Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Workforce Competencies Project Update to Options Counseling Standards Grantees July 12, 2011

Long-Term Services and Supports Workforce Competencies Project: Workplan through June 30, 2011 Environmental Scan, Literature Review, and Website Review Stakeholder Engagement Competency Model for Options Counselors Competency Assessment Instrument Concept Training Resource Guide Concept Revised LTSS Workforce Competency Model 2

Department of Labor Long-Term Supports and Services Competency Model The Participant Direction Competency Model builds on the Department of Labor Long-Term Supports and Services Competency Model (LTSS-CM [Figure 1]). The LTSS-CM consists of a set of nine tiers of work force competencies. The nine tiers are divided into blocks representing the skills, knowledge and abilities considered essential for successful job related performance. The tiers include: Tier 9: Management Competencies: These competencies domain are specific to supervisory and managerial occupations. Tier 8: Occupation-Specific Requirements: This domain includes requirements such as certification, licensure, and specialized educational degrees, or physical and training requirements. Tier 7: Occupation-Specific Technical Competencies: The detailed skills required for work in a specific occupation. Tier 6: Occupation-Specific Knowledge Competencies: The detailed knowledge areas required for work in a specific occupation. Tier 5: Industry-Specific Technical Competencies: Competencies included in this domain represent the knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics needed by all occupations within an industry segment (e.g. AAAs, ADRCs). Tier 4: Industry-Wide Technical Competencies: Competencies included in this domain represent the knowledge, skills and abilities needed by all occupations within an industry (e.g. LTSS). Tier 3: Workplace Competencies: Competencies included in this domain represent those skills and abilities that allow individuals to function in an organizational setting. As with the Academic Competencies, these are generally applicable to a large number of occupations and industries on a national level. Tier 2: Basic Education Competencies: Basic academic skills of reading, writing, etc apply to all organizations represented by a single industry or industry association nationwide. Tier 1: Personal Effectiveness Competencies: These competencies are the base tier because they are essential for all life roles not exclusive to the competencies needed for a successful career or role in the workplace. Figure 1: Long-Term Supports and Services Competency Model 3

Options Counseling Grantees Work Group Feedback Received 50 comments on Tiers 6-7  Added domain label “Decisions Support”  Extensive revisions to Tiers 6-7 Received 86 responses to our five general questions 4

Tiers 6 and 7: Knowledge and Skill Competency Domains for Options Counselors 5 Decision Support Person- Centered Planning Cultural Competency Communication Participant Direction Quality Cultural Competency Able to assess the meaning culture has for individual Able to discuss cultural difference and issues openly. Able to respond to culturally-based cues Tier 7: Skill Competencies Cultural Competency Knowledge of how dimensions of diversity may influence participant’s health beliefs, health literacy, health care seeking behaviors Knowledge of influence of dimensions of diversity may influence participant’s communication styles, (verbal and non verbal) Knowledge of influence of dimensions of diversity may influence participant’s familial relationships, social organization, and help seeking behavior Tier 6: Knowledge Competencies

Training Resource Guide 6 Cultural Competency: The ability of individuals and systems to respond respectfully and effectively to individuals, families and communities of all diverse backgrounds in a manner that protects and preserves their dignity and recognizes, affirms, and values differences, similarities and worth. Tier 6 CompetencySuggested ResourcesSee Also Knowledge of how dimensions of diversity may influence participant’s health beliefs, health literacy, health care seeking behaviors TRAINING: National Center for Cultural Competence ( curricula enhancement series focuses on: o Cultural Awareness o Cultural Self-Assessment o Process of Inquiry—communicating in multicultural environment The curricula enhancement module series is designed to: o Assist faculty in incorporating four key content areas into existing curricula that are important to cultural and linguistic competence in public health o Provide a set of defined areas of knowledge, skills, and awareness related to each core content area o Offer relevant materials, articles, publications, and other multimedia resources for each core content area o Provide faculty with instructional and self- discovery strategies Tier 5 Cultural Competency Tier 4 Cultural Competency Tier 3 Cultural Awareness Tier 2 Cultural Knowledge Tier 1 Cultural Sensitivity

Training Resource Guide 7 Cultural Competency: The ability of individuals and systems to respond respectfully and effectively to individuals, families and communities of all diverse backgrounds in a manner that protects and preserves their dignity and recognizes, affirms, and values differences, similarities and worth. Tier 6 CompetencySuggested ResourcesSee Also Knowledge of influence of dimensions of diversity may influence participant’s communication styles, (verbal and non verbal) GUIDEBOOK: Simply Put: A Guide for Creating Easy- to-Understand Materials, Available at: 0.pdf TRAINING: Unified Health Communication (UHC): Addressing Health Literacy, Cultural Competency, and Limited English Proficiency (Free five one-hour modules offering continuing education credits). For more information go to Tier 5 Cultural Competency Tier 4 Cultural Competency Tier 3 Cultural Awareness Tier 2 Cultural Knowledge Tier 1 Cultural Sensitivity

Training Resource Guide 8 Cultural Competency: The ability of individuals and systems to respond respectfully and effectively to individuals, families and communities of all diverse backgrounds in a manner that protects and preserves their dignity and recognizes, affirms, and values differences, similarities and worth. Tier 6 CompetencySuggested ResourcesSee Also Knowledge of influence of dimensions of diversity may influence participant’s familial relationships, social organization, and help seeking behavior PAPER: The Impact of Culture on Person/Family Centered Planning. Available online at: p.paper.culture.doc TOOLKIT: Resources to Implement Cross-Cultural Clinical Practice Guidelines For Medicaid Practitioners. Available online: oolkit.pdf Tier 5 Cultural Competency Tier 4 Cultural Competency Tier 3 Cultural Awareness Tier 2 Cultural Knowledge Tier 1 Cultural Sensitivity

Assessment Identified additional tools and assessments  Individual Assessments  Organizational Assessments 9

10 Request to Grantees Are there additional tools or assessments for the other domains in Tiers 6-7? Decision Support: Activities associated with thinking, reacting, performing specific tasks, and linking individuals with information and resources to support the individuals as they make decisions Person-Centered Planning: Person-centered planning is a process-oriented approach that teaches/supports individuals in planning and managing their lives that may include the need for services and supports Cultural Competency: Options Counselors takes into account the individual's ethnicity, religion and spiritual beliefs, cultural orientation, color, physical appearance, gender, sexual orientation, and ability. Communication: Listening, speaking, and writing that inspires a mutual understanding of what you and others mean to convey through understanding, interpretation, and evaluation Participant Direction: Philosophy and service model that provides participants and their families with expanded choice and control over the long-term services and supports they need to live at home- includes choosing and controlling what services and supports are needed, when these are received, who delivers them, and how they are delivered Quality: The degree to which services and supports for individuals increase the likelihood of attaining desired health and quality of life outcomes

Thank You! from the LTSS Workforce Competency Team For questions or comments about the LTSS Workforce Competency Project, please 11