HHSA's Aging & Independence Services Receives Statewide Challenge Award

The Health and Human Services Agency's Aging & Independence Services received a Challenge Award from the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) at the Oct. 14 County Board of Supervisors Meeting. AIS was honored for its innovative TEAM SAN DIEGO program.

TEAM SAN DIEGO is a training program for healthcare and social service providers to improve service delivery to the aging and disabled populations, especially those with chronic conditions. The program consists of eight online modules, self-contained slide presentations that are recorded by a different, highly regarded local instructor who is an expert on the subject matter presented, and one in-class session to reinforce and practice the lessons learned.

The goal of this program is for multiple providers to work together to improve access to comprehensive and coordinated health and social programs for individuals with complex needs. The program works to improve care coordination that will allow the chronically ill to remain independent in the community and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and nursing home admissions.

Although the program is still in progress, 125 health, social, and supportive service providers have completed the training so far.