• Appoint a properly qualified Coordinator of Counselor Activities.
• Monitor performance of coordinator and local counselors to ensure SHICK requirements are met.
• Provide expenditure reports to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services for funds awarded pursuant to the Program Agreement with SHICK.
• Recruit volunteer and partner Counselors in the local area.
• Screen applicants for suitability as SHICK Counselors (e.g., ensure no conflict of interest exists).
• Ensure that coordinators and counselors have fulfilled training requirements, are certified by the SHICK program and are competent to provide counseling services.
• Work with SHICK program staff and other agencies to coordinate presentations and outreach events.
• Collaborate with community organizations to ensure that low-income and hard-to-reach populations have access to SHICK counseling services.
• Provide speakers for public events as requested.
• Host initial and update trainings for local counselors.
• Receive client telephone calls and assign to counselors based on the needs of the client.
• Market the SHICK program through coordinated efforts with the state SHICK office.
• Serve as a clearinghouse for supplies and materials to counselors and clients.
• Provide counselors access to a copy machine, telephone, and computer with Internet at the subgrantee's organization for the purposes of counseling clients.
• Maintain frequent communication with counselors regarding activities and job performance. This includes disseminating updated information necessary for counseling.
• Complete Beneficiary Contact Forms for each contact.
• Enter beneficiary contact forms on the SHIP Tracking And Reporting System (STARS) website every month.
• Provide a monthly calendar of events to the state SHICK office.
• Participate in SHICK conference calls as scheduled (teleconference and/or webinar).
• Attend SHICK update training each year. (Required each year for Active Counselor status.)
• Read SHICK listserv messages and disseminate information to counselors.
• Ensure that all volunteers are registered in STARS.
• Attend other special trainings as announced.

• Satisfactorily complete initial certification training.
• Complete SHICK update training each year. (Required each year for Active Counselor status.)
• Read and complete the Counselor Training Record, Confidentiality Agreement, and the Memorandum of Understanding each year.
• Provide confidential individual health insurance counseling services without conflict of interest and in compliance with Volunteer Risk and Program Management Guidelines for safeguarding confidential beneficiary information.
• Provide referrals to appropriate resources.
• Maintain frequent communication with coordinator.
• Complete beneficiary contact forms for each contact and complete the online Beneficiary contact form in STARS.
• Read SHICK listserv messages.
• Provide information to the public regarding Medicare and other health insurance issues.

Optional:

• Give public presentations
• Help with health fairs and other events
  
  *The “PARTNER Counselor” is trained and signs the Memorandum of Understanding just as the Volunteer Counselor does. Other SHIP minimum requirements apply as well, though the partner counselor takes this training to assist beneficiaries in his or her job (e.g., social worker, case manager, discharge planner).