SESSION I: GATEKEEPER FUNDAMENTALS

OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM'S HISTORY AND START-UP CONSIDERATIONS

Gatekeeper state-wide expansion and

implementation

Your presenters today

Paul Iarrobino Multnomah County Aging & Disability Services paul.iarrobino@multco.us 503 988 6941

Lynn Schemmer-Valleau Multnomah County Aging & Disability Services lynn.schemmer-valleau@multco.us 503 988 4833

History of the Gatekeeper Program

•Developed in 1978 by Ray Raschko, MSW•Started in Older Adult Mental Health•Response to isolated older adults with little or no support• Seen as a way to connect older adults to community resources•Grounded in the “Multi-Disciplinary Approach” •Ray’s motto was “do no further harm” •The Gatekeeper model has grown nationally and internationally•Gatekeeper is considered a national best practice for identifying isolated, at-risk older adults and connecting them to critical community services

Why Gatekeeper is a Best Practice

Provides streamlined access to a confusing array of services

Trained businesses empowered to advocate for customers

Helps businesses ensure outreach to their disenfranchised customers

Helps provide access for consumers who are often not aware of our services

Provides a community “safety net”Helps “non-mandatory” reporters to see there is a

needed role for their help Training curriculum is tailored to the business or agency

Why is this program important to the business community?

Helps customers achieve a better outcomeGood public/partnership to support consumerBusiness wants to help but goes beyond their

scope of work Peace of mind that consumer will get some follow

upGatekeeper referrals are welcomed – not seen as a

“complaintant”Able to provide good customer support while also

managing businessThey appreciate single entry access – one phone

number and do not have to know our jargon.

What Is Asked of Gatekeepers?

Gatekeepers are not asked to be counselors or social workers or to change their daily activities.

Gatekeepers learn to identify red flags that may indicate someone is ill, in trouble or struggling and refer consumer to a central location for follow up and evaluation.

The Multnomah County Experience

1987 Started with grant funding from Meyer

Memorial Trust to provide seed money to start Gatekeeper and an Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)

This three year grant covered East Multnomah County and was based at a local non-profit

An advisory group was established to develop procedures, outreach & marketing plan and evaluation

Accomplishments during the pilot project

During the pilot Gatekeepers in the community referred over 300 individuals

48% were unknown to us & offered service linkages 25% were receiving services prior to the referral. (The Gatekeeper was able to spot changes before assigned

case manager was aware. These referrals helped with new care planning.)

“Mrs. Jones has been a customer with us for 42 years. She received a shut off notice while she was in the hospital. She said she needs help with paying her bills. Could someone check on her?”

Over 23 organizations participated in the program and produced nearly 2,000 trained Gatekeepers at work in our community

Sustainability of the Program in Multnomah county

1990Gatekeeper went county-wide after pilot and absorbed by local AAA

2009-2011Expanded the program and included a 0.5 FTE CoordinatorConducted 47 community presentations/trainings to 34 different groupsConducted 2 “train the trainer sessions” to build a speaker’s bureau to

help conduct community trainings

2012Celebrated 25 Year AnniversaryStarted entering calls into ADRC call module (prior calls were entered into other call modules)Received Award funding from The Aging Network’s Volunteer

Collaborative under the “What’s Working– Effective Practices” program

Getting Started…

How to develop a programs in your community

Key Elements of a Gatekeeper Program

Developing an advisory committee - external stakeholders

Identify key leaders, organizations, companies/agencies with a vested interest.

Interested parties generally include:• Utility Companies• Police/Fire/Rescue• Support Programs• Banks/Credit Unions • Letter Carriers• Housing • Transportation

Can you think of a group in your community?

Be sure to include key internal stakeholders & partners

Identify key internal or community partnersInterested parties could include:

• Adult Protective Services• Mental Health • Developmental Disabilities • APD staff • Centers for Independent Living • Senior Centers • Community Advocates • ????Can you think who needs to be at the table in

your community?

Establishing a Lead AgencyLead Agency and a HubHub

Area Agency on AgingADRC is a great a hub Law EnforcementCommunity Non Profit Older Adult Mental Health Agency A combined response

Lead Agency can partner with another agency for support like training

Examples of Models for the Gatekeeper Program

In Multnomah County: Part of our 24/7Aging and

Disability Resource Center (ADRC)

Housed in “Type B” Area Agency on Aging (AAA)

Referrals assigned internally to APS and case managers

Referrals also assigned to senior center case managers

All referrals logged into ADRC call module and emailed to worker & supervisor

Program been operational for 27 years in Multnomah County

Examples of Models for the Gatekeeper Program

In Clackamas County: Clackamas County is a “Type A” AAA Clackamas Resource Connection: CRC is the

Gatekeeper hubGatekeeper referrals come in through CRC’s

ADRCthe referral is directed to the appropriate

officeThat office contacts the individual, assess their

needs, and assist in providing whatever help is required from the appropriate health or social service organizations

Examples of Models for the Gatekeeper Program

In Washington County Washington County is a “Type A” AAA Washington County Department of Aging and Veterans

Services (DAVS) partners with the Washington County Sheriff’s Elder Safe program

Referrals are made to the DAVS Adult Protective Services Line

Community presentations and trainings are done by a point person at the Sheriff’s office/Elder Safe program

What are your next steps?

Who are stakeholders in your community?Can you identify who could be the lead agency or

hub?What types of MOU’s or agreements will you need

to effectively implement your Gatekeeper program?What will be the process for taking Gatekeeper

calls?How will you track data? Follow up?Who will train Gatekeepers? Who will be the point person for trouble shooting

problems and bringing together all parties?

Q & A

What questions do you have for Multnomah County?

Paul Iarrobino paul.iarrobino@multco.us503-988-6941

Lynn Schemmer-ValleauLynn.schemmer-valleau@multco.us503-988-4833

Coming soon to a webinar near you…

Thursday, February 20 10-11:00 AM  Gatekeeper Planning & Implementation

Covering the nuts and bolts of launching and building a successful program

Wednesday, March 5 10-11:00 AMGatekeeper Sustainability 

How to build volunteers, provide recognition, develop media strategies & seek in-kind support & additional funding