The History of People Enhancing People
There’s No Place Like Home
Current trends show that increasing numbers of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses needing assistance with their daily living actives would choose to stay at home rather than move to large group home facilities. Being active and contributing members of the workforce and communities in which they live is vital to achieving and maintaining a high quality of life. And just like everyone else, they want to make their own decisions and remain in control of their care and independence.
People choosing to stay at home receive help with tasks such as meal preparation and grooming through the use of Personal Care Assistants (PCAs). Although recipients have several options available to obtain PCA services, PCA Choice provides the recipient with the most independence and control.
Working through a PCA Choice Provider, the recipient of PCA services is responsible for recruiting, interviewing, hiring and managing the PCAs they choose to employ. Through a unique joint employer arrangement, the PCA Choice Provider performs payroll processing and provides insurance and other employment related services.
People Enhancing People (PEP) is a PCA Choice Provider… plus a whole lot more. Here is our story...
Our Humble Beginnings
PEP was founded by Jim and Claudia Carlisle, two individuals who have utilized personal care assistants themselves for over forty years. Over that time, they have experienced it all... the good, the bad, and the excellent. Although the bad times were frustrating, the Carlisle’s always persevered because remaining independent and in control of their own care was worth it. Through their experiences, they have come to know what makes an excellent PCA and they also know the challenges faced in trying to find them. Most importantly – they know how difficult it is to retain an excellent PCA once one is discovered.
Jim and Claudia strongly believe that all recipients of PCA services should be able to find the help needed to stay at home and remain active and contributing member of the workforce and the communities in which they live. Soon the brainstorming began, and along with one of their “excellent” PCAs, the concept for People Enhancing People was born. All they needed now was funding to help make their dream a reality.
Jim and Claudia Carlisle, the Co-founders of PEP
Timing is Everything
In 2001, President Bush signed the New Freedom Initiative that mandated we “tear down the remaining barriers to equality that face Americans with disabilities today.” This set into motion a series of programs designed to do just that. Government research uncovered what the Carlisle’s already know – the struggle to find and retain high quality PCAs is one of the key barriers to successfully maintaining the quality of life in our communities. Needless to say, it was also noted that this will quickly become a crisis as the baby boomers age.
As a result, states were given grants to improve personal assistance services that are recipient controlled and directed. In January of 2003, People Enhancing People was awarded one of these grants through the Minnesota Department of Human Services and immediately went to work to bring their new business venture to fruition. They have since assembled a highly qualified Board of Directors, hired a Program Administrator and have convened Advisory Committees for both recipients and Personal Care Assistants to ensure that PEP is always listening to the needs of it’s constituents.
Removing Barriers
PEP is different from typical PCA Choice providers. In addition to the standard employment related services of payroll, taxes and insurance, PEP plans to deliver solutions to the most common obstacles that get in the way of a recipient’s success:
Recruitment Assistance
It is difficult to find the people who are likely to make good PCAs, as most of them are not necessarily actively looking for employment. Through creative and aggressive outreach and public awareness activities, PEP will generate interest in PCA employment and provide recipients applicants to augment their own recruitment efforts.
Employment Support Programs
Many recipients have weak employee management skills. To help in this area, PEP contracted an HR Professional and has developed a management workshop, specific to PCA services, to help recipients be more effective managers. It covers things such as: interviewing techniques, employee/ employer relations and employee orientation programs. Also in response to recipient feedback that effective communication with PCAs is essential to quality service, PEP contracted an RN with extensive background in working with people who have disabilities, and developed a workshop in communication for PCAs.
PEP Dash of Cash Program
PCA's are some of the most important people in the lives of those they work with, and many recipients desire to express their gratitude and affirmation of the work their PCAs do for them. This program allows recipients to request $25.00 gift cards for their PCAs in recognition of continuous outstanding service, going above or beyond the call of duty, dedication or improvement over time. In addition to the gift card, the PCA receives a certificate indicating why they are being recognized.
Through these enhanced service offerings, PEP aims to create an environment where the recipient of services can experience the good, the great and the excellent in PCA services. Though initially focused on services for persons with physical disabilities, PEP will be available to anyone receiving Medical Assistance.