Community Resource Connections Receives Grant

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“Beyond the Senior Annual Check-Up” Program

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation Board of Directors recently awarded a grant for $24,000 to support Community Resource Connections (CRC) in developing and piloting a screening and follow-up tool with senior citizens struggling to navigate the services and complications of Medicare systems.

CRC is planning to conduct a limited pilot project in the Blackduck area during the next year.  Following development of the various screening assessments, the Blackduck Service Center will work with about 30 seniors/couples to screen for services, provide case management services, make referrals, and conduct follow up with both clients and service providers. 

CRC believes that having this type of screening available will reduce the demands upon local service providers to determine eligibility for services, and free up more time to actually provide and organize the services, thus saving time and money. 

CRC Executive Director Ruth Sherman said, “This is a new and innovative effort that addresses the needs of elderly; enabling them to remain in the living arrangement of their choice for as long as reasonably possible.”

CRC will conduct a continuous evaluation process to find out what works, make adjustments to assessments, and eventually settle on a working model that can be expanded throughout the rest of Beltrami County, contingent upon future funding.

Jim Steenerson, NMF senior program officer – grants, stated that CRC is well-respected in Beltrami County, and has a solid reputation for good management and careful stewardship of resources. “The issue addressed through this proposal is very real and the opportunity to do something constructive is compelling,” he said. “If the project is successful, it could really help to bridge the coming gap in providing services for seniors.”

The Northwest Area Agency on Aging is providing support for this project, as they see it serving as a model for providing services more efficiently in their greater service area.  Similarly, the project is being watched by representatives from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, in the hope that it might be expanded statewide.

Steenerson added, “Support from the Area Agency on Aging is important, as their involvement could open doors for possible expansion of this model.”

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