ADRC Information and Assistance Specialist

Job DescriptionJob Description
Job Summary
The Information and Assistant (I and A) Specialist provides information and assistance, options counseling, and enrollment and disenrollment services for Wisconsin long-term care programs to elders and adults with physical or developmental/intellectual disabilities. The I and A Specialist completes formal client assessments by administering the Statewide Adult Long-Term Care Functional Screen to determine level of care needs and eligibility for publicly funded long-term care programs. Additionally, the I and A Specialist provides hands-on assistance with completing complicated applications for applying for Federally funded Medicaid programs.  The I and A Specialist also provides unbiased resources, information, and referrals and assists disabled and elderly adults in accessing an array of voluntary, purchased, and public resources.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities
The following duties are primarily performed and are essential for this position.  Employees are expected to be able to perform each of these job duties satisfactorily and successfully with or without reasonable accommodations to be qualified for the position.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

 Information and Referral Services/Intake:

• Provides phone coverage, answers email service inquiries, and meets with walk in customers to handle client intakes and/or urgent needs.
• Provides referrals and assists disabled and elderly adults in accessing an array of voluntary, purchased, and public resources.
• Refers to resource guide and maintains updated resources.
• Provides professional advice and counseling to assist clients in identifying needs, options, capacities, and personal preferences as it relates to long term care options, goods, and services.

 Options Counseling:

• Provides professional advice and counseling to assist clients in identifying needs, options, capacities, and personal preferences as it relates to long-term care options, goods, and services.
• Provides information about the choices residents have when making decisions about where to live, what kind of help is needed, where to receive care and help, and how to pay for it. 
• One-on-one consultation to help process the pros and cons of the various options considering an individual’s situation, values, resources, and preferences is available. Information and Assistance Specialists provide counseling to potential long-term care consumers and their families about all long-term care options, regardless of whether the individual needs public assistance to pay for services or can pay privately.
• Assists in determining if individuals will be eligible for public funding for long-term care, including the Medicaid application process.
• Develops an Action Plan for customer which outlines customer goals, timeline to meet goals, and how to accomplish them.
• Completes follow-up contacts to customer to inquire how helpful resources provided were, and to see if any additional information or resources are needed.

Long-Term Care Functional Screen:

• Completes formal client assessments by administering the Statewide Adult Functional Screen to determine level of care needs and eligibility for long-term care programs for persons who are frail elders, have physical disabilities, dementia, a terminal illness, or intellectual/developmental disabilities. 
• Conducts the Long-Term Care Functional Screen (LTCFS) to assess a person’s ability and inability to complete Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs).  All assistance required to complete ADLs and IADLs must be connected to a verified primary diagnosis. 
• Interview client and assess the situation. Interviews may take place in any setting that is familiar to the person being screened, including, but not limited to, the person’s residence, a substitute care setting such as a community-based residential facility (CBRF), or at a hospital or nursing home.

Medicaid:

• Assess an individual’s financial eligibility for State and Federally funded Long-Term Care Programs. 
• Provides hands on assistance in completing complicated Federal Medicaid applications for clients who are unable to independently do so on their own.
• Assists married individuals with Asset Assessment, and explain Spousal Impoverishment (asset limits, spend down options, and income allocation/allowances).
• Assists individuals in submitting applications to the Centralized Document Processing Unit (CDPU) to be assigned to an Ozaukee County Long Term Care Economic Support worker. 
• Connects with Economic Support (ES) while the application is being processed by sending a Referral to Economic Support for Managed Long-Term Care Services and receiving a routing form from ES once the application has been initially processed.
• Assists customers with obtaining verifications needed for application as well as to fax these supporting documents to the CDPU.
• Assists customer with next steps.
• Coordinates with ES on a monthly basis to review policy and procedure updates, as well as to staff cases. Information and Assistance Specialist works closely with the ES division to determine if other Medicaid benefits may be appropriate for customer.

Enrollment/Disenrollment Counseling:

• Provides professional counseling about options available to meet long-term care needs and about factors to consider in making long term care decisions.
• Provides unbiased information to customer regarding the various long-term care programs available in Ozaukee County including Family Care, Family Care Partnership, and IRIS.
• Assists customer in completing appropriate Enrollment paperwork for Family Care and Family Care Partnership programs as well as complete referral paperwork for IRIS programs.
• Reviews all Managed-Care Organizations (MCOs), and/or all IRIS Consultant Agencies (ICA) and Fiscal Employer Agent (FEA) options with customer.
• Provides disenrollment counseling for customers who are no longer interested in a long-term care program, have moved out of the service network, or are residing in an ineligible setting.
• Assists customers who wish to transfer between various MCOs, ICAs and FEAs, as well as complete and submit appropriate paperwork to do so.

Time Reporting/Documentation:

• Completes and maintains required 100% Time Reporting on Individual Time and Task Workbook Version 14 (recording topics discussed, client identification, and time spent).
• Maintains client records using an electronic clinical case management system (Well Sky/SAMS). 
• Completes client tracking according to state-level specifications to support statewide, consistent reporting by staff. Records details of interactions with individuals and organizations.
• Conducts educational and informational seminars and outreach activities for older adults, their families, caregivers, community providers, and the general public on programs, services, resources, and caregiving resources. 
• Researches, writes, and contributes to the ADRC Generations Newsletter quarterly. 

Outreach:

• Conducts educational and informational seminars and outreach activities for older adults, their families, caregivers, community providers, and the general public on programs, services, resources, and caregiving resources. 
• Researches, writes, and contributes to the ADRC Generations Newsletter quarterly.  The Generations Newsletter is sent to 11,000+ homes throughout Ozaukee County.

Prevention Class Facilitator:

• Provides a minimum of one series of workshop classes for pre-determined ­evidence-based Prevention Program per year.

Other Duties:

• Completes Animal Naming Test and Mini-Cog Memory Screen for customers.
• Completes required as well as continuous on-going trainings, including: person-centered training, mediation training, Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) training, MANDT training, FEMA training (National Incident Management System (NIMS), Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incident), Sexual Harassment, Bullying, and Diversity Training, KnowBe4 - Annual Security Awareness Training, Mandated Reporter Training, Run/Hide/Fight Active Assailant Training and Stop the Bleed Training, HIPAA training, Gender Equity training, Ongoing ADRC Specialist Skills training.
• Serves as a member of various Department of Human Services committees, as well as community-bases committees such as: Trauma-Informed Care and Senior Conference.

Supervision Exercised

None

Minimum Education Qualifications

Education and/or Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Nursing, Psychology, Counseling or Related Field.
• Three to five years’ experience is required in casework or case management working in a social work, psychology, counseling or related field with experience in coordinating services for special populations (elderly, adults with developmental disabilities, adults with severe physical disabilities, and cognitively, physically, and emotionally disabled children transitioning from the school system to the adult services system).
• Two years’ experience working with publicly funded long term care programs.

Licenses, Certifications, and Other Requirements:

• After hire, complete training for Certified Information and Referral Specialist with specialty in Aging and Disability from the National Alliance of Information and Referral Systems.
• After hire, successfully complete Certified Adult Functional Screener training.
• After hire, successfully complete Options Counseling Certification modules.
• Complete Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging Facilitator training courses (and hold at least one yearly class within three months of certification) in at least one evidence-based prevention program such as Stepping On, Falls Prevention, Living Well with Chronic Conditions, Living Well with Diabetes, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, or Arthritis.
• Memory Screens: Animal Naming Test and Mini-Cog Memory Screen; Motivational Interviewing; Ethics and Boundaries; Dementia; Time and Task Reporting; Ongoing ADRC Specialists Skills training.
• Complete DHS training including, but not limited to: Trauma Informed Care; HIPPA; Equity/Diversity training, MANDT; Active Shooter/Safety.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Qualifications
In order to perform the functions and responsibilities of the position (listed above) the following knowledge, skills, and abilities are essential.

• Strategic thinking skills along with excellent oral, written, and computer skills.

• Excellent interviewing skills and customer relations.
• Good knowledge of procedures and practices relating to both private and public benefits and services available to the elderly, physically disabled, and developmentally disabled populations.
• Good understanding of the aspects of aging – physical, social, psychological, spiritual, etc.
• Ability to work constructively as a team member.
• Valid Wisconsin Driver’s License required.

In evaluating candidates for this position, Ozaukee County may consider a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. 

Physical Requirements
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• Prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer.
• Periodic periods of standing or walking.

Work Environment

Work is typically completed in the ADRC office, in homes, in community environments, and remotely from home.

EOE / ADA Statement

Ozaukee County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ozaukee County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Nothing in this job description limits management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.  The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.  The job description does not constitute an employment agreement or affect the at-will nature of the employment arrangement between the employee and company and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Ozaukee County offers a generous benefits package including: health, dental, life, & vision insurance; free employee health clinic & Teladoc; paid holidays, vacation, & sick time; state of Wisconsin WRS defined benefit pension program; bonus opportunities; employee fitness room; wellness program & wellness reimbursement; tuition reimbursement & continuing education opportunities; and more Please note some that benefits offered are dependent on full-time/part-time status.

Ozaukee County prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, disability, genetics, veteran status or military service, marital status or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic or status protected by federal, state or local laws. Ozaukee County also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws.

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