Wandering and Project Lifesaver Program

The project description above remains the same, without the involvement and goals involving Autism Spectrum Disorder and Champions for Children.  Below are grant goals, current status and which ones cannot be met due to Champions for Children's withdrawl:
 

Goal Statement: Develop and implement a comprehensive campaign to increase the public awareness of wandering, educate on prevention strategies and promote and increase the number of individuals in East Texas enrolled in evidence-based programs, such as the Project Lifesaver Program.

 

By September 30, 2022, engage marketing firm to develop and test campaign with local community and families living with ADRD or ASD.  (NOT ASD, Otherwise, Goal met.)

 

By September 30, 2024 educate approximately 10,000 individuals through community outreach.  (Goal met.)

 

By September 30, 2024, through mass media, social media and other outlets, receive 100,000 impressions on the wandering program.  (Goal met.)

 

By September 30, 2022, work with Champions for Children to implement the evidence-based project lifesaver program and provide at least 5 participants with location bracelets. (Only 1 with ASD enrolled from CforC.  CforC no longer a partner agency as of 12/23.  Cannot meet goal.)

 

By September 30, 2022, increase the number of participants on the Project Lifesaver Program by 25%. (Goal met.)

 

By September 30, 2024, increase the number of participants on the Project Lifesaver Program by 50%. (Goal met.)

 

 

 

 

Goal Statement: Develop and implement a comprehensive education & training program for first responders, families of individuals who wander, schools, and other community partners. This would be accomplished through conducting web-based trainings, region-wide conferences, and collaborating with local junior colleges to embed training within first responder programs.

 

By September 30, 2022, conduct a regional web-based educational event for first responders and educate at least 100 first responders. This would be replicated each year with a goal of 300 first responders attending training. (Goal met.)

 

By September 30, 2022, in collaboration with Tyler Junior College conduct deputy and new graduate, first responder educate for 80 attendees. (Met this goal within Tyler PD Academy, which has their own academy (137 trained). This year developing and presenting new PLS/Wandering curriculum at TJC LE Academy).

 

By September 30, 2024, implement deputy and new graduate, first responder education in at least one additional Junior College curriculum in East Texas. (In Progress.)

 

By September 30, 2024, collaborate with Champions for Children to host a regional conference, which includes wandering for ASD with at least 250 local providers and families educated.  (Cannot meet this goal.)

 

By September 30, 2024, collaborate with Champions for Children to work with at least one local school district on safety protocols and a referral system for children with ASD or those who may wander.  (Cannot meet this goal.)

 

 

Goal Statement: Develop and implement, in partnership with local first responders and 911 District, an alert program that identifies persons that are at risk for wandering or have a dementia or other cognitive diagnosis and establish a bi-directional referral system between agencies.

 

By September 30, 2024, implement a bi-directional referral system with at least 6 partner agencies, such as Adult Protective Services, 911 Districts, health clinics, schools and law enforcement agencies. (Complete:  Law Enforcement, three 9-1-1 districts, APS and United Way 2-1-1 online resource/call center)

 

By September 30, 2024 develop and implement a purple flag alert system in the 911 dispatch database to alert first responder of person with cognitive disability that may be at risk of wandering. (This is done by Tyler PD for those with Autism.  I met with LE about this program (Vulnerable Persons Registry) to encompass those with dementia, as well, and no one in law enforcement will help with logistics.  It is not feasible to do this on a wider scale due to logistics, no common database between LE agencies in our county and low staff in all agencies, including ours.  Will not meet all of goal).

 

 

Goal Statement: Develop and implement a comprehensive campaign to increase the public awareness of wandering, educate on prevention strategies and promote and increase the number of individuals in East Texas enrolled in evidence-based programs, such as the Project Lifesaver Program.

 

Data Collection:

Increase in the number of people enrolled in project lifesaver program (In progress)
Number of people who are educated on wandering and prevention strategies (In progress)
Number of campaign impressions through media (In progress)

 

Goal Statement: Develop and implement a comprehensive education & training program for first responders, families of individuals who wander, schools, and other community partners. This would be accomplished through conducting web-based trainings, region-wide conferences, and collaborating with local junior colleges to embed training within first responder programs.

 

Data Collection:

Increase in the number of first responders and school personnel educated on wandering, dementia and ASD (In progress).
Increase in knowledge of those educated on wandering, dementia and ASD (In progress)

 

 

Goal Statement: Develop and implement, in partnership with local first responders and 911 District, an alert program that identifies persons that are at risk for wandering or have a dementia or other cognitive diagnosis and establish a bi-directional referral system between agencies.

 

Data Collection:

Number of people enrolled in 911 alert program (Only Tyler PD – In progress)
Number of referrals between partner agencies (In progress)

 

Strategies implement to collect data and measure outcomes include pre & posttests to evaluate knowledge, focus groups, customer services feedback surveys and various other methods. (Customer Service Surveys and PLS Surveys are the numbers we are collecting).