Developing dementia-capable community health worker programs in the PEE DEE region of south carolina - caresouth carolina, INC. (CSC) is the only federally qualified health center (fqhc) in the nation…

CareSouth Carolina Inc. (CSC) received a $750,000 cooperative agreement from the Administration for Community Living under the Alzheimer's Disease Program Initiative (ADPI, CFDA 93.470), awarded on September 30, 2025, with a completion date of September 29, 2028. The award supports CSC's development and implementation of a dementia-capable community health worker (CHW) program across six counties in South Carolina's Pee Dee region (Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, and Marlboro). Leveraging its unique dual designation as both a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA), CSC will train CHWs to deliver the Care Ecosystem evidence-based intervention to approximately 400 persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (PWADRD) and their caregivers (200 dyads) annually over the three-year period.

The primary products and services include comprehensive CHW training curricula; implementation protocols and resources tailored to the integrated FQHC/AAA setting; early detection and engagement services for PWADRD and caregivers; validated screening and assessment tools to identify barriers to care; medication assessments; caregiver respite planning; and quality-of-life improvement initiatives. The program will conduct robust outcome-based evaluation to assess implementation fidelity, effectiveness, and impact on service engagement, care access, and caregiver outcomes, with expected results including increased identification of PWADRD and caregiver needs, improved care coordination, and enhanced CHW confidence in dementia care delivery.

Developing dementia-capable community health worker programs in the PEE DEE region of south carolina - caresouth carolina, INC. (CSC) is the only federally qualified health center (fqhc) in the nation that is also designated as an area agency on aging (AAA). Over a three-year project period, in partnership with key stakeholders, CSC will leverage resources to develop and strengthen a dementia-capable workforce in chesterfield, darlington, dillon, florence, marion, and marlboro counties, south carolina. Project goal: to improve access to care, care coordination, and quality of life among people diagnosed with alzheimer's disease and related dementia (pwadrd) and their caregivers through development of a trained, person-centered workforce capable of increasing quality and quantity of dementia services through evidence-based practices in dementia care. Major objectives: 1) implementing the care ecosystem evidence-based intervention (EBI) through a team of trained chws, focused on early detection/engagement of approximately 400 pwadrd and their caregivers (200 dyads) annually. 2) screening at least 85% of enrollees and caregivers for barriers to care using validated tools, documenting strategies to address. 3) assess the fidelity, effectiveness, and impact of implementing care ecosystem, including quality of life for enrollees and caregivers. Anticipated outcomes: increased identification of pwadrd; increased identification of distressing behavioral symptoms; increased identification of pwadrd and caregiver needs/barriers to care, with referrals documented; increased completion of pwadrd medication assessment; increased development of caregiver respite plans; increased CHW confidence in providing dementia care plans; improved access to care and caregiver quality of life; improved service engagement and quality of care. Expected products: CHW training; EBI implementation protocols and resources for CHW, pwadrd, and caregivers, specific to the integrated fqhc/AAA setting; comprehensive third party evaluation with dissemination package.