Country Home Advocacy Project Inc (CHAP) came into existence as a result of lobbying for additional resources for community services by four rural hospitals in the Lower Mid North of South Australia. The coalition - Angaston, Clare, Balaklava and Hutchinson (Gawler) Hospitals - was invited to participate in a "two year, once off" Home and Community Care (HACC) pilot programme. This Project was to trial the then new service model, Community Options (COp) pioneered in Wisconsin, United States of America. In May 1989 this coalition established CHAP with each partner being a member of the Auspice body to oversee the Project.
Within two years the Project was reviewed by Independent Commonwealth Evaluators and became an accredited agency for HACC recurrent funding. A Board of Management now leads CHAP and delegates operational responsibility to the Chief Executive Officer. Board membership is sought from people with relevant skills and commitment from within the communities that are serviced.
Initially the five staff members were accommodated in each Auspice's Health Service. Now there are three regional offices with approximately 30 staff.
Being an independent non-government organisation (NGO) enables CHAP to work closely with a range of partners, yet at the same time is an advocate for communities, groups and individuals. CHAP sustains a broad vision of supporting individuals in achieving a quality lifestyle in a way that is meaningful to them. The organisation is proud of its record of being at the forefront of servicing rural communities where often the most basic infrastructure is not the "norm".
CHAP was established based on the brokerage model to deliver client services. All in-home services are negotiated between the Co-ordinator and the client, which leads to the development of a Contract for Services. Independent Contractors are brokered on behalf of the client to provide the support necessary to address the assessed needs of the individual client to assist them in their desire to remain living in the community. Currently approximately 350 independent contractors are registered with CHAP.
Geographical Description
CHAP now manages a range of programmes and initiatives across 26,000 square kilometres within Gawler and surrounding districts, the Barossa Valley, Wakefield Plains, Lower North and Yorke Peninsula.
The Wakefield Region comprises of three sub regions: Yorke Peninsula, Lower North and Barossa and Light.
Service Provision
CHAP has offices in Yorke Peninsula (Maitland), Lower North/Wakefield Plains (Clare) and Gawler/Barossa ( Nuriootpa). We also have offices in Balaklava and Gawler, staffed on a part-time basis. Each office manages a number of different programmes supporting the frail aged, younger people with disabilities and their carers through the provision of a range of services. Programme criteria, as determined by the relevant funding bodies, ranges from early intervention to case management of clients with complex care needs. Depending on where clients live they may receive services through the following programmes:
HomeAssist - once off, ongoing
Community Options
Community Aged Care Packages
Veterans' Home Care
Contract Management Services
All programmes are underpinned by the values of focusing on the needs and aspirations of the individual to make their unique lifestyle choices while maintain the highest possible level of independence. CHAP Co-ordinators are multi-skilled across all programmes to facilitate seamless service provision to clients.