Search Project This project was funded by the 21st Century Challenge Fund, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foudation and the following local funders: Bernard The primary purpose of the project was to improve access among rural elders to existing federal, state and local benefits, programs, and services for which they may be eligible through the use of an established Web-based system designed for older adults and their family caregivers. A Web-based system was implemented in six counties by purchasing a regional license to use the BenefitsCheckUp Organizational |
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McDonough Foundation, Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund, Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, Mountain State BlueCross BlueShield, Camden Clark Memorial Hospital, and ACCESS.
Edition developed by the National Council on the Aging, (NCOA). Twenty-six host sites were linked to this program through unique user ID numbers and passwords. Staff and/or volunteers were trained to use the system at each site, and brochures and outreach materials were tailored and distributed within each county. An automated tracking system counted the number of screens completed at each host site. This project was successful in helping over 500 individuals evaluate their eligibility for health-related government programs and local services within a six county area. In addition, it helped to lay the groundwork for the development of the West Virginia Access to Benefits Coalition, which was formed in 2004.