Initiative Description
In FFY22 Oklahoma ABLE Tech actively sought partnerships and collaborations to support the demand for equipment offered through the Device Reutilization Program. Through investing time and exploring existing relationships, ABLE Tech was able to identify three dynamic partnerships that have resulted in a positive impact to the program. These include two Area Agency on Aging (AAA) programs: the Indian Nation Council of Governments (INCOG) AAA and the Central Oklahoma Economic Development District (COEDD) AAA. ABLE Tech collaborated with these two specific AAAs to specifically use special grant funds provided through the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Association of Area Agencies on Aging receive the Masonic grant funds to support Oklahoma seniors as they age in place in their homes. Through Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs), ABLE Tech and the two AAAs collaborated to provide needed AT and DME through the Device Reutilization Program for individuals who reside in the AAAs' service territories – a combined 10 counties in Oklahoma. These collaborations resulted in an additional $21,000 to support the provision of needed DME, AT, and related equipment at no cost to Oklahoma's seniors. The third partnership involved ABLE Tech working directly with the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation (OkAT). OkAT is a nonprofit organization who collaborates with ABLE Tech to offer the Financial Loan Program. OkAT applied for and was awarded a $35,000 grant. The funds were used to purchase items to fulfill requests for waitlisted items for the Device Reutilization Program.
Lessons Learned/Replication
These collaborations resulted in an additional $56,000 of funding to ABLE Tech to support the Device Reutilization Program. These funds allowed ABLE Tech to provide over 1,000 additional pieces of DME and AT to individuals who otherwise would not have had access to the items. Additionally, ABLE Tech would not have had the resources to supplement inventory to fill this great need. These additional funds ultimately doubled the number of individuals served by ABLE Tech's Device Reutilization Program. This is a collaboration that will continue into future years with the goal of adding more AAA territories and counties via MOAs.