Jewish Family and Children's Services' is dedicated to providing professional, integrated, personal, cost-effective care that addresses people's essential needs and improves the quality of their lives. As a result, many of JFCS' programs are being used as national models for integrated care and JFCS has received national and local commendations for its programs and services, including our most recent award: The 2001 American Society on Aging Award for Innovation in Managed Care and Aging which was bestowed this year on our Seniors·At·Home program.

On March 7, 2001 The American Society on Aging (ASA) announced Seniors·At·Home and Health Net of California are the winners of the prestigious 2001 Award for Innovation and Quality in Managed Care and Aging, sponsored by the ASA in conjunction with Pfizer, Inc. Seniors·At·Home and Health Net were honored at the first joint conference of the ASA and the National Council on the Aging in New Orleans.

"The collaboration between Seniors·At·Home and Health Net - and the ASA award - mark a turning point for senior care: the recognition that not-for profit social services providers such as Seniors·At·Home and health plans like Health Net can partner productively to improve the health and quality of life of seniors," said Amy Rassen, former associate executive director JFCS in San Francisco. "Recent evaluations have clearly demonstrated that providing social service benefits to the frail elderly results in considerable medical cost savings, an increase in the quality of patients' lives, and greater patient satisfaction."

"Health Net is thrilled to partner with JFCS to provide a valuable service to our seniors," said Steven Raffin, M.D., chief medical officer for Health Net of California's Government Programs division. "Not only does this program keep individuals healthy and in their homes, but it enhances the overall care provided by physicians, helps prevent prematurely placing seniors in care facilities, and produces positive, measurable results. This is a win for everyone involved."

The Health Net / Seniors·At·Home partnership effectively shares responsibility for identifying, assessing, enrolling, and following up with patients in the program. Health Net care managers or medical groups identify candidates for the program - frail elderly who have been discharged from hospitals or skilled nursing facilities, or who have had repeated emergency room visits. Seniors·At·Home performs a complete assessment, recommends an appropriate plan of care and visits seniors in their homes to implement the plan. Further, Seniors·At·Home tracks demographic information, risk factors, medical diagnoses, intervention levels, perceived helpfulness of services provided, and unmet pre- and post-intervention needs. Seniors·At·Home monitors progress monthly, keeping Health Net and the seniors' physicians apprised of progress and outcomes.

Launched as a pilot program in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Seniors·at·Home / Health Net collaboration is being expanded, first in the Sacramento and southern Los Angeles County / Orange County areas, and then into other major California urban areas where Health Net Seniority Plus has a significant presence.