for the new owner to travel for required training sessions (with a guardian or caregiver if necessary), as well as necessary accessories such as backpacks and harnesses.

Service Animals

Programs that provide and train recipients in the use of animals who have been taught to help individuals who have disabilities increase their mobility and independence and/or maximize their ability to communicate effectively.

Student Disability Services

Programs that provide special assistance and accommodations that support the ability of students with visual, hearing, physical, emotional, learning or other disabilities to achieve their academic goals and participate in, contribute to and benefit from the institution's programs, services and activities.

Transition Services for Students with Disabilities

Programs that provide support for children with disabilities who are moving from one kind of program setting or service provision system to another. The common transition points include transitions from health services to education or vice versa, from preschool to kindergarten, from elementary school to middle school, from secondary school to adult life and from more restrictive to less restrictive settings.

English as a Second Language

Programs that offer opportunities for non-English-speaking and limited-English-speaking adults to learn listening, speaking, reading and writing skills with an emphasis on developing the level of communication competence that is essential for adults who are living in a setting in which English is the primary language. Also included are programs that provide English language instruction for younger people.

Ethnic Advocacy Groups

Organizations that support the passage and enforcement of laws and other social measures that protect and promote the rights and interests of one or more specific ethnic groups.

Immigrant Rights Groups

Organizations that support the passage and enforcement of laws and other social measures which protect the rights and interests of individuals who have newly arrived in the country or which govern the process by which individuals and families are granted permission to immigrate.

Immigrant/Refugee Employment Programs

Programs that provide comprehensive support services for immigrants and refugees who need assistance to prepare for, find and retain paid employment. Services may include vocational assessment, job search assistance, professional mentoring programs and other levels of initial and ongoing support. The emphasis is on preparing individuals for the expectations of employment in a new country and in particular, to obtain recognition for professional experience secured in another country and to obtain initial work experience in their new country.

Immigration/Naturalization Adjudication Offices

Organizations that administer the immigration and naturalization laws which relate to the admission of aliens, adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence, extension or change of nonimmigrant status, removal of aliens and naturalization of non-citizens; which provide information and guidance for people who want to permission to enter the United States; and/or which help interested parties become naturalized U.S. citizens.

Immigration/Naturalization Legal Services

Programs that provide legal assistance for immigrants, nonimmigrant visa applicants, asylum seekers and lawful permanent residents who are seeking naturalization. Services are generally provided by nonprofit immigration law offices and may involve information and consultation about benefits under immigration law including procedures for obtaining student, visitor and employment-based visas; family immigration; asylee status; lawful permanent residence status; or citizenship.

Language Interpretation

Programs that offer the services of trained bilingual individuals who are usually proficient in English and one or more foreign languages to help people whose command of English is inadequate to communicate their needs.

Language Translation

Programs that offer the services of bilingual individuals who have reading and writing proficiency in the second language to transfer documents written in the second language into English or vice versa or to explain the meaning of documents written in English to people whose reading proficiency in English is inadequate, using that person's native language.

Refugee Resettlement Services

Government-appointed nonprofit organizations, frequently associated with the faith community, that provide resettlement services through a network of local affiliates for refugee populations designated by the U.S. Department of State. These organizations take the lead in helping newly arrived refugees or refugee families make an adjustment to their new home and community. Services provided by local affiliates may include reception for arriving refugees; provision of a "welcome kit" of immediate necessities; periodic visits with the family during the early days of their transition; collection and provision of household goods; cultural orientation and ESL classes; and assistance in locating housing and employment, using public transportation and identifying other needed services.

Identification Cards

Programs that issue documentation that is designed to prove the identity of the person carrying it.

Sexual Orientation Counseling

Programs that provide emotional support, information and guidance for people who want to explore their sexual orientation in order to enable them to identify and feel comfortable with their orientation. Counseling and support may be offered in a variety of settings which may include individual and group counseling sessions and, if appropriate, conjoint and family counseling sessions with significant others.

Criminal Record Expungement Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for people who want to submit a petition requesting that the court order the official and formal sealing or erasure of records related to a particular criminal case maintained by police agencies at all levels, the prosecuting attorney's office, the office of the clerk of the court and/or agencies that are part of the criminal correctional system. Most jurisdictions have laws that permit, even mandate, the sealing or expungement of juvenile records as well as statutes that relate to adult records and the conditions under which they may be cleared.

Ex-Offender Employment Programs

Programs that provide comprehensive support services for ex-offenders who need assistance preparing for, finding and retaining paid employment. Services may include vocational assessment; guidance relating to resume preparation, job application letters and questionnaires, interview techniques, appropriate dress and personal-social behaviors that will allow them to get along with employers and co-workers on the job; job skills development support; job placement assistance; limited periods of subsidized employment, where necessary; and/or on-the-job support, as required, by a personal case manager who may visit the individual while at work, meet with the person's supervisor and/or co-workers and provide whatever assistance the ex-offender needs to meet the challenges of entering the workforce and retain his or her position.

Ex-Offender Halfway Houses

Community-based programs that provide congregate living arrangements and a wide variety of counseling and supportive services for ex-offenders who recently have been released from a correctional facility but who require a gradual transition from that highly structured and supervised way of a life to a relatively free and normal existence in the community.

Ex-Offender Reentry Programs

Programs that help people who have been released from a correctional facility make a successful transition to community life. Services generally include an assessment of the individual's needs, discussion of options and short-term case management involving coordination of needed services which may include housing location assistance, job training, job placement and retention services, legal assistance, literacy skills development, GED courses, parenting classes, life skills training, access to food and shelter resources, and other sources of support.

Offender/Ex-Offender Support Groups

Mutual support groups whose members are people who have been incarcerated in a correctional facility and are seeking support for their return to the community and their ability to remain crime-free. The groups allow participants to share their experience, strengths and hopes; discuss strategies for avoiding substance abuse, gang involvement, or other criminal activity; and pursue a commitment to going back to school, finding and retaining a job and mending partner and family relationships. Meeting formats may include in-person, telephone or Internet options.

Parole

Programs that provide for the formal supervision of people who have been conditionally released from jail, prison or other confinement after serving part of the term for which they were sentenced based on the judgment of a parole board that there is a reasonable probability that they will live and remain at liberty without violating the law. People who are on parole remain in the legal custody of the state and may be reincarcerated if they violate the terms of their parole order.

Prisoner Locator Services

Programs that provide assistance for people who want to identify the correctional facility in which a particular offender is incarcerated.

Probation

Programs that provide for the formal supervision of individuals who have been convicted of a crime, usually a lesser offense, and given a suspended sentence which releases them into the community under specific conditions which may include a reduced term in a correctional facility, fines, restitution to the victim, community work, counseling, "good conduct" and other stipulations.

Will Preparation Assistance

Programs that provide assistance on an individual or group basis for people who want to draft a Last Will and Testament which leaves instructions for the disposition of their property following their death and need assistance in ensuring that the document is properly written. Also included are programs that provide copies of the Last Will and Testament form that is valid in their jurisdiction.

Case/Care Management * Veterans

Programs that develop plans for the evaluation, treatment and/or care of individuals who, because of age, illness, disability or other difficulties, need assistance in planning and arranging for services; which assess the individual's needs; coordinate the delivery of needed services; ensure that services are obtained in accordance with the case plan; and follow up and monitor progress to ensure that services are having a beneficial impact on the individual. Case management is a collaborative process characterized by communication, advocacy and resource management to promote high quality, cost-effective interventions and outcomes. These services focus especially on individuals who are former members of one of the branches of the armed forces and who, by length and type of services, honorable discharge or release or degree of disability, qualify for the benefits and privileges that are provided by law for ex-servicemen and women.

Military Family Service/Support Centers

Programs located at military installations throughout the world that handle inquiries from military personnel, retirees, reservists and their family members, do an assessment of their needs and refer them to sources of help available at the installation or in the local community. The centers may provide relocation assistance, transition assistance, family life programs (e.g., parenting, stress management), individual and family counseling, employment assistance, and financial management services as well as emergency assistance.

Military Family Support Groups

Mutual support groups whose members are the spouses, children, parents, other relatives, boyfriends, girlfriends or friends of active duty military personnel who have needs, issues and problems that relate to the stresses of military life. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; help participants prepare for military mobilization or deployment; and allow them to share their experience, strengths and hopes to solve the problems they have in common and to address the quality of life issues that affect them all.

Military Records

Programs that maintain and, where appropriate, provide copies of documents which relate to an individual's association with any of the branches of the armed forces including the person’s current active military status and discharge, if appropriate. Also included are programs that are responsible for investigating and correcting errors in the records of individuals who have served in the armed forces.

Military Transition Assistance Programs

Programs that provide guidance and information regarding benefits, services and outplacement assistance for active duty separtees and retirees and their family members returning to civilian life with the objective of making the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible. Services may include benefits counseling, employment search and placement assistance, relocation services, financial planning assistance, eligibility information regarding medical and dental insurance coverage and other forms of assistance to facilitate adjustment to civilian life. Special employment transition assistance includes certification of job skills and experience; information about applying active duty job skills and experience to private sector employment; information about geographic areas of relocation including the labor market and cost of living; identification and location of employment and training opportunities; instruction in resume preparation, job analysis and interview techniques; and information about loans and grants to facilitate acquisition of employment. Also included are programs that help National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated for deployment resolve issues pertaining to duty requirements and employment benefits.

Veteran Employment Programs

Programs that provide resume preparation assistance, career counseling, vocational assessment, job development, job training, job search, job placement and/or other services for unemployed veterans who need assistance re-entering the workforce. Programs for homeless veterans may also provide supportive services such as clothing; access to temporary, transitional and permanent housing; referrals for medical and substance abuse treatment; and transportation assistance. Veteran employment programs may be configured for recently separated veterans, homeless veterans, veterans with service-connected disabilities and other special populations or may be broadly available to veterans in general.

Veteran Homes

Programs that provide care on an ambulatory self-care basis for veterans who are limited by age or illness and are not in need of acute hospitalization or skilled nursing services in situations where care in a home setting is either not available or unsuitable.

Veteran Outpatient Clinics

Outpatient medical facilities operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that provide routine primary medical care for eligible veterans. Services generally include x-rays, general health check ups, blood pressure checks, treatment for basic illnesses and laboratory tests.

Veteran Reintegration Counseling

Programs that provide emotional support, information and guidance for veterans who have emotional problems including post traumatic stress disorder relating to experiences in the service, or who are having other difficulties adjusting to their civilian status.

Veteran Support Groups

Mutual support groups whose members were previously affiliated with one of the branches of the armed forces, their families and friends. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; may focus on former prisoners of war, veterans of specific wars, e.g., the Gulf War, women who are veterans or other specific veteran populations; and allow participants to share their experience, strengths and hopes and put their lives back together if they have been troubled by homelessness, disability, substance abuse, depression or other issues related to their service to the country.

Veteran/Military Health Insurance

Programs administered by the Department of Defense (DoD) Health Affairs Office or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that provide health benefits coverage for eligible military personnel, eligible veterans and eligible dependents.

Veteran/Military Hotlines

Programs that provide confidential assistance for military personnel and veterans who are emotionally distressed with the objective of defusing the crisis, ensuring the person's safety and helping the person to take the next immediate steps toward resolving the problem. Trained staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text. Most military/veteran hotlines are also available to family members who are concerned about a loved one.

Indian Health Service Clinics

Health centers, health stations and other outpatient facilities operated by the Indian Health Service that provide ambulatory medical care, preventive and outpatient rehabilitation services for members of federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes.

Native American General Assistance

Programs administered by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs or state or local entities that provide financial assistance and a variety of social services to meet the basic needs of eligible American Indians living on or near reservations or in other urban or rural settings.