Home > About Us > Partners

Partners

The Cash & Counseling National Program Office (NPO): The NPO is located at the Center for the Study of Home and Community Life at the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work. The NPO, along with a management team of funders and evaluators, is responsible for the coordination and direction of the national expansion of Cash & Counseling. The NPO provides technical assistance and monitors the progress of each state as well as approves, manages, and monitors contracts with key subcontractors and consultants. The NPO is also involved in the design of a management information system to track Cash & Counseling progress.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): RWJF is the largest philanthropic organization in the United States devoted to health and health care. Their overall mission is "to improve the health and health care of all Americans" by supporting initiatives focusing on health care systems and conditions that promote better health. To accomplish their mission, RWJF supports training, education, research and projects that demonstrate effective health care service delivery. RWJF has been a partner in the Cash & Counseling program since its initiation in 1995. In addition to authorizing the Cash & Counseling expansion, RWJF will provide funding to the selected states. Currently, RWJF is funding research on a policy initiative to clarify the definition of Medicaid's optional personal care benefit to allow consumers to meet their personal assistance needs in a variety of ways.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation/Department of Health and Human Services (ASPE/DHHS): As a department in the Federal government, ASPE advises the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services on policy development in health, disability, human services, and science. ASPE's work includes conducting research and evaluation studies, developing policy analyses, and conducting cost and benefit analyses for policy initiatives under consideration by the Department of Health and Human Services and Congress. ASPE has been a Cash & Counseling partner since 1995 and is committed to the expansion of Cash & Counseling. In addition, ASPE has funded research and policy analyses contributing to consumer-directed model knowledge. ASPE is also planning a full scale study of individuals who did not to participate in the Cash &Counseling; Demonstration and Evaluation.

The Administration on Aging (AoA): AoA is an agency in the United States Department of Health and Human Services. They are one of the United States' largest providers of home and community based care for older persons and their caregivers. The Administration on Aging's mission is to help the nation prepare for an aging population in addition to encouraging the independence and dignity of older persons. AoA provides formula and discretionary funding to its network of 56 State Units on Aging, 655 Area Agencies on Aging, and 244 tribal organizations to coordinate the delivery of a comprehensive range of home and community-based services for older adults. AoA serves as an advocate for older persons and their concerns by increasing awareness among other Federal agencies, organizations, groups, and the public about the valuable contributions of older persons and the needs of the older population. AoA has designated funding for the design of a management information system to expedite the development of a cash plan and facilitate the coordination of activities between fiscal agents and counseling providers for the Cash & Counseling expansion.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): CMS is the Federal agency in the United States Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for the oversight and regulation of Medicare and Medicaid funded programs. Their mission is to provide health care security for all persons who have health insurance through the aforementioned programs. CMS provides oversight and technical assistance to states when they submit Section 1115 demonstration or 1915 (c) waiver applications. CMS has issued two template applications for its Independence Plus initiative for states to use when they intend to develop participant-directed service delivery approaches. They are available to provide technical assistance on the requirements of self-directed programs under Independence Plus. Use of the Section 1115 demonstration or Section 1915 (c) templates is voluntary but it is hoped that the use of the templates will lessen the administrative burden on states and help to expedite the federal review process.