Arizona
Caregiver Coalition
Advocacy
National Alliance for Caregiving
Quarterly Coalition Call
October 24, 2012
David A. Besst
Family Caregiver Support Specialist
Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Aging & Adult Services
1789 W. Jefferson, 950A Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: 602-542-6431
E-Mail: DBesst@azdes.gov
Arizona Caregiver Resource Line: 1-888-737-7494
www.azcaregiver.org
www.azrespite.org
www.azkincare.org
Arizona Caregiver Coalition
Mission Statement
The mission of the Arizona Caregiver
Coalition is to be the catalyst for improving
the quality of life for family caregivers
through collaboration, advocacy and access
to supportive and educational resources.
Arizona Caregiver Coalition
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Federal and State statutes call for a
“coalition” to support respite efforts
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Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging Informal Caregiving Sub-Committee
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Caregiver Rally on Capitol Lawn
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ACC launched at Governor’s Conference
on Aging in May of 2008
Arizona Caregiver Coalition
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C.A.R.E. is the focus of the ACC
Collaboration, Advocacy, Resources, Education
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A-Advocacy Committee has been active since
2010, after laying low during worst of crisis
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Core of committee came from original Lifespan
Respite advocates – Experience Matters!
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LRP grant activities provide venue for renewed
advocacy
Arizona’s
Lifespan Respite Program
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Coordinate with other respite services
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Support the growth and maintenance of a statewide coalition
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Create an evaluation tool for recipients of respite care to assure
quality of care
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Development and implementation of new caregiver assessment tool
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Develop and conduct statewide awareness campaign
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Establish a statewide Caregiver Resource Line
Arizona’s Advocacy Agenda
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Awareness Campaign was critical first step
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Educate consumers (voters) about the value of family caregivers to our society,
and specifically related to long term care
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Create understanding that caregivers need support
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Frame issue in a positive light
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Directly target legislators and other stakeholders with special campaign elements
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Initiate public support for coalition activities
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Executive Leadership group help committees develop within overall
goals of Arizona Caregiver Coalition
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Goal 4 of the ACC is simple and straight forward:
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Advocate on behalf of caregiver issues statewide
Arizona’s Advocacy Agenda
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A-Advocacy Committee meets monthly
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Identified the following objectives in 2011
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Partner with other like-minded organizations
Develop relationships with elected officials and decision-makers
Develop and maintain a database of advocacy partners and target audiences
Identify specific issues that can be impacted
Develop a methodology for research and action
Develop and share useful sources of current caregiving information
Early in 2012 started active strategy to find champions in new
legislature, targeting one in each party in both Senate and House
Arizona’s Advocacy Agenda

Core Advocacy Team established to meet with
stakeholders and make presentations
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Identified champions through informal canvassing
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Faith-based organizations helped
Picked strategically based on committee assignments within Senate/House
Held series of meetings to gauge interest
Once identified, champions targeted with concerted campaign to
inform them of scope of coalition influence
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Thank you notes from various coalition members
Ongoing informational mailings
Site visits to provider agencies, including visits with actual caregivers and their
loved ones
Arizona’s Advocacy Agenda
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Refined “ASK” to a single request for upcoming
legislative session
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Restore $500K funding for Lifespan Respite
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Provides match for federal grant and future LRP allocations
Supports holistic approach to serving family caregivers
Allows continued development of consumer directed service provision
Serves gap populations that are underserved by existing programs
Provides data to guide future support efforts
Set stage for next “ASK” in upcoming year – Grandparent Program
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Similarly, this would again re-establish a program that was defunded during the
fiscal crisis
 $1M program annually served about 1200 grandparents and 2500 grandchildren
Arizona’s Advocacy Agenda
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Current status of LRP funding “ASK”
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Champions from both parties have signed on
At suggestion of legislators, setup meeting with DES to have $500K added to
upcoming budget request
 Advocacy Team met with DES after I prepped the situation
 Prompted discussion at highest level within DES, but was decided to not add to
budget request for variety of reasons
 Champions just last week agreed to begin work on a joint bill for LRP
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Coalition planning Caregiver Rally on Capitol Lawn
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To help support efforts within the legislative process and create awareness
DES supportive of rally, with reservations
Training caregivers to act as advocates and “Tell their story!”
Questions???
Comments???
For more information, please contact:
David Besst
Caregiver Support Specialist
ADES, Division of Aging and Adult Services
602-542-6431
dbesst@azdes.gov