Volunteers Needed for
Focus Groups to Help Develop
New Needs Assessment Tool for VirginiaNavigator
SeniorNavigator recently received an award to assist in the Department of Medical Assistance Services’ (DMAS) Medicaid Infrastructure Grant. This grant will help to fund a new “Needs Assessment” tool for VirginiaNavigator, that will make it easier for adults with disabilities and their families to identify and access a full range of supportive services that will help them increase or maintain their independence.
VirginiaNavigator, the search component of the Virginia Easy Access online information and referral system, is committed to serving both seniors and adults with disabilities. This grant will assist SeniorNavigator in better understanding the common threads and the unique needs of each population and in redesigning the existing assessment tool to incorporate both.
SeniorNavigator will conduct three separate focus groups using the Department of Rehabilitative Services’ (DRS) Video Teleconferencing (VTC) technology to develop a logic model for the new needs assessment tool.. The focus groups will include persons with cognitive, physical, and sensory disabilities and their family members. The focus groups will provide feedback on twelve to fifteen questions, in consumer-directed language, that will serve as the basis of the new Needs Assessment tool. We hope to learn:
1. Are any categories missing?
2. Is the language consumer-friendly, inclusive, and appropriate?
3. Are the results returning the appropriate services?
You are invited to participate in this effort by attending a focus group or by recruiting other persons with cognitive, physical, or sensory disabilities and their family members to participate.
Please refer to the schedule below for specific Focus Group locations, dates, times, and local contacts. Individualized electronic flyers are available for each location and may be requested by e-mail from Katie Benghauser at Katie@SeniorNavigator.org. In your e-mail, please remember to identify the specific location for which you are requesting a flyer.
For more information, please contact:
Adrienne Johnson
SeniorNavigator
7501 Boulders View Drive, Suite 201
Building IV
Richmond, Virginia 23225
(804) 525-7728 (phone)
(804) 525-7729 (fax)
(866) 393-0957 (toll free)
adrienne@seniornavigator.org
Focus Group Locations,
Schedule, and Local Contacts
Big Stone Gap
April 6, 2009, 1:30pm - 4pm
Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc.
Transit Conference Room
1501 3rd Ave., E, Big Stone Gap
Sponsored by Junction Center for Independent Living
Contact: Dennis Horton, (276) 679-5988
Charlottesville
April 3, 2009, 9am - 12 noon
April 6, 2009, 1:30pm - 4pm
April 8, 2009, 9am - 12 noon
Virginia Workforce Center
2211 Hydraulic Road, Charlottesville
Contact: Heather Hodges, (434) 963-2988, heather.hodges@drs.virginia.gov
Chesterfield
April 3, 2009, 9am - 12 noon
April 6, 2009, 1:30pm - 4pm
April 8, 2009, 9am - 12 noon
Chesterfield Workforce Center
73231 Whitepine Road, Chesterfield
Contact: Rebecca Farthing, (804) 714-2021, Rebecca.farthing@drs.virginia.gov
Fairfax
April 3, 2009, 9am - 12 noon
Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
11150 Fairfax Blvd., Suite 300, Fairfax
Contact: Jane Bennett, (703) 359-1124
Fredericksburg
April 3, 2009, 9am - 12 noon
disability Resource Center
409 Progress Street, Fredericksburg
Contact: Debe Fults, (540) 373-2559
Harrisonburg
April 3, 2009, 9am - 12 noon
April 6, 2009, 1:30pm - 4pm
Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
1909 B. East Market Street, Harrisonburg
Contact: Sinclair Hubard, (540) 434-5981, Sinclair.Hubard@drs.virginia.gov
Norfolk
April 6, 2009, 1:30pm - 4pm
Endependence Center
6300 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk
Contact: Linda Johnson, (757) 461-8007
Richmond
April 3, 2009, 9am - 12 noon
April 6, 2009, 1:30pm - 4pm
April 8, 2009, 9am - 12 noon
Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
Central Office, 8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Richmond
Contact: Katie Benghauser, (804) 525-7730, Katie@seniornavigator.org
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The
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities is moving on March 27.
Our new
address is: 1100 Bank Street, 7th Floor
Washington State Office Building
Richmond, VA 23219
Our phone
numbers, website, and email addresses will not be changing.
For more information about the Virginia Board for People
with Disabilities, please visit our website at www.vaboard.org or contact:
Tom Driscoll
Strategic Planning & Marketing Manager
Virginia Board for People with
Disabilities
202 N. 9th Street, 9th Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-786-9380 (voice & TTY)
800-846-4464 (toll-free, voice & TTY)
804-786-1118 (fax)
thomas.driscoll@vbpd.virginia.gov
www.vaboard.org