Thrive Guest Speaker – March

Navigating the wilderness of disability services in search of the support and resources for her family to live longer and healthier lives at home and in their community of choice, Dr. Nneji read through a 300+-page Medicaid policy manual and realized how inaccessible insurance is for home & community-based services. She began to meet other care partners who also felt alone and lost in the wilderness. After speaking with ~100 care partners, Dr. Nneji launched AKALAKA with a 5-week class on Medicaid HCBS, including the NC Innovations Waiver, for cohorts of sibling care partners. Siblings reported an 80% increased connection with peers, 167% increased clarity with how to better utilize services for which they are eligible, and 75% increased confidence with requesting support from care management. Since 2021, Dr. Nneji has interviewed over 300 care partners and advised local, state, and federally-funded initiatives to improve the well-being of care partners. In 2022, AKALAKA became an NC Medicaid provider and began serving families across North Carolina through the Innovations Waiver. In 2023, AKALAKA contracted with the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities to launch the NC Advocacy Leaders Network for self- and family-advocates to be prioritized in policymaking on Medicaid and other public benefits that impact our community.