Agenda

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Corporate Workshops

CW01) Health & Social Care Systems Integration: Technology Solutions & Critical System Capabilities

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

What attributes make a good technology solution? How can a proper platform or software, and its capacity, enhance your ability to manage your client workflows, drive efficiencies and empower the exchange of data? What should you look for in your solutions and what do your colleagues see as important pieces of any technology solution? Join our panel of AAAs as they tell you what technology attributes and functionality requirements top their list in “must haves”!

Sponsored by CCS Health

Presenters:

	Kelsey Chance, Director, Data and Research, CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions, Indianapolis, IN [biography] Kelsey Chance is the Director of Data and Research at CICOA. She leads CICOA’s data efforts to support and enhance reporting, program operations and evaluations, and research and innovation to better serve our clients and community. Kelsey also supports CICOA’s engagement with academic partners and institutions for research.
	Kara Lorenz-Goings, Chief Operating Officer, WellWise Services Area agency on Aging, Brooklyn, MI [biography] Kara Lorenz-Goings is the COO at WellWise Services Area Agency on Aging in south-central Michigan, where she has worked there for 9 years. She has worked in this field for 22 years. Kara is a Social Worker, a Certified Geriatric Care Manager and has a Project Management for Nonprofits certification.
	Jessica Bader, Quality Improvement Manager, Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities, Uniontown, OH [biography] Mrs. Bader has been actively engaged in work with older adults since 2010.? She has a wide range of experience within the aging network across focus areas. Mrs. Bader is a licensed social worker and a graduate of the University of Akron and alumni of THE Ohio State University.
	Kathy Vesley, President & CEO, Bay Aging, Urbanna, VA [biography] Kathy Vesley is the President and CEO of Bay Aging, a nonprofit Area Agency on Aging (AAA), and VAAACares®, Virginia’s Community Care Hub. VAAACares® is a nationally recognized successful hub that contracts with multiple health plans, health systems, the VA, and partners with a variety of CBOs to provide

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Workshops

W01) Implementing the Give 5 Program—A AAA Perspective

Focus Area: Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness Through Engagement

The Give 5 program is known as “couch repellant.” Launched in Springfield, Missouri and now implemented in 14 communities, it matches retirees with volunteer opportunities in their communities. The Give 5 program empowers older adults by providing hundreds of opportunities to apply their unique talents and passions to impact the community's primary areas of need. The process is one of “civic matchmaking,” with the program providing the journey to find the best fit between program participant and nonprofit(s) in need. Come learn about the program and the implementation through the eyes of a AAA CEO who is hosting the Give 5 Program in her community. Discover a proven social engagement model that works and is a win-win.

Presenters:

	Greg Burris, President/CEO United Way of the Ozarks, United Way of the Ozarks, Springfield, MO [biography] Greg Burris is President & CEO of United Way of the Ozarks, founder of the Give 5 Program, and the former City Manager of Springfield, Missouri.
	Cora Scott, Director of Public Information & Civic Engagement, City of Springfield, Missouri, Springfield, MO [biography] Give 5 Co-Creator Cora Scott is currently the Director of Public Information & Civic Engagement for the City of Springfield, Missouri, and assists with Give 5 installations.
	Jennifer Shotwell, Chief Executive Officer, Region X AAA, Joplin, MO [biography] Jennifer Shotwell is the Chief Executive Officer of the Area Agency on Aging, Region X in Southwest Missouri (Joplin). Jennifer has been leading Region X since 2018, with a vision to enhance the quality of life and well-being of older adults and their caregivers through social connectedness.

W02) Team Building 101—Learning to Grow Together

Focus Area: Running Your Agency: Strategies to Strengthen Systems and People

Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens recognizes the importance of a positive working environment for job satisfaction and performance among staff and seeks to make all employees feel valued. The latest strategy that embodies AASC’s core values is the Team Building Program. Session attendees will learn how to engage employees with fun and interactive learning experiences. This session will illustrate methods of connecting staff in different agency departments with a team approach that helps focus on the positive aspects of work. Learn how teamwork helps create a strong rapport by communicating with coworkers, respecting each other and building trust within your agency. Become skilled at providing a stable, non-judgmental environment for employees to learn, grow and bond as a complete agency working together for the same goal.

Presenters:

	Wayne Damron, Director of Aging Services, Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens, Cedar Bluff, VA [biography] Wayne Damron has worked in many capacities at Appalachian Agency since he began as a volunteer in the adult day center in 2008 -- an intake coordinator, a care coordinator and VICAP counselor. He was named Director of Aging Services after serving as director of Care Coordination for 5 years.
	Lynna Mitchell, Grant Writer, Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens, Cedar Bluff, VA [biography] Lynna Mitchell has been the grant writer for AASC since January 2018 and has secured funding for a wide variety of programs that address the needs of the agency's clients and help improve their quality of life. She submits nominations for state and national awards and has presented at conferences.
	Katie Justus, Team Lead, Care Coordination Department, Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens, Cedar Bluff, VA [biography] Katie Justus is the team lead of the Care Coordination Department at AASC. She coordinates the Bridge and Link programs, a partnership with the local hospital that focuses on reducing readmissions of clients. Katie is a United Health Care health coach and also focuses on reducing readmissions of United Health Care members. In addition, she provides Options Counseling, which is a person-centered method of providing services and coordinating with other agencies. Katie holds a master’s in public health and a master’s in human services counseling. She is the county captain of the Southwest Virginia Medical Reserve Corps.

W03) Housing: Beyond the Bricks and Mortar

Focus Area: Housing and Homelessness

AAAs across the country recognize that we have a housing crisis and that home is essential to the health and well-being of those we serve. Home isn’t just four walls. It is a place where an individual can thrive, age in place and remain independent. Hear from experts who are making a difference in keeping older adults housed without donning a hard hat or becoming a landlord. Participants will learn about replicable models, be able to ask questions, and swap ideas for having an impact on housing.

Presenters:

	Nicole Kiddoo, Executive Director, Lewis Mason Thurston Area Agency on Aging, Olympia, WA [biography] Nicole Kiddoo is the Executive Director of the Lewis Mason Thurston Area Agency on Aging in Olympia WA. She has been serving in the aging and disability network since 2010. Nicole is the current board chair of the Washington Association of AAAs and is a current USAging board member, alternate.
	Duana Patton, CEO, Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc., Ontario, OH [biography] Duana Patton has been with the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc. since 1994 where she started as Director of HR. In 2006, Ms. Patton became the Chief Executive Officer. Duana is a Certified Trainer and Executive Coach. She proudly serves on local, state and national boards.
	Kelly Butts-Elston, C.E.O., Connections Area Agency on Aging, Council Bluffs, IA [biography] Director and C.E.O. of the AAA serving 20 counties in western, southwestern and south central Iowa. 25+ years experience in the aging network.

W04) Equity and the ACL Innovation Lab: A New Approach to Falls Prevention

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

In this session, presenters will describe the ways in which the Aging Network leads the advancement of knowledge about, and implementation of equitable and community-driven practices to prevent falls and reduce falls risk amongst older adults across the nation. Participants will learn about the Lab including its inception, intent, goals, and primary activities. Participants will also hear about forthcoming Lab-supported funding opportunities for aging service organizations.

Presenters:

	Amanda Cash, Supervisory Social Science Analyst, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC [biography] Dr. Amanda Cash is the Director of ACL's Office of Performance and Evaluation. She has expertise in research and evaluation related to public health and social service programs and systems.
	Emily Nabors, Senior Program Specialist, National Council on Aging, Washington, DC
	Shannon Skowronski, Aging Services Program Specialist, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC

W05) Leveraging National Service to Support Veteran and Military Family Caregivers

Focus Area: Supporting Caregivers

Discover an innovative program that leverages national service to provide family caregivers support and respite. Legacy Corps for Veterans and Military Families is an AmeriCorps-funded project at Arizona State University that delivers caregiver support services through partnerships with eligible agencies across the United States. Learn more about this unique model of respite delivery and how it aims to address the specific needs of veterans and military families. The session will review the benefits to partner agencies and national service participants.

Presenters:

Laura Copeland, Program Manager - National Field Director, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ [biography]

Sandi Gorley, Program Manager - National Project Director, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ [biography]

W06) How to Improve Staffing with a Four Day Work Week

Focus Area: Workforce and Volunteerism

Fill your open positions with high quality staff, prevent turnover, reduce burnout and improve senior care. Converting to a four-day work week turned out to be the solution to several concerns plaguing our organization and it can benefit your operations too. We will answer all your questions and concerns and share our challenges and successes.

Presenters:

Sam Hancock, VP Human Resources, Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Toledo, OH [biography]

Rebecca Liebes, Vice President, Nutrition, Health, and Wellness, Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Toledo, OH [biography]

W07) Demographic Information: Why Do AAAs Need it? How Does ACL Use It?

Focus Area: Data, Information Exchange and Interoperability

SAGE and ACL propose conducting a joint session to discuss the importance of collecting SOGI and demographic data in support of understanding how to serve populations served by OAA programs. We will also discuss the purpose and use of demographic data more broadly, and how we might see future changes in categories for and how we collect race and ethnicity data. The session will also include how ACL uses and reports on demographic data, and how AAAs should be reviewing the demographic data they collect to understand changes in the populations they’re serving.

Presenters:

Kristen Robinson, Senior Social Science Analyst, Administration for Community Living, Office of Performance and Evaluation, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC [biography]

Aaron Tax, Managing Director of Government Affairs and Policy Advocacy, SAGE, Washington, DC [biography]

W08) Legal Help is a Phone Call Away: Case Studies of Senior Empowerment

Focus Area: Elder Justice

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs funds Florida’s innovative Senior Legal Helpline (SLH) housed at Bay Area Legal Services which provides legal counsel and advice over the phone to eligible seniors throughout the State of Florida. When seniors need additional assistance, SLH attorneys refer clients to legal providers across the state for extended services and potential representation. Many legal aid organizations receive funding from their local Area Agency on Aging to provide this extended service. Bay Area is generously supported by its local AAA, Senior Connection Center. Join attorneys from Bay Area’s SLH and Senior Advocacy Unit as they walk you through the trajectory of three successful legal cases, starting with each client’s initial phone call and ending with an empowering outcome for the seniors.

Presenters:

	Maria Carrubba-Fuentes, Staff Attorney, Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., Tampa, FL [biography] B. Maria Carrubba-Fuentes has been a full-time staff attorney in the Senior Advocacy Unit at Bay Area Legal Services since 2019. She represents seniors in cases involving housing issues, family law, public benefits, and long-term care involuntary discharges. Maria is admitted to practice in Florida, New York, and New Jersey.
	Ellen Cheek, Staff Attorney, Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., Tampa, FL [biography] Ellen Cheek is a senior staff attorney on the Florida Senior Legal Helpline. In addition to direct client service, she has been involved in both federal and state grant-funded projects which are designed to facilitate and improve vulnerable adults’ access to civil legal services.
	Melissa Craig, Managing Attorney, Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., Tampa, FL [biography] Melissa Craig is the managing attorney of Bay Area Legal Services' Senior Advocacy Unit (SAU). Melissa was a member of Bay Area Legal Services' Fair Housing team from 2013 until 2018 when she joined the Senior Advocacy Unit. Melissa earned her law degree from Florida State University College.

W09) What’s New in AAA-Health Care Contracting?

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

Come to this session to learn what’s new in the world of AAA-Health Care Contracting! AAAs, community-based organizations (CBOs) and networks are increasingly contracting with health care entities to assess and address health-related social needs while improving quality of life for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. This session will provide new data on contracting trends from the fifth USAging Aging and Disability Business Institute CBO-Health Care Contracting Survey, conducted since 2017 in partnership with Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University. Presenters will discuss trends in the types of health care entities with which AAAs, CBOs and networks contract, the services they provide through these contracts, data access and exchange, participation in networks, and the benefits and challenges they experience.

Presenters:

Suzanne Kunkel, Senior Research Scholar, Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, Oxford, OH [biography]

Mark Cullen, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Trellis, Arden Hills, MN [biography]

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Workshops

W10) Food First—Helping Caregivers Text Their Way to Culturally Appropriate Meals

Focus Area: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

Food First Caregiver Connect used funds from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to implement this project over two years in collaboration with Bento, a California-based software enterprise firm that uses texting to connect participants to pre-paid, nutritious meals through local restaurants. Food First Caregiver Connect is designed to improve the health, community connectedness and quality of life of African American, Arab American and Hispanic family caregivers and those under their care in Highland Park, Hamtramck and Southwest Detroit. The programs build an infrastructure providing healthy, culturally-specific meals to improve health status, connectedness to community and quality of life.

Presenters:

	Evan Doherty, Program Manager, Bento, Los Angeles, MI [biography] Evan Doherty, is a Program Manager at Bento. With backgrounds in community health and cognitive science, she have a passion for creating human-centered approaches to accessing essential needs and healthcare services. Since Bento’s inception in 2020, she has helped connect thousands of families across the country to nutritious food
	Gilbert Lopez, Director - Nutrition & Community Health Promotions, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Detroit, MI [biography] Gilberto Lopez, RD, MPA has worked with senior meal services for 24 years. He has oversight of Nutrition/Community Health Promotion Services at the Detroit Area Agency on Aging. He is married and his family lives in the Detroit area. He loves fishing, hunting, and kayaking.
	Jacinta Smith, Program Manager, Bento, Los Angeles, CA [biography] Evan Doherty, is a Program Manager at Bento. With backgrounds in community health and cognitive science, she have a passion for creating human-centered approaches to accessing essential needs and healthcare services. Since Bento’s inception in 2020, she has helped connect thousands of families across the country to nutritious food

W11) Community of Care—Transforming Complex Care Through Integration and Healthcare Contracting

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

Amid growing focus on addressing health-related social needs and AAA’s innovative strides in healthcare contracting, the Community of Care (CoC) emerges as a pioneering model. This initiative strategically integrates AAA social care clinicians into medical teams, fostering a synergistic approach to social and medical care. Developed in collaboration with the local health system and a network of community-based organizations, CoC has been instrumental in resolving social determinants of health barriers and improving patient and caregiver outcomes while effectively reducing healthcare costs for complex care older adults. Join our session to learn about CoC’s reduction in hospital and emergency room visits, its progressive transition from grant-funding to sustainability through Medicare billable codes, and efforts underway to evolve to a value-based payment model with shared risk and shared savings.

Presenters:

Theresa Uhrich, Chief Operating Officer, Region IV Area Agency on Aging, St. Joseph, MI [biography]

Christine Vanlandingham, Chief Executive Officer, Region IV Area Agency on Aging, St. Joseph, MI [biography]

W12) Building an Aging Alliance: A Collective Impact Approach to Older Adult Wellness

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

The San Bernardino County Department of Aging and Adult Services-Public Guardian’s, Age Wise Program is a seven-time, award-winning behavioral health program serving older adults through a nontraditional, comprehensive treatment model. This workshop focuses on a groundbreaking approach to integrating these wellness services into other aging friendly programs, such as through collective impact partnerships with In-Home Supportive Services and USAging’s 2023 first place awarded Adult Protective Services At-Home Homelessness Prevention Program. Participants will be introduced to this ‘No Wrong Door’ approach, learn preferred practices for client and provider engagement and collaboration to help reduce stigma and barriers associated with accessing care, and gain tangible ideas for addressing the specialized needs of aging adults that improve outcomes and individuals’ quality of life.

Presenters:

	Krystle Rowe, Deputy Director, San Bernardino County, San Bernardino, CA [biography] Dr. Krystle Rowe, is a Deputy Director within the San Bernardino County Department of Aging and Adult Services – Public Guardian, providing support to the County’s Area Agency on Aging and Age Wise Program. Dr. Rowe is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has a Masters Degree in Business.
	Roxanne Young, Deputy Director, San Bernardino County, San Bernardino, CA [biography] Roxanne Young, MSW, M.Ed., is a Deputy Director with the Adult Protective Services Division in San Bernardino County for the Department of Aging and Adult Services - Public Guardian. Ms. Young has served the County for over 28 years, and is dedicated to providing quality services to the community.

W13) AAAs and Homeless Continuums of Care: Connecting the Dots to Housing Stabilization

Focus Area: Housing and Homelessness

Older adults are the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness. The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) seeks to reduce housing instability among older adults and people with disabilities by increasing access to home and community-based services and housing that is affordable and accessible. As local experts in aging services, AAAs can expand their role in preventing homelessness, including through partnerships with Continuums of Care (CoCs). Attendees will learn how AAAs can partner with CoCs and other organizations for homelessness prevention and response supports. USICH will provide a national overview describing several pathways for partnership formation. Two AAAs will describe their homelessness prevention and response programs’ beginnings, partnerships, outcomes and lessons learned.

Presenters:

	Erika Jones-Haskins, Director of Policy Initiatives, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Washington, DC [biography] Erika Jones-Haskins directs policy initiatives at the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Previously, she was program manager, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Her 20+ years of experience spans human services, housing, community planning, and program design. Her MSW is from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
	Jody Michaelson, Program Manager, Multnomah County Aging Disability and Veteran Services, Portland, OR [biography] Jody Michaelson is a native Portlander who loves helping those in a housing crisis and in need of care. She has extensive experience developing and growing innovative programs that lead to more consumer independence, satisfaction and quality of life. Her degree in social work is from Oregon State University.
	Diane Slezak, President and CEO, AgeOptions, Oak Park, IL [biography] Diane Slezak is President and CEO of AgeOptions and the Illinois Association of AAA’s VP. She serves as a USAging Alternate Board member. She is known for her advocacy to establish programs to serve elders including recently, obtaining state funding to support caregivers and creation of a statewide Caregivers’ Coalition.

W14) Fundraising from the Inside Out: Building an Effective Culture of Philanthropy

Focus Area: Running Your Agency: Strategies to Strengthen Systems and People

Fundraising requires time, energy and resources. Hear from three AAAs that have built cultures of fundraising and are at different stages of this journey- from not having a fundraising staff member to having a team of five, and how they prioritized fundraising, turned program staff into key team members and saw results.

Presenters:

	Teresa Heavens, Director of Marketing, Communications & Development, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Philadelphia, PA [biography] A results-oriented certified Senior Healthcare Communications and Patient Experience officer, and Fund Raising Specialist with extensive experience in public relations, marketing, advancement/fund raising, strategic planning, service improvement, patient/customer satisfaction, HCAPHS and CAPHS data, employee ownership and motivation, and advertising. Innovative leader with hands-on management experience.
	Mary Westphal, Chief Development Officer, Northwest Ohio Area Office on Aging Foundation, Toledo, OH [biography] A senior executive with 35 years of fundraising and communications/marketing experience. Prior to joining the AOOA Foundation, Mary served as executive director for Susan G. Komen, Northwest Ohio. Mary brings direct experience with sponsorship development, individual giving, major gifts, special events, capital campaigns and planned giving.
	Megan Walton, CEO, Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging, Portland, ME [biography] Megan Walton has served as CEO of Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA), located in Portland, Maine, since 2019. Prior to joining SMAA, Walton worked as the COO for Amara, a Seattle nonprofit that supports children and families experiencing foster care.

W15) Supporting Elders in Indian Country: Learnings from the 2023 Title VI Survey

Focus Area: Title VI Native American Aging Programs: Unique Challenges and Solutions

Learn about the many ways Title VI programs support American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian elders and caregivers. Presenters will highlight trends and share new data from the 2023 Title VI Program Survey, including Title VI nutrition programs and traditional foods, supports for grandparent and kinship caregivers, transportation options and challenges, elder justice initiatives, partnerships with Title III and more. Speakers will introduce new resources and give time for participants to interact with the materials and each other. This work was funded, in part, by the Administration for Community Living and developed in partnership with Scripps Gerontology Center. This session is for anyone who wants to learn more about how Title VI programs support elders in Native American communities across the country.

Presenters:

Beth Blair, Senior Research Associate, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

Traci Wilson, Director, Research, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

W17) Advancing Cross-Sector Collaboration to Implement the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers

Focus Area: Advancing Our Advocacy

Last year, the National Alliance for Caregiving, in partnership with USAging, launched a national campaign to drive federal policymakers, program administrators, and influencers on the national level to support and resource implementation actions outlined in the RAISE National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. Due to the collective action across sectors in the caregiving landscape, the Administration for Community Living has committed over $20 million to advance the implementation of the National Strategy across each of the strategy’s five goals. This session will cover action-oriented strategies and opportunities to encourage implementation of the National Strategy among AAA stakeholders via a new cooperative agreement initiative.

Presenters:

Lance Robertson, Director (Health), Guidehouse Inc., Oklahoma City, OK [biography]

Mike Wittke, Vice President, Policy & Advocacy, National Alliance for Caregiving, Washington, DC, DC [biography]

W18) Closing the Transportation Gap: TrustedRiders Chaperones—People Power Plus Technology

Focus Area: Enhancing Independent Living Through Transportation Innovations

The TrustedRiders Chaperone model provides training and technical assistance by seasoned service professionals to support local programs. Now in thirteen sites nationally, trusted local community organizations and hospitals deploy Volunteer Chaperones to populations in need of extra assistance to attend non-emergency medical appointments and other essential services, bridging the gap in existing available transport including rideshare, taxis, volunteer drivers, public transportation, vans and paratransit. Learn more about how locally customized TrustedRiders-affiliated programs provide accountability, with Chaperones able to act as the “responsible adult” mandated by insurance for patients discharged from procedures requiring sedation, reduce healthcare costs, support the safety, security, and comfort of patients, improve health outcomes and address social determinants of health.

Presenters:

Deborah Kayton Michals, Chief Operating Officer/Co-Founder, TrustedRiders Inc., Riverside, CT [biography]

Alan Lopatin, Chief Executive Officer, TrustedRiders Inc., Washington, DC [biography]

W19) Dementia Friendly America 2024: A Growing Network, New Resources and More!

Focus Area: Building Livable and Dementia-Friendly Communities

Join the DFA team and a AAA dementia friendly champion to celebrate ten years of Dementia Friendly America and reflect on where we stand today as a clearinghouse of dementia friendly resources and a growing network of dementia friends, communities and national partners committed to supporting people living with dementia and their care partners. We will walk you through our new website; introduce our new and enhanced resources, initiatives and partnerships; and teach you how you can engage or reimagine your engagement in dementia friendly efforts. You will have the opportunity to network with others, share a bit about your interest or current engagement in dementia friendly efforts, ask questions and learn about how DFA and our resources can support your work.

Presenters:

Mary Ek, Director, Dementia Friendly America and Community Care Corps, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

Darya Rahbar, Program Manager, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Welcome Reception in the Tradeshow

Tuesday, July 9

6:30 AM - 7:30 AM

19th Annual Early Bird Walk

7:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Registration and Information Desk Open

Lactation Room

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Networking Breakfast in the Tradeshow

7:40 AM - 8:20 AM

Dementia Friendly America Networking

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Networking Break in the Tradeshow

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Mobile Workshops

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Roundtables

RT01) Navigating DEI: Strategies for Inclusive Aging and Disability Services

Please join us for a round table discussion focusing on the proactive steps Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are taking to engage their communities in diversity, equity and inclusion conversations and practices. Come learn from AAAs as they share their approaches to ensuring inclusivity and responsiveness to the diverse populations they serve.

Presenters:

Sara Tribe Clark, Director, Eldercare Locator and Disability Information and Access Line, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

Melissa Gray, Assistant Director, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Hot Topics

HT03) Collaborating on Caregiving—MCO Partnerships that help AAAs Support Caregivers

Caregivers are critical to care teams and critical to supporting loved ones with complex health needs. But what support do caregivers need to manage the stress, social isolation and the physical health issues that we see in caregivers? How do we provide caregivers the support and information they need while helping them navigate the system? What resources and collaboration can MCOs provide to help AAAs help support caregivers? Join us to learn what made a meaningful difference for our caregivers.

Sponsored by CareSource

Presenters:

	Terrie Hottle, Director, SDOH, Life Services, CareSource, Tipp City, OH [biography] Terrie joined CareSource as a Life Coach for the CareSource JobConnect™ program and in 2017, she moved into the Enterprise role to develop and implement programs for social determinants of health for current and new markets. Currently, she focuses on workforce development (CareSource JobConnect™) and caregiver supports (CaregiverConnect™), SDOH data management, and process implementation. She also leads a team that focuses on food and nutrition and housing.`
	Chris Fagerstrom, Senior VP, Home & Community Based Services, Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities, Uniontown, OH [biography] Chris has been employed with Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities for the past 25 years. Chris has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Akron, and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Malone University. The division he oversees currently has 140 staff members who serve over 7,500 individuals, with the focus being to maximize their health outcomes, while keeping program costs low and client satisfaction high.
	Michael Eidsaune, CEO, Caregiving.com, Dayton, OH [biography] Mike Eidsaune is the CEO of Caregiving.com, an ecosystem and platform that helps caregivers and their loved ones live more fulfilling lives throughout their care journey. He believes that supporting family caregivers is the key to finding solutions to many of the challenges we face today in the broader healthcare landscape.

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Workshops

W20) Are We There Yet? Designing Complete Trips and Age Friendly Communities

Focus Area: Enhancing Independent Living Through Transportation Innovations

Access to transportation is one of the greatest challenges facing older adults who desire to live independently and actively. And initiatives like Age-Friendly Communities and Complete Streets help re-focus transportation planning to include all road users, regardless of age or abilities. This workshop will begin with a perspective from the Federal Transit Administration on the “Complete Trip” from booking a ride to navigating street infrastructure and boarding and exiting the vehicle. The Atlanta Regional Commission will present on their coordinated community efforts to address mobility and access challenges facing older adults and people with disabilities, efforts to advance Age Friendly and Complete Streets objectives and the active role AAAs can play in improving accessibility for everyone.

Presenters:

	David Somers, Senior Research Associate, USAging/NADTC, Washington, DC [biography] Staff
	Becky Kurtz, Managing Director, Aging & Independence Services and Director, Area Agency on Aging, Atlanta Regional Commission, Atlanta, GA [biography] Becky Kurtz, JD, leads service delivery and prepares for the future of the rapidly aging metro Atlanta region, as the director of the area agency on aging within the Atlanta Regional Commission. Each year, tens of thousands of people receive services through ARC’s Empowerline, a trusted source for connecting resources.
	Mike Alexander, Chief Operating Officer, Atlanta Regional Commission, GA [biography] Mike Alexander is the Chief Operating Officer of the Atlanta Regional Commission, managing the Community Development, Natural Resources, Research & Analytics, Transportation Planning, Mobility Services, Aging and Independence Services, Workforce Development, and Homeland Security Departments of the ARC. Mike has over 20 years of public policy experience focused on regional and local community planning.? As the COO, he leads this multidisciplinary, professional staff in the fields of transportation planning, environmental planning, community and workforce development, economics, aging services, and demographic forecasting.

W21) Lay-Led Behavioral Activation for Older Adults with Depression

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

This session looks at the methodology, progress and interventions in an ongoing, NIMH-funded, multisite randomized clinical trial comparing Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression as delivered by master’s level clinicians to a lay-led version (called “Do More Feel Better”) delivered by older adult volunteer coaches to reduce depressive symptoms for older adults. Dr. Nicole Crawford will provide an overview of the study rationale, interventions, methodology, and progress. Mary Jo McKay will describe her experience as the county’s lead aging service agency collaborating on the study. And Enid Rubio will describe her experience as a Do More Feel Better coach, including training, supervision, observations, challenges, and facilitators to delivering the intervention.

Presenters:

	Nicole Crawford, Project Coordinator, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL [biography] Nicole O. Crawford, DrPH, LCSW, is the project coordinator at the University of South Florida for a five-year NIMH R01 multi-site randomized control trial, “Lay-Led Behavioral Activation for Older Adults with Depression.” She has a private practice serving older adults through therapy, advocacy, educational presentations, caregiver consultation, and research.
	Amber Gum, Professor, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL [biography] Amber Gum, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy at the University of South Florida. She conducts research on the integration of behavioral health services for older adults and primary care patients. Her research has been funded by NIMH, PCORI, RRF, and other sources.
	Mary Jo McKay, Nutrition and Wellness Manager, Hillsborough County Department of Aging Services, Tampa, FL [biography] Ms. Mary Jo McKay is Nutrition and Wellness Manager for Hillsborough County Department of Aging Services, the lead aging service agency for Hillsborough County, Florida. She oversees numerous senior centers and wellness programs across the county. She collaborates closely with the NIMH-funded study of lay-led behavioral activation for depressed seniors.
	Enid Rubio, Do More Feel Better Volunteer Coach, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL [biography] Ms. Enid Rubio is a retired family medical practice manger. She has experience volunteering with a local senior center and as a bilingual peer coach for the Do More Feel Better Study. She is a wife, mother, and caregiver to her mother.

W22) Making Great Leadership Transitions

Focus Area: Running Your Agency: Strategies to Strengthen Systems and People

There is no perfect way to make a great leadership transition. But a formal process and transparent communication is key. This workshop will explore three different approaches to making a great leadership transition and pitfalls to avoid a difficult transition. Learn from the lived experience of three AAA CEOs who have replaced long-time predecessors. One AAA promoted from within without doing an external search. Another selected its new CEO externally. The third CEO was promoted from within as an Interim CEO while the organization engaged a search firm to do a national search. Whether your Agency is facing a transition now or years in the future, get practical tips that can be applied at any stage of the plan.

Presenters:

Justin Moor, Interim CEO, Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc., Toledo, OH [biography]

Abby Morgan, COO, Direction Home Akron Canton, Medina, OH [biography]

W23) Venture into Volunteering—One Solution to Recruitment, Collaboration and Engagement

Focus Area: Workforce and Volunteerism

Finding ways to engage volunteers in the community through service has become more challenging as the pandemic created barriers to service and changed the service delivery model for some agencies. Partnering with local government, business and nonprofits to develop a volunteer fair that highlights local needs and connects potential volunteers to a multitude of ways to engage and support the community through service. Share in our successes and failures. Walk away with a step-by-step guide to building partnerships and hosting a local volunteer fair. Learn what boomers, seniors and retirees want in a volunteer assignment. Be able to replicate the award-winning Venture into Volunteering Fair and promote volunteerism in your community

Presenters:

Trina Mayhan-Webb, Director- Adult and Aging Services, Dept of Family Services- Adult and Aging, Area Agency on Aging, Fairfax VA 22035, US, VA [biography]

Emily Swenson, Social Services Supervisor, Area Agency on Aging, Fairfax, VA [biography]

W24) Memory Cafés—A Journey of Connection

Focus Area: Building Livable and Dementia-Friendly Communities

Memory Cafés are known for creating space for socialization and connectedness for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Dementia Capable Southern Arizona (DCSA), acting as the community hub for Memory Cafés, has partnered with organizations locally and nationally planning and implementing cafes around the community. We began establishing Memory Cafés in our community in 2020. Through planning and implementation, we discovered that Memory Cafés serve as an opportunity to foster and grow longstanding relationships while creating new avenues for collaboration with community partners. This systematic hub approach has ensured access to various geographic regions and underserved populations, expanded services and increased opportunities for funding and support. We will share successes, challenges, lessons learned, our evolving ‘hub’ approach and path forward.

Presenters:

	Eliizabeth Cozzi, Associate Vice President of Community Development, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Tucson, AZ [biography] Elizabeth Cozzi, AuD has a background in healthcare, community outreach and education, program development and implementation, clinical supervision, patient advocacy and improving access to care. Liz holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders and Education, a Master of Science in Speech and Hearing, and Doctorate in Audiology.
	Harbhajan Khalsa, Dementia Capable Southern Arizona, PCOA, Tucson, AZ [biography] Harbhajan Khalsa, Dementia Capable Southern Arizona Program Director, a Tucson native, has served her community in a professional capacity for over 8 years. While she began her career providing services to individuals in a behavioral health, she began working directly with older adults in 2018 when she joined Pima Council
	Rebekah McGee, Senior VP Business Development & Strategy, Pima Council on Aging, Tucson, AZ [biography] Rebekah McGee has spent over 20 years with nonprofit human and social service organizations the last 15 years spent serving in an executive leadership capacity.

W25) Community Care Hub Indiana: Achieving Quality and Scale to Support Indiana PathWays mLTSS Program

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

The movement of states toward mLTSS has left many AAAs outside the new system of care. As Indiana transitions to its mLTSS launch this summer, Community Care Hub Indiana (CCHI) has developed an infrastructure to facilitate partnership between managed care entities (MCEs) and AAAs to enhance care provision for clients. Functioning as the contracting bridge between all three selected MCEs in Indiana and the AAA provider network, CCHI assures referrals can be received and managed at scale, workflow is standardized, quality and compliance are documented, and payments can flow. Join us to learn how CCHI was organized, capitalized, technology enabled and staffed. Discover from our journey what might be possible in your own state to assure meaningful AAA engagement in mLTSS.

Presenters:

	Tauhric Brown, President & CEO, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, Indianapolis, IN [biography] Tauhric Brown is the President and CEO of CICOA
	Debra Nauls-Freeman, Chief Operating Officer, CCHI, Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, Fort Wayne, IN [biography] Debra Nauls-Freeman is focused on improving the lives of those she serves daily. Her tenured career in the managed care space with a specific focus on Social Drivers of Health, led her to this current role leading the work to develop our statewide network under the Community Care Hub umbrella.
	Jim Vandagrifft, Chief Strategic Business Development Officer, AIHS & Executive Director, CCHI, Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, Fort Wayne, IN [biography] Jim Vandagrifft is driven to discover innovative ways to improve processes and make positive impact in people’s health and quality of life. Today, his primary focus is on the post-acute continuum and Social Determinates of Health (SDoH) driving healthcare costs.

W26) The Detroit Story: Strengthening Caregivers Through Community Collaborations

Focus Area: Supporting Caregivers

This Detroit-based Caregiver Resource Center offers a variety of services for caregivers including initial assessments, access to online training and an array of evidence-based and informed classes which help caregivers receive supportive services that increase confidence in their abilities to provide safe and compassionate care. This workshop will examine how community partnerships function as a foundation to the program and broadens its capacity to serve a diverse population of caregivers whether they are male, long-distance, dementia-focused or at the end of their caregiver journey. Evidence-based and informed caregiver classes, webinars and events expand our reach to caregivers to provide comedic relief or a hug. Referrals to respite care, adult day care and other programs are a phone call away–thanks to the CarePartners.

Presenters:

	Anne Holmes Davis, Vice President - Planning & Program Development, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Detroit, MI [biography] Anne Holmes Davis, MUP, is Vice-President of Planning and Program Development at the Detroit Area Agency on Aging and has worked in the field of aging for over 40 years. She has oversight of Planning, Caregiver Support Services, MMAP, Home Repair and Transportation and Nutrition/Community Health Promotion.
	Laura Riddick, Caregiver Support Coordinator, Detroit Area Agency on Aging (Trial Only), Detroit, MI [biography] Laura Riddick BSP, MAHS, has been a Caregiver Support Coordinator at the Detroit Area Agency on Aging for nearly 2 years. Human Services has always been in Laura’s path and journey of serving in a nonsecular arena for over 20 years through Faith-based audiences.
	Crystal White, Caregiver Support Coordinator, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Detroit, MI [biography] Crystal White, MA, FLE joined the Detroit Area Agency on Aging in 2018 as the Community Resource Navigator. In 2019 she became the Caregiver Support Coordinator, having the honor of building out a new Caregiver Resource Center for the agency.

W27) Healthy Homes: Federal Grant Programs to Promote Safe and Healthy Living Environments

Focus Area: Housing and Homelessness

US Housing and Urban Development Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Brenda M. Reyes, MD, MPH, Director of Policy and Standards Division, OLHCHH Taneka M. Blue, OTD, OTR/L, CAPS, Policy Analyst, Older Adult Home Modification Program Learn how our grant programs are helping to lead the nation to a future where homes are healthy, safe, affordable, and habitable. Following the 8 principles of healthy homes, HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) programs identify and remediate household environmental hazards. The office provides funding for home modification and maintenance-based interventions in a manner that supports the long-term health and independence of community-dwelling aging adults. The OLHCHH programs benefit low- income vulnerable populations that reside in privately-owned, rental and/or owner-occupied homes.

Presenters:

Taneka Blue, Occupational Therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Government Technical Representative - Older Adult Home Modification Program, The Department of Housng and Urban Development- Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, Washington, DC [biography]

Brenda Reyes, M.D., MPH - Director, Policy & Standards Division, Office of Lead Hazard Control, The Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC [biography]

W28) Aging Funders Forum

Grantmakers In Aging is a community of funders mobilizing money and ideas to strengthen policies, programs, and resources for all of us as we age. Learn about the scope of aging philanthropic funders and how your agency may be able to tap into their funds to support older adults and caregivers in your community.

Presenter:

Emily Hinsey, Director of Programs, Grantmakers In Aging, Washington, DC [biography]

W29) State Unit on Aging and State Association Collaboration for Innovations in Aging

Focus Area: Cutting-Edge OAA and Aging Programs

Are you looking to enhance aging services, legislative advocacy, innovative programs, and build a public private partnership between state government and state advocates? New York State Office for the Aging and The Association on Aging in New York have aligned to provide significant enhancement, and opportunities for local AAA's to enhance services, and utilize technology to address social determinates of health. Additionally, the Association on Aging has created an Independent Practice Association for participation in value-based payment arrangements and engagement in Federal Medicaid Waiver Programs. Additionally, NYS is currently in process of creation and implementation of a Master Plan on Aging and is participating with leadership at the Federal Level for a Federal Master Plan on Aging.

Presenters:

	Greg Olsen, Director, New York State Office for the Aging, Albany, NY [biography] Greg Olsen is the Acting Director of the New York State Office for the Aging where he is responsible for the oversight and day to day operations and the administration of federal and state funded programs designed to assist the more than 4.6 million older adult residents in the state.
	Rebecca Preve, Executive Director, Association on Aging in New York, Albany, NY [biography] Becky Preve is the Executive Director for the Association on Aging in New York, a member organization representing the 59 area agencies on aging in NY. The mission of the Association is to support and enhance the capacity of New York’s local area agencies on aging and to work in

W30) Live From DC: Federal Policy Updates from USAging

Focus Area: Advancing Our Advocacy

Advocacy is a critical part of our shared mission to support older adults and caregivers. To support Aging Network advocates, USAging's policy staff will expand upon our 2024 Policy Priorities and provide an in-depth, real-time update about breaking aging and health care policy issues that will affect your clients and community. Get the latest updates on OAA reauthorization and final regulations, key advocacy messages and what you can do NOW to advance better federal aging policy! Session is appropriate for all levels of policy knowledge.

Presenters:

Olivia Umoren, Director, Public Policy and Advocacy, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

Amy Gotwals, Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

11:40 AM - 1:00 PM

State Grassroots Coordinators Luncheon (by invitation only)

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

Networking Lunch in the Tradeshow

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Roundtables

RT02) Health Care Contracting and Social Care Network Development in Rural Areas

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

Explore the distinct advantages and obstacles of health care contracting and social care network development in rural regions through a roundtable discussion. Discover and share effective strategies for member engagement, network infrastructure development and partnership formation with health care organizations. Gain valuable insights to enhance your agency’s contracting capabilities and apply practical solutions within your AAA.

Presenters:

	Jessica Machler, Senior Program Manager of Rural Health and Social Engagement, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] Jessica Machler joined USAging in January 2023. Prior to joining USAging, Jessica worked for the Area Agencies on Aging in Pennsylvania. Since 2015, she has served various roles to assist with building and scaling networks to increase the quality and geographic reach of care for older adults.
	Marisa Scala-Foley, Director, Aging and Disability Business Institute, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] Marisa Scala-Foley serves as the Director of the Aging and Disability Business Institute at USAging, which provides community-based organizations (CBOs) with the tools and resources to successfully adapt to a changing health care environment, enhance their organizational capacity and capitalize on emerging opportunities to diversify funding.
	Deborah Stone-Walls, Chief, Programs and Services, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] Deborah Stone-Walls joined USAging in 2021 as the Chief, Programs and Services. She oversees the association’s programs that help its Area Agency on Aging and Title VI Native American Aging Program members support older adults and people with disabilities as they live independently in the communities of their choosing.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Corporate Workshops

CW04) Creating Sustainable Partnerships to Support a Social Care Workforce for the Future

Focus Area: Not Applicable - General Session

AAA and community care hub partnerships with health care organizations can promote whole-person care and drive sustainability for agencies and health plans alike. Join us for a panel discussion focused on fostering workforce development partnerships to meet both individual and organizational needs. Learn collaborative strategies to establish a high-quality, enduring system of community-based care.

Presenters:

	Taib Dedic, Senior Director, LTSS Growth & Development , Centene, St. Louis, MI [biography] Taib Dedic is a Senior Director with Centene’s Growth and Development Team. Taib is responsible for growth and development of Centene’s Long Term Services & Supports (LTSS) programs.
	Brandy Bailey, Associate Vice President, Strategy Advancement, Medicaid Program Management, Humana, Oklahoma City, OK [biography] Brandy Bailey serves as the Humana Associate Vice President of Integrated Operations. Brandy leads the National Medicaid LTSS strategy & operating model as well as the strategy and operating model for integration points with Medicare. This work includes spearheading partnerships with AAA organizations which emphasize leveraging the strengths of partners and Humana in a way that brings the best to members while caring for the experience of our valuable HCBS partners. Brandy has more than 15 years of leadership experience in LTSS & Home & Community Based Services.
	Andrew Renda, Vice President of Population Health for Humana Healthy Horizons, Humana, Louisvilel, KY [biography] Dr. Renda is a collaborative and cross-functional leader, recognized for co-creating medical, behavioral, and social health solutions that maximalize Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and improve health outcomes. A published researcher and speaker in the fields of population health, health-related social needs (HRSN), health equity, and chronic disease, Dr. Renda's work strives to inform co-created solutions to improve community health.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Workshops

W31) Clear Path Forward to Emergency Preparedness: Roles, Responsibilities and Actions for AAAs

Focus Area: Running Your Agency: Strategies to Strengthen Systems and People

This workshop highlights the Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities, Oregon Department of Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Administration) Region 10 and the Administration for Community Living collaboration efforts in producing a usable and replicable Emergency Preparedness Handbook. This handbook was created for Oregon AAAD’s as a result of many natural disasters and the necessity for improved emergency coordination to meet the needs of older adults and those with disabilities. The session will provide an overview of the handbook formulation, emergency preparedness roles and responsibilities, and action steps to take when creating agency emergency preparedness plan. Attendees will leave with a usable and replicable guide to implement in their local AAA.

Presenters:

	Ilyssa Plumer, Community Preparedness Officer, FEMA Region 10, Bothell, WA
	Louise Ryan, Regional Administrator, Administration for Community Living, Seattle, WA
	Philip Warnock, Executive Director, Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities, Salem, OR

W32) Bridging Aging and Disability: Promising Practices Partnering AAA's and Disability Organizations

Focus Area: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

This session will highlight promising practices that have been developed in states between AAAs and grantees for the ACL Community of Practice "Bridging Disability & Aging networks" grant.

Presenters:

	Joe Caldwell, Director of Community Living Policy Center, Brandeis University, Washington, DC [biography] Joe Caldwell has extensive background working in the aging and disability fields. Mr. Caldwell is the author of the Promising Practices for the Bridging Disability and Aging Networks grant.
	Walt Glomb, Director, Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hartford, CT [biography] Walt Glomb is the Director of the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities. He is also a parent of an adult with a Developmental Disability.
	Andrew Morris, Consultant, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, Washington, DC [biography] Andrew Morris has worked in the disability policy field for over 20 years with ten plus years in the disability field and a number of years working on policy issues related to both the disability and aging.

W33) Direct Care Workforce–A Recipe for Success

Focus Area: Workforce and Volunteerism

The increasing need for home-based services for older adults is outpacing the capacity of the direct care workforce nationwide. The solution to this does not just lie with the direct care worker (DCW). This is an aging, homecare, industry and community issue. The recipe for success lies in three key areas: The DCW themselves, the most successful environment for a DCW and community awareness. What does it take to be a DCW, what are the expectations; what supports does a DCW need to promote career longevity and how do we engage the community in long-term far-reaching systemic solutions? We share how our innovative, system-change-based approach to this work addresses all three of those areas and has demonstrated successes over the last three years.

Presenter:

Yadira Mosqueira, Director, PimaCare at Home, Tucson, AZ [biography]

W34) Respite for ME Grants Pilot Program: Challenging the Notion of Caregiver Services

Focus Area: Supporting Caregivers

The Respite for ME Grants is a two-year pilot program administered through Maine’s Area Agencies on Aging and managed by the Office of Aging and Disability Services. There are many objectives to the pilot, but the most important is answering the question: “What do Maine’s caregivers need to better care for themselves and their care recipient?” Using a person-centered approach and multiple assessment tools, Maine is expanding covered services beyond traditional respite to evaluate the varying needs of Maine’s family caregivers. This session will review statistics and trends related to family caregiving in Maine, the history and implementation of the Respite for ME Grants Pilot Program; in addition to sharing caregiver impact stories.

Presenters:

	Laura Elwell, Caregiver Services Manager, Maine Office of Aging and Disability Services, Augusta, ME [biography] Laura Elwell is the Caregiver Services Manager at the Office of Aging and Disability Services, Department of Health and Human Services at the State of Maine. As Caregiver Services Manager, Laura oversees federal and state-funded programming related to Family Caregiver Services at Maine’s five area agencies on aging. Laura’s background
	Catherine Slye, Family Caregiver Specialist, Maine, Augusta, ME [biography] Catherine Slye holds a MA in Clinical Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and a BA in Psychology from the University of Tampa. She began her journey into aging and disability services in 2018 working at a local area agency on aging, where she found a new
	Megan Walton, CEO, Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging, Portland, ME [biography] Megan Walton has served as CEO of Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA), located in Portland, Maine, since 2019. Prior to joining SMAA, Walton worked as the COO for Amara, a Seattle nonprofit that supports children and families experiencing foster care.

W35) Recognizing the Value of a Strong State Association

Focus Area: Advancing Our Advocacy

This session at last year’s conference was so well received we are doing it again, with new panelists and different perspectives! Having a seat at the table is crucial for effective advocacy by AAAs, but can be difficult if your state network is not organized. State associations with paid staff have been an effective force for advocacy on behalf of state Aging Networks and AAAs in particular. Learn more about the value a strong state association can bring to the AAA network in your state.

Presenters:

	Michael Costa, Executive Director, California Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Oakland, CA [biography] Michael is Executive Director of the California AAA Association. With extensive health policy experience and an MPP from the University of Michigan, he was hired in 2021 to facilitate integration of social and healthcare services within the AAA network and to build the scope, reach, and effectiveness of the Association.
	Rebecca Preve, Executive Director, Association on Aging in New York, Albany, NY [biography] Becky Preve is the Executive Director for the Association on Aging in New York, a member organization representing the 59 area agencies on aging in NY. The mission of the Association is to support and enhance the capacity of New York’s local area agencies on aging and to work in
	Beth Kowalczyk, Chief Policy Officer, Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging (o4a), Columbus, OH [biography] Chief Policy Officer - Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging (o4a) and member of City Council in Worthington, Ohio. Bachelor of Arts, Kent State University. Juris Doctorate, New York University School of Law. Admitted to Ohio Bar in 1993.

W36) The Evolution of Community Health Workers at Central Indiana AAA

Focus Area: Cutting-Edge OAA and Aging Programs

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders at CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, the AAA for central Indiana, took the first steps in an incredible journey in the world of employing Community Health Workers (CHWs). Since the first CHW position was filled in April 2022, CICOA has hired a total of 21 CHWs with more to come. CHWs are implemented into care management teams, senior nutrition programming and the facilitation of a behavioral health grant. This presentation builds on a presentation at last year’s conference. Learn about the strategy, evaluation and innovation involved in being one of the largest employers of CHW’s in the state and what’s to come next!

Presenters:

	Donata Duffy, Vice President, Business Development, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, Indianapolis, IN [biography] Donata Duffy, BSW, MHA, is the Vice President of Business Development at CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions. Donata is responsible for overseeing several departments that provide a variety of services from meals, transportation, care coordination and healthcare contracting.
	McKenzie Reed, Community Health Worker Team Lead, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, Indianapolis, IN [biography] McKenzie Reed, certified CHW, is the Community Health Worker Team Lead currently overseeing the onboarding, continued training and quality review of all case management CHWs within CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions. McKenzie was the first CHW hired at CICOA in 2022 and helped build the processes and procedures for CHWs.
	Rebecca Hailperin-Lausch, Data Analyst, CICOA Aging & In-home Solutions, Indianapolis, IN [biography] Rebecca Hailperin-Lausch joined CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions as a data analyst in March 2023. Since joining, she has played a key role in consolidating and unifying CICOA's diverse data sources. Using Tableau, Rebecca creates dynamic, live dashboards that serve as important tools for stakeholders throughout the organization.

W37) Adult Protective Services and Public Guardian: MDT and Collaboration

Focus Area: Elder Justice

Adult Protective Services (APS) is on the front line of elder abuse and self-neglect. When there is no one willing or able to assist a senior or dependent adult who lacks capacity, APS will refer them to the Office of the Public Guardian (PG). These cases can take months before they are before the courts, leaving many of these vulnerable individuals between services and potentially at risk. Learn how San Diego County, the Office of the Public Guardian and the County’s Adult Protective Services identified the need to address this gap prior to the appointment of a conservator.

Presenters:

Alejandrina (Alex) Martin, Supervisor, County of San Diego, San Diego, CA [biography]

Michelle Abrena, Supervising Deputy Public Guardian, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services, San Diego, CA [biography]

W38) How Can We Make Transportation Accessible for All? New Ideas from ATRC

Focus Area: Enhancing Independent Living Through Transportation Innovations

The new Accessible Transportation Resource Center (ATRC), funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), has embarked on an effort to both identify the barriers encountered by transportation users who are older adults, have disabilities or are marginalized or underserved and learn about approaches that work to address those barriers. ATRC’s work is guided by a diverse Steering Committee that includes providers, researchers, advocates and transportation users. This workshop will include both an overview of the work of ATRC to improve the accessibility of transportation and offer concrete examples of ways in which communities can increase transportation access to better meet the needs of vulnerable users. Speakers from ACL and the ATRC Steering Committee will present.

Presenters:

	Virginia Dize, Program Director, Transportation, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] Virginia Dize is the Program Director of Transportation at USAging and Co-Director of the FTA-funded National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). Ms. Dize also directs USAging’s work on the National Transportation Accessibility Center and Inclusive Coordinated Transportation Partnership Project, funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
	Lori Gerhard, Director, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC [biography] Lori Gerhard is the Director of the Office of Integrated Programs, U.S. Administration for Community Living in Washington, DC. As part of her work, she oversee the Accessible Transportation Resource Center.
	Stephanie Blunt, Executive Director, Trident Area Agency on Aging/Aging and Disability Resource Center, North Charleston, SC [biography] Stephanie Blunt is the Executive Director of Trident Area Agency on Aging/Aging and Disability Resource Center in North Charleston, SC. She was hired as Program Manager in August 2000 and was promoted as Executive Director in January 2002. Under the direction of the Trident Area Agency on Aging Board of Directors, Stephanie provides oversight for all Older Americans Act Services, including Title III-B Supportive Services. She ensures that Title III-B Funding is allocated to providing safe, affordable, and accessible transportation in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties.
	Grayson Lee, Program Associate, Community Transportation Association of America, Washington, DC [biography] Grayson Lee is a Program Associate at the Community Transportation Association of America, which operates the Accessible Transportation Resource Center through funding by the Administration on Community Living. Previously, she also worked briefly on Transit Planning for All, an ACL technical assistance center focused on inclusive planning. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in International Relations.

W39) Examining Best Practices to Reduce Readmissions and Enhance post-Discharge Outcomes in Aging

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

Leaders from the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging will: 1) show how CCTP saves one health plan $1.5 million per year; 2) examine the financial model the agency uses to operate sustainably and 3) review business principles payers and CBOs must agree to for successful relationships. The goal of this presentation is to show organizations seeking to increase their profitability and impact through care transitions how they can create a process that is sustainable and raise the health and wellbeing of their communities.

Presenters:

Rainna Bernesser, Director of Special Services and Strategic Planning Bureau, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Area Agency of Aging, Pittsburgh, PA [biography]

Darren Cerrato, Senior Analyst, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Office of Analytics, Technology, and Planning, Pittsburgh, PA [biography]

W40) Multi-Sector Plans 101: Coming to a State Near You?

Focus Area: Advancing Our Advocacy

There’s lots of buzz around master or multi-sector plans on aging, but what do AAAs and Title VI programs need to know now? Hear national, state and local perspectives on how these planning efforts can benefit aging policy and services in your state—and ideally complement and support your area plans. Gather examples from other states to inform your state’s AAA and Title VI involvement!

Presenters:

	Jennifer Crawley, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Aging, Baltimore, MD [biography] Jennifer Crawley was appointed as Maryland's Department of Aging Deputy Secretary in July 2023. Crawley has more than 25 years of experience in local and state government and the healthcare industry. Crawley earned her Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland.
	Victoria Jump, Executive Director, Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, Ventura, CA [biography] Ms. Jump has been the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging executive director since 2004. Under her leadership the organization adapted programs based on the communities’ needs and developed additional programs to support the community as needed. Working within the older adults’ services arena, Ms. Jump’s efficacy as a leader
	Amy Herr, Director, Health Policy, West Health Policy Center, Washington, DC [biography] Amy Herr is the Director, Health Policy for the nonprofit, nonpartisan West Health Policy Center. West Health is dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life, and independence. Amy leads the organization’s aging policy portfolio, including championing Multisector Plans for Aging at the state level, expanding the PACE program, and advancing actionable policy proposals to lower the cost of healthcare and accelerate the move to a value-based care system.

W41) Operation Aging Veterans: Pioneering Partnerships, Removing Barriers for Aging/Disabled Homeless Veterans

Focus Area: Housing and Homelessness

Veteran Affairs’ collaboration between Housing and Urban Development-VA Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) with Geriatric and Extended Care (GEC) focuses on housing aging and disabled Veterans. HUD-VASH aims to provide high-quality care to homeless Veterans who are aging and/or living with complex medical needs to exit homelessness and live independently for as long as possible. The program strives to find collaborative ways to utilize existing internal resources and enhance relationships with community partners. This collaborative initiative is comprised of four key strategies: Increasing access to GEC services for Veterans experiencing homelessness; Developing housing options to assist with using HUD-VASH vouchers in specialized housing settings; expanding the use of HUD-VASH project-based vouchers (PBV) with intensive on-site services; and proactively developing partnerships with community agencies.

Presenters:

	Sherry Braslavsky, VISN16 HUDVASH and GEC Program Specialist, Department of Veterans Affairs, Fayetteville, AR [biography] Sherry Braslavsky is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked at the VA since 2015, in multiple roles that include HUD-VASH Coordinator, Suicide Prevention Coordinator, and Medical Foster Homes Coordinator. Currently, Sherry serves as VISN 16 HUDVASH and Geriatric Program Specialist.
	Edgar Hernandez-Garcia, VISN20 HUDVASH and GEC Program Coordinator, Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA [biography] Edgar Hernandez-Garcia holds a Masters in Social Work Administration from the University of Washington, 2004. Joining the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2010, where he has provided direct patient care, supervision and program oversight in a variety of programs. Edgar serves as VISN20 HUDVASH and Geriatric Program Specialist.
	Tonya Starkey, V17 HUDVASH and GEC Program Specialist, Department of Veterans Affairs, San Angelo, TX [biography] As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Case Manager, Tonya provides clinical care in medical and mental health settings. Tonya has served as a Health Care for Homeless Program Manager and Chief, Social Work at West Texas VA. Currently, Tonya serve as VISN 17 HUDVASH and Geriatric Program Specialist.

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Mobile Workshops

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Mobile Workshops

MW02) Navigating Independence: Empowering Older Adults Through Local Transit Solutions

Focus Area: Enhancing Independent Living Through Transportation Innovations

In this interactive session, attendees will explore the dynamic world of travel training within local routes, with a particular focus on older adults utilizing fixed-route buses and streetcars.

Embark on a journey aboard the TECO Line Streetcar for a firsthand look at its accessibility features, followed by a comprehensive presentation at the streetcar barn. From there, this mobile workshop will delve into the nuances of travel training, emphasizing the importance of personalized routes tailored to individual needs, safety considerations, and mobility aid accommodation.

Discover how Hillsborough Area Regional Transit's (HART) partnership with local agencies facilitates seamless referrals, enabling access to the support and resources that people with disabilities and older adults need. Delve deeper into the practicalities of transit travel, from understanding inevitable system hiccups to fostering patience and resilience in the face of delays and disruptions.

Join HART as they empower older adults to embrace independence, navigate transit systems confidently, and seize the opportunities for connection and exploration that local transit offers. Let's pave the way for a future where every older adult can travel with ease and confidence.

Presenters:

Catherine Sanchez, Customer Service Supervisor and former HART Travel Trainer, Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART), Tampa, FL [biography]

Ernest Fernandez, HART Bilingual Travel Trainer, Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART), Tampa, FL [biography]

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Networking Break in the Tradeshow

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Corporate Fast-Track Sessions

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM Workshops

W42) Speed Networking with Nutrition Innovation Grantees: Connect, Learn and Go!

Focus Area: Cutting-Edge OAA and Aging Programs

Do you need inspiration to modernize your nutrition program? Connect with Senior Nutrition Program professionals who are leading innovative projects across the country in this fast-paced, exciting, speed networking session! New ACL Innovations in Nutrition Grantee projects featured in this session may include developing and evaluating a new internet food delivery application that links underserved older adults to food and other services, leveraging community-clinical partnerships to address malnutrition risk in older adults, increasing participation and access to congregate nutrition services with pop-up locations and café models and more! Join us for candid conversations, gain insights via peer-peer learning and get your questions answered. Walk away with valuable replication tools and contacts to launch your own innovation project!

Presenters:

Erin Hoisington, Nutrition and Aging Content Director, Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, Des Moines, IA [biography]

Bambi Press, Healthy Aging Director, Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, Des Moines, IA [biography]

W43) Meet Your ACL Regional Administrator/Leadership

Focus Area: Cutting-Edge OAA and Aging Programs

ACL's leadership team, including 10 Regional Administrators, provides support to the national Aging Network in a variety of ways. This session will feature updates on key support activities relevant to Older Americans Act (OAA) programs, including the status of OAA regulations, followed by time to meet your Regional Administrator and engage in regional discussion breakout groups.

Presenters:

	Lacey Boven, Regional Administrator, Regions V, ACL, Chicago, IL
	Cynthia Brammeier, Regional Administrator, Region VII, ACL, Kansas City, MO
	Stephanie Cole, Regional Administrator, Region III, ACL, Philadelphia, PA
	Percy Devine, Regional Administrator, Region VIII, ACL, Denver, CO
	Fay Gordon, Regional Administrator, Region IX, ACL, San Francisco, CA
	Constantinos Miskis, Regional Administrator, Region IV, ACL, Atlanta, GA
	Rhonda Schwartz, Regional Administrator, Region II, ACL, New York City, NY
	Jennifer Throwe, Regional Administrator, Region I, ACL, Boston, MA
	Kathleen Votava, Team Lead, Center for Regional Operations, ACL, Washington, DC
	Amy Wiatr-Rodriguez, Director - Center for Regional Operations, ACL, Washington, DC [biography] Coming soon

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Corporate Fast-Track Sessions

CF01) Marco? Polo! Answer the Call to Create Funding and Transform Community Health

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

Join this session to hear what’s been happening in your network to combat shrinking allocations and limited resources. Learn new strategies to leverage partnerships, engage new payers and increase referrals into social care services, all while bettering the health of your community and becoming a more resilient sustainable entity. It’s not too late to answer the call! Sponsored by CCS Health

Presenters:

Kate Hinken, Vice President of Customer Success, CCS Health, Boulder, CO [biography]

Michelle Comeau, Vice President of Care Transitions Intervention, CCS Health, Portland, OR [biography]

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Fast-Track Sessions

FT01) Success Stories from Working with Health Systems/Payors in Providing Care Transitions

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

There are real consequences when a person’s discharge from hospital to home isn’t properly organized. Learn the risks and perils of post transitions – and how to mitigate them – from a community-based organization that successfully provides care transitions services. Partners in Care Foundation has built strong connections working with hospitals and plans in devising workflows that keep patients on track with recovery and off the readmission treadmill. This session will start with what goes wrong when the transition process isn’t carefully planned, what that planning should entail, how to work with hospitals, health systems, and payors in contracting for and implementing the service, and an overview of the evidence-based tools available to support the process.

Presenter:

June Simmons, President and CEO, Partners in Care Foundation, San Fernando, CA [biography]

FT02) Revitalizing Community Connections: Strategies for Increased Congregate Meal Site Participation

Focus Area: Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness Through Engagement

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, two-thirds of older adults in the Older Americans Act nutrition program were served in congregate sites. Earlier pre-pandemic studies showed that more than 90 percent of congregate participants went to the meal sites for socialization. With the rise of social isolation and its harmful consequences, we can benefit both congregate meal sites and the individuals they serve through successful reopening models.

Presenters:

Robert Blancato, Executive Director, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP), Washington, DC [biography]

Laura Borth, Policy and Advocacy Associate, NANASP, Washington, DC [biography]

FT04) Protecting Pension and Retirement Rights is Complex–We're Here to HELP!

Focus Area: Elder Justice

There are clear indicators that people of all ages are both concerned and apprehensive about their economic security in retirement. Such concern and apprehension results in a surge in questions from participants regarding their pension rights. These trends make it necessary that those participants be able to get answers to their pension questions from knowledgeable and experienced professionals and obtain access to the full value of their earned pension benefits.

Presenter:

John Doan, Vice President for Operations and Equity, Trellis, St Paul, MN [biography]

FT06) Outdoor Recreation for Older Adults–A Model Worth Exploring

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

Outdoor cycling is a low impact way to improve endurance and build lower body strength while enjoying the pleasures of nature. The Howard County Office on Aging and Independence launched Cycle2Health in 2013. Cycle2Health is an outdoor peer-led bicycling club for adults of all ages and riding abilities, which offers three weekday rides of varying levels per week from spring through fall. This presentation will provide guidance on how to start an outdoor recreation program in your area and strategies for ongoing success.

Presenters:

Courtney Harangozo, Health Promotion and Nutrition Division Manager, Howard County Office on Aging and Independence, Laurel, MD [biography]

Jennifer Lee, Health Promotion Program Manager, Howard County Office on Aging and Independence, Laurel, MD [biography]

FT07) Volunteer Respite Programs: A Lifeline for Caregivers

Focus Area: Supporting Caregivers

Get an up-close look at how the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc.’s Volunteer Caregiver Respite Program serves as a lifeline for family caregivers. This program allows caregivers a worry-free break on a regular basis. Each week, a trained volunteer age 55 and over comes to visit with the aging loved one. This is made possible by partnership between Caregiver Support Program and AmeriCorps Senior RSVP Program.

Presenters:

Merideth Wagoner, Director, AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Program, Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc., Toledo, OH [biography]

Arcelia Armstrong, Coordinator Caregiver Support and Kinship Navigator Programs, Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc., Toledo, OH [biography]

FT08) Health Equity in Action: The Juniper Community Care Hub

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

Explore the innovative journey of Minnesota's Juniper community care hub in a panel discussion featuring its leaders and a national health equity expert. Delve into the challenges, triumphs, and broader implications of Juniper’s approach to healthy aging and its impact on social determinants of health.

Presenters:

	Mark Cullen, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Trellis, Arden Hills, MN [biography] Mark Cullen cultivates healthcare sector partnerships and drives strategic organizational growth in his role with Trellis. Prior to coming to Trellis, Mark served as a program officer at the Corporation for National and Community Service where he administered the Federal Government’s investments in AmeriCorps VISTA and Senior Corps programs. He has also held positions with United Way and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. Mark holds a Bachelor Degree in Political Science and a Master Degree in Public Administration from the University of South Dakota.
	Ali Mahdavi-Shirvani, Health Equity Analytics Consultant, Trellis, Arden Hills, MN [biography] Ali Shirvani-Mahdavi, Ph.D. is a principal within the Payer Advisory practice at a leading consulting firm, with a focus on improving payers’ financial and clinical performance through the use of analytics, strategy and whole person approach to plan performance.
	Dawn Simonson, President and CEO, Trellis, Arden Hills, MN [biography] Dawn Simonson is the President and CEO of Trellis. Dawn champions organizational vision and provides strategic leadership resulting in services and programs that benefit older adults and their families in the Twin Cities region and throughout Minnesota. With deep experience in the field of aging, healthcare, and advocacy.

FT09) Promoting Inclusiveness of Older People with Sensory Loss

Focus Area: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

More than 12 million Americans aged 40 years and older experience vision impairment, and with an aging American population this number is expected to double by 2050. Learn how a local AAA in Texas embraced the need to be inclusive of older adults with sensory loss. Find out the steps they followed to train staff and educate older consumers. This session will also highlight the Aging and Vision Loss National Coalition on Aging toolkit for service providers.

Presenters:

Valerie Biediger, Health and Wellness Specialist, AACOG Area Agencies on Aging, San Antonio, TX [biography]

Priscilla Rogers, Special Advisor Aging and Vision Loss, American Foundation for the Blind, Mooresburg, TN [biography]

3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Corporate Fast-Track Sessions

3:45 PM - 4:15 PM

3:45 PM - 4:15 PM

3:45 PM - 4:15 PM Fast-Track Sessions

FT10) Filling in the Gaps: Creating a Kinship Caregiver Support Program

Focus Area: Supporting Caregivers

How does an older adult kinship caregiver tackle the need for respite, food insecurity and a lack of adequate financial resources to provide necessities? LOVE and support. This session will focus on filling in the gaps in services with ideas such as developing a summer camp for children providing older adult kinship caregivers respite, a support program offering tangible items such as beds, clothing, health maintenance supplies, food vouchers and opportunities for kinship families to come together for support. Learn about developing community partners, grant opportunities and ideas for using collected data to continually expand programming.

Presenters:

Christy Boone, Special Project Coordinator, Direction Home of Eastern Ohio, Youngstown, OH [biography]

Cassandra Valentini, Director of Communication and Community Outreach, Direction Home of Eastern Ohio, Youngstown, OH [biography]

FT11) Developing a Hospital-to-Home Transitions Program

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

This session will showcase the nationally recognized hospital-to-home partnership between Cambridge Health Alliance and Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services in Somerville, MA. The program, instituted in 2013, reduced unnecessary readmissions by 30 percent. Panelists will share perspectives on the program’s impact and unveil inspiring success stories as we shape the future of aging and health care. The session will also provide valuable insights into broader value-based payment trends, shedding light on how the integration of services effectively addresses social determinants of health and what policymakers can do to support expanding such programs to help improve public health and patient satisfaction while reducing per capita care costs.

Presenters:

Marta Corvelo, Chief Executive Officer, Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services, Somerville, MA [biography]

Annie Fowler, Chief Programs Officer, Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services, Somerville, MA [biography]

FT12) Getting Back Out There: Leveraging Community Supports to Engage Rural Older Adults

Focus Area: Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness Through Engagement

Living in a rural community can be inherently isolating, but local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) have creative programs and services that strengthen, connect and sustain these tight-knit communities. In a competitive business environment, this deep local knowledge and trust built up over decades is invaluable and should be treated as such. Join this session to learn how a variety of rural AAAs are connecting their local health plan with innovative programs for engaging older adults.

Presenters:

Jessica Machler, Senior Program Manager of Rural Health and Social Engagement, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

Deborah Stone-Walls, Chief, Programs and Services, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

FT14) Empowering Autonomy: Revolutionizing Independent Living Through Customized Transportation Innovations

Focus Area: Enhancing Independent Living Through Transportation Innovations

This session will showcase the innovative and impactful work of two Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), each of whom partnered with On The Go, a nonprofit transportation solution. Information will be shared about their successful pilot programs, speaking directly to the more than 25,000 safe, reliable, and cost-effective rides that were offered for older adults, which also included outcomes achieved for older adults, operational efficiencies experienced by their agencies, funding, and ease of replicability. Attendees will leave with specific ways to overcome transportation barriers quickly and cost-effectively. The session will also explain how the pilot programs utilized high tech solutions while bridging the digital divide through thoughtfully designed senior-friendly program elements.

Presenters:

Kelly Earnheart, Senior Vice President, On The Go: powered by CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services), San Diego, CA [biography]

Hannah Scott, Care Coordinator, SeniorAge, Springfield, MO [biography]

FT15) Meeting of Minds: Funding Collaborative Approaches Addressing Abuse in Later Life

Focus Area: Elder Justice

While severely underreported, abuse in later life has a significant impact on an older adult’s health and well-being. This session will raise the visibility of abuse in later life and share information about a federal grant program to support local communities in addressing it. Abuse in later life refers to the intersection of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse, neglect and exploitation of adults who are age 50 older. Attendees will learn about the value and benefits of applying for an Office on Violence Against Women Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life grant, the various components of this grant program, and locate resources available for addressing abuse in later life in their community.

Presenter:

Martie Washington, Abuse in Later Life Program Coordinator, National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life, Madison, WI [biography]

FT16) One Voice Many Stories. Elevating the Home Care Workforce

Focus Area: Workforce and Volunteerism

Delve into the highlights of a groundbreaking qualitative study, One Voice Many Stories, as we delve into the profound experiences of home care workers from coast to coast. Brandi Kurtyka, CEO of MissionCare Collective, interviewed dozens of home care workers to uncover challenges, opportunities and drivers. Why? This initiative aims to surface their voice to accelerate much-needed change in care. With a growing workforce shortage and many leaving the profession to make ends meet, each story has the power to spark new thinking, innovation, and, most importantly, change.

Presenter:

Brandi Kurtyka, CEO, MissionCare Collective, St. Petersburg, FL [biography]

FT17) Improving Access for Older Adults with Neighborhood and Culturally Specific Based Approaches

Focus Area: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

Our community listening sessions in 2016 identified that older adults and families need access to resources that are delivered in person centered, trauma-informed, culturally relevant formats. The service delivery model for Older Americans Act (OAA) funded services was working, but needed improvements by adding agencies that serve cultural and ethnic groups. Hear from a AAA and a contracted senior center about the history of collaboration with Multnomah County for delivering OAA services to older adults in Portland, OR. Also, hear from a culturally specific agency, that joined as a contracted partner to deliver OAA and other services to older adults from their cultural community. Hear how these partnerships improved service delivery for our AAA and what lessons learned

Presenter:

Lynn Schemmer-Valleau, Community Services Program Manager, Multnomah County Aging, Disability & Veterans Services, Portland, OR [biography]

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Fast-Track Sessions

FT18) Housing Decisions and Older Adults' Financial Security, Health and Independence

Focus Area: Housing and Homelessness

As older adults’ largest source of wealth and largest expense, homeownership significantly impacts financial security, health and independence. Yet, many older homeowners have not planned for housing as they age. To address this issue, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) developed the four “just in time” guides to assist older adults as they navigate the known pain points of what to do with their home as they age. These milestones are how to navigate (1) the death of a spouse/partner, (2) a change in health, (3) leaving the home to heirs, and (4) using home equity to meet financial needs. This Fast-Track will give you insights and tools to engage diverse parts of your community in planning for future housing decisions.

Presenter:

Hector Ortiz, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Washington, DC [biography]

FT19) Everything Everywhere All At Once—Advocacy for the New Normal

Focus Area: Advancing Our Advocacy

Area Agencies on Aging carry advocacy as a call to action through the Older Americans Act. However, advocacy has changed dramatically first due to time and place and now in a post pandemic world. Join with advocates and policy professionals to talk about how we adjust our outreach, use technology effectively and revise delivery of our messages to make our voice heard in a crowded policy and budget world. Training, recruitment, developing messaging, technology tools and using data will all be a part of an interactive discussion.

Presenter:

Nicole Palmateer Hazelbaker, Government Relations, Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging & Disabilities, Salem, OR [biography]

FT20) Wits Workout—An Engaging and Interactive Brain Health Program

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

Wits Workout is an engaging and interactive brain health program for older adults that can be conducted in a variety of settings. Wits Workout serves a need in increasing socialization, reducing isolation and promoting intellectual engagement in older adults, all of which complement current aging-brain health research. The University of Illinois Extension Educators designed this for professionals to facilitate these brain exercise classes. Through its interactive dialog and experiential activities, this program will assist maintain or adopt long-term health-promoting behaviors.

Presenter:

Deborah Allen, Executive Director, PennCares, Hanover, PA [biography]

FT21) Ensuring Equity in Medicare Benefits Access Programs

Focus Area: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

ACL will provide an overview of the equity work being conducted within ACL's Medicare benefits access programs (SHIP, SMP and MIPPA). This will include information on the equity assessments being conducted and the initial results from those assessments, an overview of a new person-centered thinking toolkit developed to assist ACL grantees and program team members, changes to data collection to better inform the work being done, and an overview of the Senior Medicare Patrol Diversity Equity, and Inclusion grants awarded to a handful of states to target activities within their programs to expand access and inclusion.

Presenter:

Melissa Simpson, Assistant Director, Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC

FT22) Food is Medicine: Improving Health Through Home Delivered Medically Tailored Meals

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

Medically tailored meals are fully prepared, nutritious meals delivered to people’s homes and underscore the Food is Medicine trend. They are especially beneficial for those struggling with diet-related conditions like diabetes, heart failure, kidney disease and cancer. Join this session to learn how medically tailored meals can be funded through the Older Americans Act and make an impact on residents’ quality of life while decreasing hospitalizations and health care expenditures.

Presenter:

Alison Gerber, Operations Division Manager, Howard County Government, Columbia, MD [biography]

FT23) You Are Not Alone: Recognition and Respite Activities to Edify Family Caregivers

Focus Area: Supporting Caregivers

This session will focus on supporting family caregivers in underserved urban communities. Key practices and activities used by Baltimore City Health Department, Division of Aging will be shared including recognition events, respite care, health education and other specialized services to keep caregivers better connected to public programs, community agencies and family.

Presenters:

Jose Jimenez, Senior Center Director of Operations, Baltimore City Health Department, Division of Aging, Baltimore, MD [biography]

Linda Stewart, Family Caregivers Program Manager, Family Caregivers Program, Division of Aging, Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, MD [biography]

FT24) Elder Justice and the OAA

Focus Area: Elder Justice

Is it time for the Older Americans Act to have a larger presence in elder justice beyond its current role? Leaders of the Elder Justice Coalition will delve into the possibilities for elder justice within the next reauthorization and other current elder justice topics.

Presenters:

Robert Blancato, Executive Director, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP), Washington, DC [biography]

Laura Borth, Policy and Advocacy Associate, NANASP, Washington, DC [biography]

FT25) More Dollars to Service; Less to Transportation Expense

Focus Area: Data, Information Exchange and Interoperability

Let’s face it–transportation is expensive with plenty of regulatory requirements. We can all agree that safety and audits help ensure the safety of our passengers but, does it have to be so complicated? Learn how a small agency used inexpensive software platforms, that integrate with other systems, to help us and can help you reduce expense.

Presenters:

Eric Esch, Director of Operations and Transit, envida, Colorado Springs, CO [biography]

Gail Nehls, CEO, envida, Colorado Springs, CO [biography]

FT26) Levels of Leadership: Grow Yourself and Your Team!

Focus Area: Workforce and Volunteerism

Learn how to master five levels of leadership for yourself and your team. Whan a leader understands these levels and the techniques to master them they will increase productivity, engagement and culture. Emerging leaders and those who have been in leader roles for years can benefit from this session. Attendees will learn skills that they can implement right away.

Presenter:

Duana Patton, CEO, Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc., Ontario, OH [biography]

Wednesday, July 10

7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Registration and Information Desk Open

Lactation Room

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Continental Breakfast

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Break On Your Own

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Workshops

W44) Reinventing the Wheel, A Hub and Spoke Model of Veteran Support

Focus Area: Cutting-Edge OAA and Aging Programs

This session will delve into the innovative and person-centered approach of the Veteran Directed Care Hub and Spoke model. Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs_ will learn how to use this model to revolutionize the delivery of care and support services to veterans while providing unrestricted funds to strengthen their existing services.

Presenters:

Angela Bentsen, Director of Development and Strategic Partnership, AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois, Lombard, IL [biography]

Marla Fronczak, CEO, AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois, Lombard, IL [biography]

W45) Rethinking Community Engagement: The Role of AAA’s in Inclusive Transportation Planning

Focus Area: Enhancing Independent Living Through Transportation Innovations

Area Agencies on Aging have unique opportunities to be leaders in community-led change through processes of “inclusive transportation planning”. This Workshop will provide participants with a framework of inclusive planning principles and determinants of transportation equity for older adults and people with disabilities. Hear from National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) staff and the Association on Aging in New York about their experiences in creating community events to amplify equity and inclusion within transportation planning. Workshop presenters will review steps to identify and prioritize community needs, how to facilitate dialogue among diverse stakeholders, and how to manage feedback and use that to prepare for “what’s next”. Attendees will leave with tangible engagement strategies and feel confident in starting inclusive transportation discussions in their own communities.

Presenters:

Kathryn (Katy) Carroll, Disability and Program Coordinator, Association on Aging in New York, Albany, NY [biography]

Eileen Schroff, Program Manager, Transportation, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

W46) Arrowhead Regional Consortium for Health Care Staffing: Collaboration vs Competition

Focus Area: Workforce and Volunteerism

Join leadership and partners from the Arrowhead Regional Consortium for Health Care Staffing for a discussion of how this group began and how members are working together to raise awareness of careers in health care and long-term care sectors, connecting students to learning opportunities, collaborating on training resources and educating job seekers about exiting prospects in these sectors. Learn how competitors became partners in increasing the workforce talent pool through innovative strategies.

Presenters:

Brenda Shafer-Pellinen, Eldercare Development Partnership (EDP) Program Developer, Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging, Duluth, MN [biography]

Shayla Drake, Northeast Workforce Strategy Consultant, MN Department of Employment and Economic Development, Duluth, MN [biography]

W47) Resources for Strengthening Elder Justice Through Diverse Community Partnerships

Focus Area: Elder Justice

Everyone deserves to age with dignity and safety, but elder mistreatment spreads fear and harm. As the U.S. older adult population becomes increasingly diverse, this amplifies the urgency for elder justice responses to account for an individual’s background, culture and identity. In this session presenters and participants will discuss how to identify community needs, and strategies to build equitable collaborations. Participants will be able to access and describe model initiatives and resources developed by national partners to support elder justice collaborations.

Presenters:

	Elaine Chen, Operations Manager, National Center on Elder Abuse at USC, Alhambra, CA [biography] Elaine manages projects to develop and disseminate information and tools for professionals and community members dedicated to addressing elder mistreatment and advancing elder justice. Her experience includes creating and implementing interdisciplinary training programs in higher education.
	Alyson Morse Katzman, Co-Director, Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse, Boston, MA [biography] Alyson creates, coordinates, and implements Safe Havens’ local and national work regarding sexual and domestic violence and elder abuse, including national Technical Assistance projects, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. Alyson applies her Master’s in Public Administration from New York University in
	Martie Washington, Abuse in Later Life Program Coordinator, National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life, Madison, WI [biography] Martie Washington is the Abuse in Later Life Program Coordinator at the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life; providing training and technical assistance to OVW grantees and other professionals in the elder justice field. She has an extensive background in case management, training and collaborative engagement.

W48) Forming Community-Clinical Partnerships to Implement Community Health Integration Codes

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

The Oregon Wellness Network and the Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative Aging Network Community Care Hubs participated in the Partnership to Align Social Care learning collaborative to implement the community health integration billing codes, integrated with a healthcare provider. The CHI/PIN codes are the first billing codes approved as a Medicare benefit to directly reimburse for social care interventions to address health-related social needs. The session will provide an overview of the barriers and challenges to implementing the Community Health Integration codes from the perspective of Community Care Hubs supporting the Aging Network in Oregon and the Aging Network in Western New York.

Presenter:

Timothy McNeill, Founder & COO, Freedmen's Health, Washington, DC [biography]

W49) Real Talk About LGBTQ+ Inclusive Outreach and Services: Successes and Challenges

Focus Area: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) across the country are developing LGBTQ+ inclusive area plans and strategies for outreach and services in accordance with the Older Americans Act. During this session learn firsthand about the successes and challenges as AAAs in Florida and Missouri will share about their work in supporting the full inclusion of older LGBTQ+ people and their caregivers in the aging network. Join this session to learn how you can replicate work such as an LGBTQ+ Aging Webinar Series and convening a Statewide LGBTQ+ Aging Alliance Network.

Presenters:

Anneliese Stoever, Director of the St Louis Area Agency on Aging, St Louis Area Agency on Aging, St Louis, MO [biography]

Sherrill Wayland, Senior Director of Special Initiatives, SAGE, St Louis, MO [biography]

W50) Strengthening the Collaboration Between AAAs and Title VI Programs: A Look at the New Regulations

The recently released Older Americans Act regulations require and support more expansive efforts around collaboration between Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) which receive Title III OAA funding and tribal aging programs receiving Title VI funding. This session will highlight the new regulation requirements and showcase partnerships between successful AAAs and Title VI that work!

W51) Accelerating Housing, Health and Social Care Partnerships to Advance Housing Stability

Focus Area: Housing and Homelessness

Housing and health are intertwined. Housing stability comes from a healthy, safe home, with access to health and supportive services (the social care) that many older adults need. A growing number of states are leveraging new Medicaid and federal housing flexibilities to provide a coordinated set of services and supports that help people find, obtain, and maintain housing. This session highlights HHS and HUD investments in housing/health/social care collaborations, including the Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator (HSPA) in which state multisector teams advance innovative Medicaid demonstrations with housing supports. Two AAAs in HSPA states will share their successes in 1115s focused on housing stability, lessons, and recommendations via short presentations and a panel. Participants will together explore opportunities for future involvement in Medicaid housing 1115s.

Presenters:

	Ryan Elza, Interagency Housing Innovation & Strategy Lead, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC
	Lynn Kimball, Executive Director, Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington, Spokane, WA [biography] Lynn Kimball is the Executive Director of Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington, which serves a mix of urban and rural counties in Washington State. Lynn came to the Aging Network in 2006 and found her home combining her passion for helping older adults and people with disabilities with her love of advocacy and community organizing. She has served on the USAging Board of Directors, representing Region X, since 2019, and currently serves in the position of 2nd Vice President.
	Jennifer Raymond, Chief Strategy Officer, AgeSpan, Lawrence, MA [biography] Jennifer is an experienced strategic thinker, coalition builder, and change leader. Driven by the desire to create healthy communities for all, she takes pride in aligning social missions with business acumen, providing the best approaches to sustainability possible. As Chief Strategy Officer, she builds cross-sector partnerships, creates shared alignment around

W52) Whole-State Disaster Preparation for a Culturally and Geographically Diverse Older Population

Focus Area: Running Your Agency: Strategies to Strengthen Systems and People

Join the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs and the Administration for Community Living regional office for this session on our innovative approaches to engaging Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and community partners in preparation and planning for emergencies and disasters in a state naturally prone to disasters. Drawing from past experiences with frequent hurricanes, floods, wildfires, hard freezes and droughts, the session participants will learn of Louisiana’s methods for whole-state preparation on behalf of a culturally and geographically diverse older population. We will cover lessons learned from historic storms, such as Hurricane Katrina, up to managing our state network during the recent public health emergency. This session will help conference participants to better evaluate the quality of readiness in their states.

Presenters:

	Cheri Crain, Program Manager 2, Louisiana Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, Baton Rouge, LA [biography] I'm the Compliance and Planning Manager for the Office of Elderly Affairs in Louisiana. I oversee the operations during disasters with the Area Agencies on Aging and Councils on Aging throughout the State. In addition, I sit on committees and boards developed for disaster response and recovery.
	Kayla Doyle, Program Manager 1A, Louisiana Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, Baton Rouge, LA [biography] Kayla Doyle is the Disaster Program Manager for the Office of Elderly Affairs in Louisiana. She is the primary point of contact during a disaster for the Area Agencies on Aging and Councils on Aging throughout the State. In addition, provides guidance and assistance on developing their Disaster Preparedness Plans.
	Derek Lee, Regional Administrator, Administration for Community Living, Dallas, TX [biography] Derek Lee is the regional administrator for the Administration for Community Living for Region VI, providing policy guidance and technical assistance related to Older Americans Act home- and community-based services. Derek serves as the point of contact for disaster assistance and provides guidance on developing and implementing state plans.

W53) The ($8.5) Million Dollar Question: Re-Envisioning Maryland’s Senior Care Program

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

Maryland’s Senior Care Program was developed four decades ago as a gap-filling intervention to provide low-cost interventions to help older people delay and/or avoid institutional placement. Forty years forward, the program operated by the nineteen Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) is seeing increased demand, longer utilization and access challenges due to waitlists and workforce shortages. The Program garnered the attention of the Maryland General Assembly, who authorized a one-time influx of $8.5 million in FY2024. While more funds are needed to meet the demand, both challenges and opportunities exist with a single fiscal year of funds. The SUA and two AAAs will discuss the complications of this seemingly simple solution and outline the innovative methods to capitalize on this investment and plan for the uncertain funding future.

Presenters:

Heang Tan, AAA Director, Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, MD [biography]

Kathy Schey, Division Director, Frederick County Aging and Independence, Frederick, MD [biography]

W54) Using Art and Music to Promote Social Connection and Reduce Romance Scams

Focus Area: Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness Through Engagement

Join Area Agency on Aging 3’s Awakenings Victim Outreach and Stages Behavioral Health as they address the psychological impact of romance scams and how they utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to promote social connection. Speakers will discuss the reasons individuals may be prone to falling for romance scams, the multi-faceted effects of romance scams themselves, and how they work to mitigate those effects by using case examples and data.

Presenters:

Anna Hairston, Awakenings Care Coordinator, Area Agency on Aging 3, Lima, OH [biography]

Jacqueline Carver, Clinical Director of Mental and Behavioral Health Outreach Services, Area Agency on Aging 3, Lima, OH [biography]

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Ancillary: State Association Directors Luncheon (by invitation only)

Leadership Institute Alumni Luncheon (by invitation only)

Lunch on Your Own

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Roundtables

RT04) Innovative Approaches to Data Management and Systems Integration

Focus Area: Data, Information Exchange and Interoperability

Join us for a lively discussion centered on data management, information technology, and interoperability. Attendees will share strategies for getting the most out of your data and systems to support your agency’s programs and services, reporting and health care contracting. Share and learn about creative approaches to system selection, workflows, data and information exchange, and more. This roundtable discussion will cover challenges and strategies that attendees can take back home to their AAAs.

Presenters:

	Paul Cantrell, Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] More than 30 years of experience in managed care and social service organizational leadership and consulting. Experience includes: State Insurance Regulator, Managed Care Corporate Director, AAA Hub Executive Director, and 10+ years USAging, SUA, state AAA association and AAA consulting.
	Courtney Baldridge, Business Strategy and Health Systems Integration, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] She is a legend (I'll update this!)
	Traci Wilson, Director, Research, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] Traci Wilson is USAging's Director of Research. Her primary responsibility is leading the Information and Planning Grant Program, which is funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living and includes the administration of the National AAA and Title VI Program Surveys, topical polls, and analysis and dissemination of findings.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Hot Topics

HT07) The Health and Social Care Team: Sharing Care with Caregivers

Caregivers are the frontlines for their loved ones, usually an at-risk and vulnerable person needing care. But, with the integration of health-related social needs screening in health care settings, and the sharing of care between health and social care clinicians, where do caregivers fit in? Screening and information exchange can create a chaotic and confusing landscape for accessing information and knowing who is in charge at what point of the care journey. How can we help our caregivers navigate the landscape to gain best outcomes for their loved one? And how can we help minimize the burden caregivers face? Join us as we explore the needs of and support for this critical group of care providers as they work to navigate a complex system on behalf of their loved one.

Presenters:

Crystal White, Caregiver Support Coordinator, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Detroit, MI [biography]

Jonathan Davis, CEO and Founder, Trualta, Vancouver [biography]

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Workshops

W55) 100 Miles: Considerations for Providing No-Cost Transportation to Low-Income Older Adults

Focus Area: Enhancing Independent Living Through Transportation Innovations

Transportation is a crucial component of maintaining independence, accessing needed services and staying socially engaged. Affordable and accessible transportation options can be challenging for older adults, especially those on a fixed income, living with disabilities, or residing an area without access to public transit. In October 2022, enrollment began for the San Diego County No-Cost Transportation Program for Older Adults, which provides up to 100 miles of transportation per month to eligible older adults to use as they wish. As the end of this pilot program approaches, the County of San Diego, Aging & Independence Services will share strategies employed, lessons learned, and program adjustments made along the way. This session will highlight program outcomes such as transportation utilizations, program costs and evaluation results.

Presenters:

	Melissa Hernandez, Community Health Program Specialist, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services, San Diego, CA [biography] Melissa is a Community Health Program Specialist with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services. Melissa oversees the County’s Age Friendly initiative and progress of the Aging Roadmap, the County’s regional vision and framework for supporting healthy aging for people of all ages.
	Roberto Ramirez, Health Promotion Manager, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services, San Diego, CA [biography] Roberto currently serves as the Health Promotion Manager at the County of San Diego, Aging & Independence Services (AIS). At AIS, Roberto oversees the planning and implementation of various health and wellness programs and initiatives which aim to help older adults live healthy, safe, and thriving lives.
	Jacob Carson, Graduate Student Worker, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services, San Diego, CA [biography] Jacob is a Public Health PhD student at San Diego State University who has worked in research and public service sectors for the last 6 years. He is passionate about community capacity building and understanding how the built environment can be leveraged to improve the quality of our lives.

W56) Leveraging University Partnerships to Transform AAA Programs Through Evaluation

Focus Area: Running Your Agency: Strategies to Strengthen Systems and People

CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions (CICOA), the Area Agency on Aging for central Indiana, has partnered with the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community (CAC), to conduct an organizational evaluation with the goal of determining and illustrating the impact of CICOA as an organization on its clients and the community. During this session you will be provided with the road map for leveraging university partnerships to transform your programs through evaluation. If you are looking for new strategies or methods you can utilize to strengthen your business operations or are curious about the value a standard process for evaluation would bring to your organization, then this session is for you!

Presenters:

	Ellen Burton, Executive Director, University of Indianapolis Center for Aging and Community, Indianapolis, IN [biography] Ellen Burton, Executive Director at the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community (CAC), offers strategic leadership, driving business strategy. Burton collaborates with CAC faculty & staff and aging services organizations nationally to provide consulting, project management, and evaluation dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of older adults.
	Maggie Schrage, Director of Quality, CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions, Indianapolis, IN [biography] Maggie Schrage is the Director of Quality at CICOA. She oversees the development, management and implementation of quality assurance and process improvement activities. She also oversees CICOA’s accreditation efforts in collaboration with departmental leadership.
	Kelsey Chance, Director, Data and Research, CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions, Indianapolis, IN [biography] Kelsey Chance is the Director of Data and Research at CICOA. She leads CICOA’s data efforts to support and enhance reporting, program operations and evaluations, and research and innovation to better serve our clients and community. Kelsey also supports CICOA’s engagement with academic partners and institutions for research.

W57) Powerful Advocacy in Action: A Partnership Approach

Focus Area: Advancing Our Advocacy

A key charge given to Area Agencies on Aging is to provide leadership as an advocate on behalf of older persons. AgeOptions operationalizes this responsibility through a broad base organizations and individuals including legislators, government officials and fellow advocacy groups. AgeOptions leverges this group to examine local, state and national issues that impact older adults and caregivers in an effort to advance, reform and modernize programs, policies and services.

Presenters:

Diane Slezak, President and CEO, AgeOptions, Oak Park, IL [biography]

Bill Benson, President, International Association for Indigenous Aging, Baltimore, MD [biography]

W58) Building an Age-Inclusive City and Combatting Ageism to Serve Diverse Older Adults

Focus Area: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

New York City designed and implemented its Cabinet for Older New Yorkers as an interagency collaborative to realize an age-inclusive city through structural, legislative and systemic solutions. In this session, you will learn about the innovative partnerships among local government agencies as members of the Cabinet covering social services, health, housing, public safety, transportation and more. Collectively, Cabinet member agencies work together to eliminate silos and create joint action to ensure that New York is a city for all ages, addressing age-related barriers and inequities in services through cross-agency solutions. Initiatives include launching an anti-ageism resource guide in public schools and designating police officers in every precinct to serve as liaisons for older adults in communities citywide.

Presenters:

Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, Commissioner, New York City Department for the Aging, New York, NY [biography]

Jennine Ventura, Assistant Commissioner, Interagency Collaboration & Innovation, New York City Department for the Aging, New York, NY [biography]

W59) Gathering Partners, Resources and Services to Reduce Social Isolation in Older Adults

Focus Area: Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness Through Engagement

The Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence (LWCE), a Division of MAC, Inc. Area Agency on Aging (AAA), connects older adults and people with disabilities to a wide array of programs and activities to reduce social isolation and loneliness. LWCE works with diverse partners across Maryland including AAAs, senior housing, senior centers, pharmacists and other community locations to deliver in-person and virtual innovative programs. Participants are assessed to identify social isolation and loneliness and encouraged to participate in multiple activities, including blood pressure checks, vaccinations, evidence-based falls prevention and chronic disease self-management programs, as well as cooking classes and opportunities to receive organically grown vegetables. Programs and activities across these multiple activities provide many opportunities to increase the opportunities for older adults to connect with others.

Presenters:

	Leigh Ann Eagle, Chief Operations Officer, Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence - MAC, Inc., Salisbury, MD [biography] Leigh Ann Eagle is the Chief Operating Officer of the Living Well Center of Excellence (LWCE) at MAC, Inc., an area agency on aging that oversees Maryland’s implementation of Healthy Aging Evidence Based Programs. Ms. Eagle is responsible for all aspects of program management for LWCE.
	Wendy Farthing, Director of Evidence Based Integration CDSME/FALLS, Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence - MAC, Inc., Salisbury, MD [biography] Wendy assists with marketing and recruitment; identifying training needs; ensuring data collection processes are followed; performing fidelity/quality assurance monitoring; assisting with provider referral processes; mentoring partners and regional coordinators; establishing county or regional workgroups focused on older adults and/or health/quality of life.
	Sue Lachenmayr, State Program Coordinator, Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence - MAC, Inc., EASTON, MD [biography] Sue Lachenmayr is the State Program Coordinator for the Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence - Division of MAC, Incorporated Area Agency on Aging. Her expertise includes training in diverse evidence-based programs and grant-writing.

W60) Urban Native Elder Voices: Findings from the Native Urban Elder Needs Assessment

Focus Area: Title VI Native American Aging Programs: Unique Challenges and Solutions

Over 70 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives live in urban areas, including Native Elders who are often left without culturally competent services and supports that are vital to having a good quality of life. The urban Native population is underrepresented in national data sets, impacting the level of resources and funding that are allocated to them. To better assess their unique needs and advance the health equity of urban Native Elders, the National Resource Center on Native American Aging (NRCNAA), in partnership with the Coalition on Urban Indian Aging, developed the Native Urban Elder Needs Assessment Survey (NUENAS) which surveyed over 1,000 urban Native Elders nationwide. Results of this survey will be discussed, including key findings, comparisons, and how attendees can put the data into action.

Presenter:

Collette Adamsen, Research Assistant Professor; Associate Director, Indigenous Health and Aging/Research and Evaluation; Director, National Resource Center on Native American Aging; Director, Tribal LTSS National Resource Center, Center for Rural Health, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

W61) Explore the NCOA Center for Healthy Aging’s Three National Resource Centers

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

Learn how the National Council on Aging’s (NCOA) Center for Healthy Aging Resource Centers support professionals as they improve the lives of older adults. Funded by the Administration for Community Living, the National Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) Resource Center, National Falls Prevention Resource Center and the Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center work collaboratively with national and local partners to provide innovative content, best practices, toolkits, webinars, campaigns, marketing materials and other resources that support their work. The Resource Centers also encourage and support networking among all stakeholders, providing online and in-person peer learning and collaboration opportunities.

Presenters:

	Kate Gibbons, Program Specialist, National Council on Aging, Arlington, VA [biography] Kate Gibbons is a Program Specialist at the National Council on Aging. She provides training and technical assistance for community-based organizations implementing evidence-based programs. Additionally, at NCOA, she grows and coordinates community health education efforts and develops resources for professionals and older adults.
	Dianne Stone, Associate Director, Network Development and Engagement, NCOA, Arlington, VA [biography] Dianne Stone has more than 20 years of experience with senior centers and aging issues, primarily as the Director of the Nationally Accredited Newington Senior and Disabled Center in Newington, Connecticut. Stone has also worked, volunteered, and held leadership positions with a variety of organizations in Connecticut, including Connecticut AgeWell Collaborative, the ADA Coalition of Connecticut, Connecticut Medicaid Oversight Council, the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity and was a 20-year member of the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC). She joined NCOA in January 2022, as a member of the Center for Healthy Aging, where she is primarily focused on supporting senior centers throughout the country through the ACL-funded Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC.
	Kathleen Zuke, Associate Director, National Council on Aging, Arlington, VA [biography] Kathleen Zuke is an Associate Director at the National Council on Aging. As part of the Center for Healthy Aging, she provides training through the National Chronic Disease Self-Management Education and Falls Prevention Resource Centers.

W62) Reframing Aging for Age-Inclusive Infrastructure

Focus Area: Advancing Our Advocacy

Effective age-inclusive polices uplift our communities and ensure we can all age with dignity and respect. Across the country, organizations and advocates at the local, state and national levels are using evidence-based tools from the National Center to Reframe Aging to change the way they communicate about aging and to strengthen programs and policies for us all as we age. The National Center is leading the way to advocate for age-inclusive systems by addressing ageism and implicit bias to change attitudes towards aging. Join the National Center during this session to hear from experts about evidence-based frames, what tools and tips can help you change the conversation about aging and how advocates across the country are applying these tools.

Presenters:

Hannah Albers, Program Director, National Center to Reframe Aging, Washington, DC [biography]

Patricia D'Antonio, Project Director, Vice President, Policy and Professional Affairs, The National Center to Reframe Aging, Washington, DC [biography]

W63) Dementia Friends Iowa: An Innovative Program Implementation and Evaluation Model

Focus Area: Building Livable and Dementia-Friendly Communities

Explore the successful collaboration story between Iowa's Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Dementia Friends USA to establish an innovative model for advancing Dementia Friends Iowa into a fundable program. Since launching Dementia Friends Iowa in 2021, Iowa's AAAs have inspired community action and strategic, statewide coordination across Iowa's 99 counties through vital dementia education programs for the public, recruitment of local Champions and external funding support. Learn how Iowa has educated over 7,000 Dementia Friends through 600 information sessions, which produced impactful stories and is influencing state policy changes. Explore the data evaluation plan and outcomes that provide a promising national Dementia Friends evaluation model. Join us for a discussion on Iowa's journey toward a Dementia Friendly state built upon local community partnerships.

Presenters:

	Mary Ek, Director, Dementia Friendly America and Community Care Corps, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] Mary Ek is the Program Director for Dementia Friendly America, a national initiative administered by USAging. Through her work, Mary supports dementia-friendly communities and Dementia Friends administrators by providing technical assistance, facilitating webinars and collaboration among stakeholders and managing the development and sharing of dementia-resources.
	Joe Sample, Director of Policy & Outreach, Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging (i4a), Des Moines, IA [biography] G. Joseph Sample, PhD, is a lecturer at Iowa State University and Director of Policy and Outreach for Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging (i4a). Joe has served in executive leadership with Iowa's Department on Aging, Heritage Agency on Aging, i4a, and on the USAging board of directors 2016-2017.
	Megan Zimmerman, Dementia Friendly State Coordinator, Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, Waterloo, IA [biography] Megan Zimmerman is the coordinator of Dementia Friendly Iowa, an initiative of the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging. Megan spearheaded local dementia friendly community efforts in Waterloo, IA, and has since played a key role in expanding dementia friendly initiatives statewide, including Iowa's Dementia Friends program.

W64) Be in the Room Where it Happens: AAA Advocacy and Master Plans

Focus Area: Advancing Our Advocacy

Multi-sector or master plans on aging are swiftly gaining in popularity, with roughly half of states reportedly developing or considering such efforts, but not all plans or the processes behind it are the same — including recognizing AAA and tribal expertise. Hear from three seasoned AAA advocates on how they ensured that AAAs were at the table through the good, bad and ugly of their states’ processes. Learn how they used the MSPs to advance longstanding and new advocacy goals important to AAAs and to the health and wellness of older adults and caregivers. Hear great examples during this session of how your state’s AAAs can leverage multi-sector plans most effectively, secure policy victories and increase the Aging Network’s visibility while driving better options for older adults!

Presenters:

	Rebecca May-Cole, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Harrisburg, PA [biography] Rebecca May-Cole is an experienced public policy and administration executive with extensive experience working with community-based human services organizations to serve older adults and people with disabilities.
	Rebecca Preve, Executive Director, Association on Aging in New York, Albany, NY [biography] Becky Preve is the Executive Director for the Association on Aging in New York, a member organization representing the 59 area agencies on aging in NY. The mission of the Association is to support and enhance the capacity of New York’s local area agencies on aging and to work in
	Michael Costa, Executive Director, California Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Oakland, CA [biography] Michael is Executive Director of the California AAA Association. With extensive health policy experience and an MPP from the University of Michigan, he was hired in 2021 to facilitate integration of social and healthcare services within the AAA network and to build the scope, reach, and effectiveness of the Association.

W65) Organizational Restructuring - Aligning Skills with Function

Focus Area: Running Your Agency: Strategies to Strengthen Systems and People

This session will guide leaders on how to begin the process of re-aligning the organizational structure to best meet the emerging workforce and business needs of the aging services industry. You can do this on your own, without consultants!

Presenter:

Colleen Morrissey, Chief External Affairs Officer, Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services, Somerville, MA [biography]

W66) Adding a Consumer-Directed Care Option for HCBS and Respite Services

Focus Area: Cutting-Edge OAA and Aging Programs

Facing a shortage of direct care workers, two Area Agencies on Agings (AAAs) in Arizona have added an option for participants in non-Medicaid HCBS and respite services to hire someone to provide their care and receive reimbursement from the AAA for the hours and rate they paid, up to an approved cap. This option, called Friends & Neighbors, has proven successful for many clients, allowing them choice in who provides their care and generally allowing services to begin more quickly without the wait for an available contracted direct care worker. Participants in this workshop will learn how these programs are set up and unique challenges and successes experienced by these AAAs. If you are considering this option, or you want to share ideas, this workshop is for you!

Presenters:

	Elizabeth Reeves, Director of Community Services System, Pima Council on Aging, Tucson, AZ [biography] Elizabeth Reeves has been a social worker in the field of aging for 25+ years, in both AAA programs and Medicaid long term care. She is currently the Director of the Community Services System at PCOA in Tucson where she collaborates with her team to provide HCBS and respite services.
	Cindy Saverino, Vice-President of Planning & Program Development, Area Agency on Aging, Region One, Phoenix, AZ [biography] Cindy’s been in the field of Aging for 40+ years. She worked as a Senior Program Director for a non-profit organization. She then worked for the State of Arizona as the Aging and Disability Services Program Administrator in the State Unit on Aging for 13.5 years.

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Roundtables

RT05) The Multi-Sector Plans Trend: AAA and Title VI Peer Discussion

Focus Area: Advancing Our Advocacy

State officials and other aging advocates are increasingly initiating master or multi-sector plans on aging (MPAs/MSPAs) as they see other states adopt this approach. For many AAAs and Title VI Aging Programs, MPAs/MSPAs are unchartered territory. Via roundtable discussions, compare notes with your peers on the status of MPAs/MSPAs and the AAA/Title VI role in the planning process. Together, strategize how to advance your priorities for your community and elevate your overall leadership in the Aging Network without being saddled with unfunded mandates. And discover solutions to common challenges!

Presenters:

Molly French, Project Director, Housing, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

Amy Gotwals, Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM

Technology Lab Presentation

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Workshops

W67) Advocacy Works! How Ohio AAAs Influenced Direct Care Workforce Rate Increases

Focus Area: Advancing Our Advocacy

In Ohio, provider rates and direct care worker wages have remained stagnant, with small increases achieved only through intentional statewide advocacy efforts. It came to a head in 2022 with thousands going without care for months to a year. Ohio's Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) employed many new and unique advocacy techniques to engage policymakers during the state budget process, including effectively using social media for immediate and long-term impact The result: an unprecedented 50 percent increase in personal care rates in the Medicaid HCBS waiver programs. Their efforts had positive impacts on other parts of the state budget as well. Learn how Ohio’s AAAs did it!

Presenters:

	Beth Kowalczyk, Chief Policy Officer, Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging (o4a), Columbus, OH [biography] Chief Policy Officer - Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging (o4a) and member of City Council in Worthington, Ohio. Bachelor of Arts, Kent State University. Juris Doctorate, New York University School of Law. Admitted to Ohio Bar in 1993.
	Nan Cahall, Director of Government Relations, Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio, Cincinnati, OH [biography] Nan Kohnen Cahall is the Director of Government Relations for the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio. She has more than 30 years of public policy and community relations experience, from the Ohio Statehouse to the U.S. Capitol, representing industry sectors such as education, nonprofit and home building.
	Ian Nickey, Senior Director of Communications & Government Relations, Hicks Partners, LLC, Columbus, OH [biography] Ian Nickey has over 22 years of experience working on a wide variety of public policy initiatives, including tax reform, energy policy, education policy, economic development and elections reform. He has a deep background and expertise with the intersection of government, business, and media.

W68) Tech to Connect: Supporting and Empowering Older Adults’ Technology Use

Focus Area: Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness Through Engagement

Social isolation can have devastating effects on older adults and persons with disabilities. Access to the internet and technology provides a means for individuals to stay socially engaged and connect to information and supportive services. However, providing such resources may not be enough for those who lack the skills and confidence to use technology. This session will share two technology programs created by the County of San Diego’s Aging & Independence Services that provide older adults with devices, training and resources for internet connectivity. Attendees will hear about successes, challenges and best practices associated with two different program models, as well as learn strategies to ensure technology programs reach and engage diverse and under-resourced communities, including homebound older adults and those who don’t speak English.

Presenters:

Jacob Carson, Graduate Student Worker, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services, San Diego, CA [biography]

Roberto Ramirez, Health Promotion Manager, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services, San Diego, CA [biography]

W69) Dementia Self-Management: A Chronic Disease Self-Management Innovation for People Living with Dementia

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

This session introduces Dementia Friendly Nevada’s new, freely available Dementia Self-Management Guidebook—an innovative resource designed with and for people living with dementia according to principles of chronic disease self-management—and reviews results from recent pilots of a multi-week Dementia Self-Management Program that uses the Guidebook to engage people living with dementia in developing strategies for living well. We will explore the development of the Guidebook and Program, highlight the importance of authentic partnerships and human-centered design, and feature testimony from Guidebook advisors living with dementia about their experience as partners on this project and the personalized strategies they have developed to live well.

Presenter:

Casey Acklin, Engagement Coordinator, Dementia Engagement, Education, and Research (DEER) Program; School of Public Health; University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV [biography]

W70) The Future of Senior Centers: How Your AAA Can Make a Difference

Focus Area: Cutting-Edge OAA and Aging Programs

The most recent AAA Survey indicates that most AAAs have a vested interest in the ongoing success of senior centers. ACL is currently funding the National Council on Aging to assist in ensuring the viability and relevance of senior centers through the Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center. This session will provide a picture of current AAA engagement in senior centers and ways your AAA can deepen current relationship with the senior centers in your PSA. The session will discuss the current landscape of senior centers across the nation and present strategies that promote meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships between AAAs and senior centers.

Presenters:

	Deborah Stone-Walls, Chief, Programs and Services, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] Deborah Stone-Walls joined USAging in 2021 as the Chief, Programs and Services. She oversees the association’s programs that help its Area Agency on Aging and Title VI Native American Aging Program members support older adults and people with disabilities as they live independently in the communities of their choosing.
	Traci Wilson, Director, Research, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] Traci Wilson is USAging's Director of Research. Her primary responsibility is leading the Information and Planning Grant Program, which is funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living and includes the administration of the National AAA and Title VI Program Surveys, topical polls, and analysis and dissemination of findings.
	Dianne Stone, Associate Director, Network Development and Engagement, NCOA, Arlington, VA [biography] Dianne Stone has more than 20 years of experience with senior centers and aging issues, primarily as the Director of the Nationally Accredited Newington Senior and Disabled Center in Newington, Connecticut. Stone has also worked, volunteered, and held leadership positions with a variety of organizations in Connecticut, including Connecticut AgeWell Collaborative, the ADA Coalition of Connecticut, Connecticut Medicaid Oversight Council, the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity and was a 20-year member of the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC). She joined NCOA in January 2022, as a member of the Center for Healthy Aging, where she is primarily focused on supporting senior centers throughout the country through the ACL-funded Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC.

W71) Creating Supportive Communities in Maryland Through the Village Model

Focus Area: Building Livable and Dementia-Friendly Communities

Maryland is home to a thriving network of Villages–grassroots, volunteer-based organizations providing supportive services and engagement to help community members to age in place. Villages are self-sustaining, primarily through fundraising, membership dues and volunteer leadership. To enhance sustainability, increase capacity and expand to underserved communities, Montgomery County’s Villages have established the Montgomery County Village Consortium, that can act as an administrative hub, increasing the capacity of each Village to enhance and expand their outreach and service delivery. The Montgomery County Area Agency on Aging and Maryland Department of Aging will join the Montgomery County Villages Consortium to discuss strategies at the state and local level to build the capacity of Villages in Maryland through technical assistance and funding opportunities.

Presenters:

	Pazit Aviv, Village Coordinator, Montgomery County Department of Aging, Aging and Disability Services, Rockville, MD [biography] Pazit Aviv works at Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services as a Village Coordinator. She consults grassroots community organizations on startup and_x000D_ development and facilitates the growth of villages and other aging in place initiatives. Since taking the position ten years ago, the county’s village movement has increased nearly 300%.
	Margie Eulner Ott, Board Secretary, Montgomery County Villages Consortium, Bethesda, MD [biography] Margie is a founding member and board secretary of the Montgomery County Villages Consortium (MCVC), a hub and spoke organization. Margie is a nonprofit management consultant with more than 40 years experience, serving as board member and president for Little Falls Village in Bethesda, MD.
	Liz Woodward, Director, Special Initiatives, Maryland Department of Aging, Baltimore [biography] Liz Woodward has been working in aging services at the local, state, and national level since 2009, including at the Maryland Department of Aging for the last seven years. Liz aims to improve collaboration, elevate best practices, and increase access to healthy aging support services across Maryland.
	Barbara Sullivan, Executive Director, Village to Village Network, Ventnor, NJ [biography] Barbara has been advocating for older adults since 2001. In 2007 she became active in the growing Village Movement to help seniors stay in their homes. In 2018 she became the National Directror of Village to Village Network.

W72) Building Bridges to Advocate Fearlessly

Focus Area: Advancing Our Advocacy

This session will explore the vital role of advocacy in bridging gaps among community champions, agency staff and legislators to elevate aging in your service area. This dynamic session seeks to instill a courageous mindset toward advocacy, eliminating any reservations and fostering relationships that pave the way for lasting change. Through insightful discussions, real-life examples and practical strategies, we will explore ways in which individuals and communities can become agents of positive change. Gain inspiration from successful advocacy initiatives and discover how you can create a viable advocacy initiative that resonates with and amplifies the voices of older adults.

Presenters:

Randi Keesee, Vice President of Development, Peninsula Agency on Aging, Newport News, VA [biography]

Beatrice Sykes, Executive Assistant, Peninsula Agency on Aging, Newport News, VA [biography]

W73) My Freedom Transportation—Addressing the Gap in Cross-county Transportation

Focus Area: Enhancing Independent Living Through Transportation Innovations

Have you or someone you know had trouble with transporting from one county to another for any reason? Are you curious about how CICOA’s My Freedom program is helping to bridge this gap in cross-county transportation in central Indiana? If so, an engaging conversation surrounding how CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions (CICOA), central Indiana’s Area Agency on Aging, was able to partner with the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) to utilize 5307 funding, to bridge this gap in cross-county transportation.

Presenters:

Karren Brooks, Director, Way2go Transportation, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, Indianapolis, IN [biography]

Sarah Cranford, Billing Specialist-Way2Go Transportation, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, Indianapolis, IN [biography]

W74) Success! Health Care Contracting and Strategic Partnerships

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

The winners of The John A. Hartford Foundation 2023 Business Innovation Award—Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative, Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging and Michigan’s Region IV Area Agency on Aging—will discuss their innovative models of health care and social services contracting that proved to positively impact diverse, underserved and underinsured older adults and people with disabilities. These award winners will share the strategic planning, partnership building and evaluation processes they used to successfully improve the quality of life of the people they serve. Presenters will share examples, outcomes and case studies, allowing ample time for and encouraging audience questions and discussion.

Presenters:

	Jane Carmody, Senior Program Officer, The John A. Hartford Foundation, New York, NY [biography] Senior Program Officer, The John A. Hartford Foundation, Dr. Carmody supports grants in three priority areas: Age-Friendly Health Systems, Family Caregiving, and Serious Illness and End of Life. Jane has a Doctor of Nursing Practice, MBA, BS. in Social Work, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
	Kathie Garbe, Senior Program Manager, Aging & Disability Business Institute, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] Senior Program Manager, Aging and Disability Business Institute, Dr. Garbe is the Editor of the BI Update and contributes to and manages projects at USAging and the Business Institute. Kathie holds a BS in Health and Physical Education, MS in Health Education and Ph.D. in Health Studies.
	Nikki Kmicinski, Executive Director, Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative, Inc., Buffalo, NY [biography] Executive Director Western New York integrated Care Collaborative, Nikki is leading a Community Care Hub for a regional network which includes AAAs, ILCs and CBOs committed to improving health in Western NY. Nikki obtained her Bachelor and Masters degrees at Rochester Institute of Technology and is a Registered Dietitian.
	Melissa Gualtieri, Director of Clinical Innovations, Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, Columbus, OH [biography] Director of Clinical Innovations, Central Ohio AAA, Melissa develops innovative programs to generate new contract opportunities with a focus on health equity. Melissa believes AAAs and CBO’s have the social care clinicians necessary to impact change and improve health outcomes. Melissa is an RN, receiving her BSN from Capital University.
	Christine Vanlandingham, Chief Executive Officer, Region IV Area Agency on Aging, St. Joseph, MI [biography] Chief Executive Officer, Region IV AAA, Christine leads the integration of health and social care on a regional level and works with public health, academia, state and federal policymakers, community planners, and coalitions to shape public policy and service systems. Christine holds a BS degree and a Gerontology certificate.

W75) AGING Training: Engage and Assess the Needs of Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness

Focus Area: Housing and Homelessness

After the success of an Aging 101 training, service providers for people experiencing homelessness (PEH), requested that our AAA provide in-depth training on practical skills needed to successfully engage older adults, navigate challenging conversations, and assess older adults’ needs. Through an Aging 201 training, we helped providers improve services for older PEH. This session will describe the training and provide a condensed version of it. Attendees will learn and apply the “4Ms” framework to a real-world example and assess whether Aging 201 would be useful for providers in their communities. Participants will gain the tools (PowerPoint and handouts) to adapt the training to help create age-friendly services that assist older adults at-risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Presenters:

Dalija Dragisic, Community Programs Manager, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services, San Diego, CA [biography]

Kristen Smith, Chief, Agency Operations, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services, San Diego, CA [biography]

W76) Bridging Aging and Disability in Dementia Care—Partnerships and Communications

Focus Area: Building Livable and Dementia-Friendly Communities

Through ACL’s Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative (ADPI) we continue to learn about the crossroads between aging and disability. Since 2014 ACL grantees have been increasing their understanding of the ways in which AAAs can partner with disability providers to expand their knowledge and ability to provide these lifelong caregivers with culturally appropriate services and supports. In this session attendees will learn some best practices and hear from aging and disability services providers that are partnering to deliver education, services and supports.

Presenters:

	Amy Dewitt-Smith, Executive Director, Neighbor Network of Northern Nevada (N4), Reno, NV
	Christopher Stockton, Aging Service Program Specialist, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC
	Erin Long, Aging Services Program Specialist, Administration or Community Living, Washington, DC [biography] Coming soon

W77) Community Care Corps: Leveraging Volunteer Power to Support Healthy Community Living

Focus Area: Workforce and Volunteerism

The National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers details recommendations to build a comprehensive system of family caregiver support and calls on all of us to leverage the strength of our community-based organizations, family caregivers and volunteers to ensure community living is a reality for everyone. Community Care Corps (C3) is a national, ACL-funded program that fosters the development and implementation of innovative local models in which volunteers assist family caregivers, older adults and adults with disabilities with nonmedical assistance in home and community-based settings to maintain their independence, health and well-being. In this session, C3 partners and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) grantees will expound on the program’s alignment with national strategy priority areas, detail innovative volunteer models of support and present key evaluation findings.

Presenters:

	Stephen McCall, Long Term Care Senior Analyst, Altarum, St. Petersburg, FL [biography] Stephen has extensive experience researching, writing, and consulting on issues in long-term care and workforce development. In his current role, his research and analyses aim to drive reforms in policy and practice that improve care for older adults and people with disabilities—and strengthen jobs for workers who support them.
	Sara Paige, Project Manager, Oasis Institute, St. Louis, MO [biography] Sara is the Project Manager for Community Care Corps and has been with Oasis for eight years. Prior, Sara was a Project Coordinator focusing on falls prevention programs in the St. Louis area and across Missouri. Sara has 30+ years of experience as an OT in numerous areas of care.
	Darya Rahbar, Program Manager, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] In her role as Program Manager at USAging, Darya provides technical assistance, conducts webinars and learning collaboratives, supports the development of new resources and evaluates project impact. Darya holds an MS in Aging and Health from Georgetown University.

W78) Encouraging Neighbors Helping Neighbors Efforts to Meet Social and Transportation Needs

Focus Area: Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness Through Engagement

With a 20-year history of engaging diverse communities, PCOA’s Neighbors Care Alliance (NCA) is a network of community volunteer programs helping older adults live and thrive safely in their homes. These programs engage volunteers to help older adults and people with disabilities by providing friendly visits and phone calls, caregiver relief, needed transportation, or help with light housekeeping, meal preparation, simple house maintenance, or yard work. We will describe the Alliance, partial funding through the local Regional Transportation Authority, and benefits, including:
• Preserves independence
• Draws people together and strengthens communities
• Comforts family members knowing that someone is looking out for their loved one
• Provides rewarding opportunities to help others and give back to the community
• Serves as a stepping stone to develop other community-building events

Presenters:

	Lisa Reams, Vice President, Programs & Services, Pima Council on Aging, Tucson, AZ [biography] Lisa Reams has served as the Vice President of Programs & Services for Pima Council on Aging, the Area Agency on Aging in Tucson, AZ, since 2017. She has successfully started and led community-based programming for over 30 years as a volunteer, mediator, program manager, and executive leader.
	Deb Seng, Director of Caregiving and Community Initiatives, Pima Council on Aging, Tucson, AZ [biography] Deb Seng serves as the Director of Caregiving and Community Initiatives and has worked with PCOA since 2019. Deb innovates programming to meet client needs and ensure excellent service delivery with a diverse 25-year history of caring for people.

3:30 PM - 4:45 PM

3:30 PM - 4:45 PM

3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Workshops

W79) Reaching Diverse and Hard-to-Reach Communities with Vaccinations

Focus Area: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

The workshop highlights ways that federal, national aging and disability organization and CBOs can work together to uplift and enhance vaccination delivery in diverse and hard-to-reach populations to ensure continued health of communities. Come expecting to hear how your AAA can enhance efforts to leverage funding, solidify partnerships, document successes in equity and gain ideas for effective outreach that results in reaching those consumers that may not respond to traditional engagement strategies. Learn replicable ways to overcome vaccination effort barriers that augment your outreach efforts and result in maximized outcomes, minimized staff efforts and increased consumer buy-in. Presenters will discuss lessons learned and provide valuable feedback for maximizing local efforts in increasing vaccination update of your most vulnerable consumers.

Presenters:

	Sara Maloney, Director, Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] Sara has more than a decade of experience working in the field of aging. Before joining USAging as Commit to Connect's Program Manager, she coordinated and delivered Older Americans Act programs and services at the regional and local levels in North Carolina’s greater Charlotte region.
	Jillian Barnett, Associate Direction, Center for Healthy Aging, National Council on Aging, Arlington, VA [biography] Jillian Barnett is the Associate Director, Center for Health Aging at the National Council on Aging. She manages the work of the COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Uptake Initiative, a national effort funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living to increase vaccinations among older adults and people with disabilities.
	Nicole Becerra, Aging Services Program Specialist, Administration on Aging/Administration for Community Living - US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC [biography] icole Becerra, MPH, CHES is an Aging Services Program Specialist_x000D_ and Program officer for the Administration for Community Living,_x000D_ Administration on Aging. Nicole has over 15 years of in network aging_x000D_ experience with a focus on community programming and policy.
	Kelly Butts-Elston, C.E.O., Connections Area Agency on Aging, Council Bluffs, IA [biography] Director and C.E.O. of the AAA serving 20 counties in western, southwestern and south central Iowa. 25+ years experience in the aging network.
	Rosalia Fajardo, Director, Multicultural Families, Endependence Center of Northern Virginia, Springfield, VA [biography] Rosalia Fajardo, is a Colombian Lawyer, Community leader for more than a decade has dedicated her efforts to achieve the growth of the multicultural community of the Metropolitan area of Washington DC. An advocated an achiever that believes that only access to a great education and health is the key..

W80) AAAs Leading the Way to Align Health and Social Care

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

There’s well-established recognition of the impact of social needs on individual health outcomes. Policy drivers and quality measures are increasing screening for health-related social needs (HRSNs), increasing referrals to AAAs for services. CBO networks, led by a community care hub (CCH), are critical to ensuring that capacity exists within communities to effectively partner with health care to address HRSNs and respond to increasing referral volumes. AAAs have been at the forefront of this work, leveraging their decades of expertise in building and managing networks of service providers. This session will highlight investments within ACL and across HHS to amplify CCHs, technical assistance and funding efforts underway through a Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care, and insights from a peer CCH.

Presenter:

Kristie Kulinski, Team Lead, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC

W81) Older Americans Act Updates from ACL

Focus Area: Cutting-Edge OAA and Aging Programs

The Older Americans Act (OAA) provides critical funding to the Aging Network that includes state agencies, Tribal organizations, area agencies on aging and thousands of service providers across the U.S. While the OAA stature was last reauthorized in 2020 the majority of the OAA’s regulations have not been updated since 1988. Therefore, in 2022 ACL started updating these rules, starting first with a formal request for information (RFI), a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in 2023, and culminating with a final rule in 2024. The aim for this session is to provide attendees with important information regarding the OAA regulations as well as any other pertinent updates impacting the Aging Network.

Presenter:

Alice Kelsey, Deputy Director for the Administration on Aging, Administration on Aging, Washington, DC [biography]

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM Fast-Track Sessions

FT27) Dementia Education, Supports and Programs for First Responders in Diverse Rural Communities

Focus Area: Building Livable and Dementia-Friendly Communities

A comprehensive overview of ALTCEW’s Building Dementia Capable Communities Grant in partnership with the USAging Immunization Grant to provide education, supportive services, immunizations and programs for people living with dementia and their care partners. In partnership with healthcare systems, our Tribal Partners, LGBTQ2+A, first responders, and invested partners, we have developed an accredited, standardized, accessible Dementia Training for First Responders, all HealthCare Providers, care partners, businesses and Community Paramedicine Programs. Our common goal is to reduce harm, expand home visits with free vaccines and well checks, and offer communication, de-escalation techniques, and resources before, during and after a dementia crisis. Our hope is to share, inspire, educate and create a more dementia friendly space for everyone.

Presenter:

Bethany Phenix-Osgood, Planning & Resource Director, Tribal Liaison and EMS Coordinator. NREMT., Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern WA., Spokane, WA [biography]

FT28) The Collaborative Older Adult Solutions Team: Connecting and Improving Services Across Systems

Focus Area: Cutting-Edge OAA and Aging Programs

As many of our systems of care are siloed and fragmented, it’s common to feel as if we’re all working in isolation, doing our best to manage large caseloads and meet the evolving needs of complex clients. In Washington and Clackamas Counties in Oregon, the Collaborative Older Adult Solutions Team (COAST) brings together a wide range of providers and community-based organizations to work towards integration of services and improved quality of care for older adults and adults with disabilities. In this session, learn how COAST participants address common problems facing older adults such as housing instability, substance abuse, mental health struggles and isolation. Learn how COAST acts as a platform for connection, integration and innovation and how to apply the model to your community.

Presenters:

Andy Wallace, Older Adult Behavioral Health Specialist, Washington County Behavioral Health, Hillsboro, OR [biography]

Kim Whitely, Older Adult Behavioral Health Program Planner, Clackamas County Health, Behavioral Health Division, Oregon City, OR [biography]

FT29) Evaluating Social Engagement Program Outcomes: Lessons Learned from Commit to Connect

Focus Area: Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness Through Engagement

Given the negative impacts of social disconnection, it is crucial to know if a program is producing outcomes that address social isolation and loneliness. Programs that have been evaluated and found to be effective can also help agencies attract more participants, justify additional staff positions, generate sustainable revenue, and positively influence participants’ lives. This session will spotlight the Upstream Social Interaction Risk Screener (U-SIRS), which is a possible scale AAAs and other CBOs can use to collect data and better understand the impact of social engagement programs. Attendees will hear from Dr. Matthew Smith, who developed the U-SIRS, and agencies that have implemented the U-SIRS on how the scale can be used to evaluate social engagement programs and demonstrate outcomes.

Presenters:

	Katie Clark, Policy Analyst, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC [biography] Katie is a Policy Analyst at the Administration for Community Living and leads the Commit to Connect Initiative, a cross-sector initiative promoting social engagement and connection.
	Meredith Hanley, Program Director, USAging, Washington, DC [biography] Meredith Hanley serves as USAging’s Director, Community Capacity Building. In this role, she oversees USAging's work on engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults, Commit to Connect and the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network.
	Matthew Lee Smith, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX [biography] Dr. Matthew Lee Smith is an associate professor in the Texas A&M School of Public Health. As an evaluator and interventionist, his research addresses health risk across the life-course and the uptake of evidence-based solutions for older adults. Dr. Smith’s translational work bridges research and practice issues across sectors.

FT30) Fighting Food Insecurity: Free Produce & Better Health for Older Hoosiers

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

Want to improve your client’s health by regularly providing them with free fresh fruits and vegetables? Are you in a rural area? An urban area? Indiana AAAs have successfully designed and implemented the statewide Produce for Better Health Program for food insecure older adults at high risk for chronic health conditions. About 9.8% adults over the age of 60 faced the threat of hunger in the last year. After just six months of produce deliveries, we observed a statistically significant reduction in weight and blood pressure among program participants. Participants learned about nutrition, how to monitor their weight and blood pressure and changed their lifestyles. You will learn about our program design, key partners, challenges and early wins.

Presenters:

	Stacey Kahre, Director of Operations, Generations, Vincennes, IN [biography] Stacey Kahre serves as the Director of Operations at Generations, Area 13 AAA in Indiana, where she has worked since 2002. She has over 21 years experience working in the aging network and has a passion for serving older adults and people with disabilities and their caregivers.
	Kristen LaEace, CEO, Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Indianapolis, IN [biography] Kristen LaEace, MS, MBA, CAE, has been CEO of the Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging for 14 years. Her passion is supporting mission-based organizations in solving complex problems through engaging leadership, fostering collaboration, brokering resources, public policy advocacy and strengthening partner capacity at all levels.
	Allie Overett, Registered Dietitian, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, Carmel, IN [biography] Allie Overett is a Registered Dietitian with expertise in geriatric nutrition. With a drive to make nutrition education more accessible, she uses her passion for helping the aging population and those with disabilities meet their goals to optimize their nutrition and age in place.

FT31) Building Capacity to Support Kinship/Grandfamilies: Funding Beyond NFCSP and NACSP

Focus Area: Supporting Caregivers

Nationwide, grandparents, family, friends and other relatives are raising children whose biological parents are not available for a variety of reasons. Kin/Grandfamily caregivers are more likely to be low income and have one or more disabilities. Using OAA funds under the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) and the Native American Caregiver Support Program (NACSP), the Aging Network have developed innovative ways to support these families, yet many Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI Native American Aging Programs say that limited funding hampers their ability to support more families and almost half do not utilize funding beyond NFCSP and NACSP. Attendees will learn how funding from local, tribal and state governments and from foundations and corporations can support their work with these families.

Presenters:

Kylee Craggett, Technical Assistance Specialist, Generations United, Washington, DC [biography]

Leland Kiang, Program Manager, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

FT32) Innovations in Responding to Transportation Planning and Safe Mobility for Older Adults

Focus Area: Enhancing Independent Living Through Transportation Innovations

We all hear from older adults, family members, and caregivers regarding concerns about older driver safety. Many older adults, and those who care for and about them, struggle with identifying when driving habits might need to change, having the conversation, and what to do to remain safe and independent. When providing information for older adults, how can we quickly and easily direct individuals to the resources that meet their needs? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Clearinghouse for Older Road User Safety offers a simple 13-question tool you can use to generate individualized to-do lists with resources to help those you serve. Join us to learn more about this innovative new technology and how you can integrate it into the services you provide.

Presenters:

Jane Rath, Vice President, New Editions Consulting, Inc., Milford, CT [biography]

Taylor Bee, Highway Safety Specialist, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC [biography]

FT33) Tailoring Approaches for Culture Change: Increasing Ageism Awareness in Howard County, Maryland

Focus Area: Building Livable and Dementia-Friendly Communities

A culmination of research, community voices, and public service, Howard County is leading efforts to expand ageism awareness and promote culture change. In this session, you will learn about the elements of the ageism awareness campaign, the outcomes and impact it has had, and ways to implement these efforts in your own community! This campaign is founded in audience engagement, so you will also have the opportunity to share and brainstorm best practices and guide next steps to maximize momentum of this critical effort and change how communities view aging.

Presenter:

Terri Hansen, Howard County Office on Aging and Independence, Columbia, MA [biography]

FT34) Clear Pathways Program: A Team Approach to Prevention Intervention of Elder Abuse

Focus Area: Elder Justice

This session addresses the issue of what now? What happens to the person who is or was involved with APS, and now needs to transition and be successful within the community, while remaining safe and free from elder abuse? This session will showcase the Clear Pathways Program (CPP), which is a person-centered model and creates a clear plan for the consumer and all providers and supports involved. The goal is to address the consumer's needs and desires in a safe environment. This pilot project replicates the Youth Decision Making Transitions Teams for adults (IHHS YTDM).

Presenter:

Stacia Timmer, Chief Operating Officer, Elderbridge Agency on Aging, Spencer, IA [biography]

4:15 PM - 4:45 PM

4:15 PM - 4:45 PM Fast-Track Sessions

FT35) Collaborating to Provide Services to Older Adults with HIV

Focus Area: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

State Aging Plans must address activities for how the state or territory will equitably provide services and supports to underserved communities by setting goals and providing assurances. The 2021 State Aging Plan Guidance included older adults with HIV as one of the underserved communities. Some State Aging Units and local Area Agencies on Aging may not have experience with or understand of existing services available to low-income older adults with HIV in their jurisdiction. This session will provide an overview of services available from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) and strategies to coordinate with RWHAP-funded organizations to mutually meet the needs of older adults with HIV. It is essential to understand all available resources to support the needs of people aging with HIV.

Presenter:

Marlene Matosky, Chief – Clinical and Quality Branch, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, MD [biography]

FT36) Let's Go Out to Eat! Addressing Health Equity Through Restaurant Partnerships

Focus Area: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

Who doesn’t enjoy a meal out from time to time? It nourishes both our body and mind, helping many of us maintain connections with family and friends, or meet new people in our communities. This luxury is often not accessible to low-income older adults, including immigrant populations. The REUNIR (Spanish, meaning “to gather”) project innovates congregate meals by providing vouchers to local cultural restaurants for Latino and Southeast Asian older adults in Massachusetts. Participants who are food insecure and socially isolated can enjoy meals from their own cultural backgrounds twice each month for up to a full year. Staff at these restaurants also participate in ReFraming Aging training to understand how to better communicate with people they serve and the restaurants benefit for additional business.

Presenters:

Joan Hatem-Roy, Chief Executive Officer, AgeSpan, Lawrence, MA [biography]

Jennifer Raymond, Chief Strategy Officer, AgeSpan, Lawrence, MA [biography]

FT37) Medicaid Billing: A How-to Session for Title VI Programs

Medicaid billing offers Title VI programs the opportunity to tap into an additional source of funding to serve tribal elders in need of a range of long-term services and supports. Find out how your Title VI program can bill Medicaid for these critical services. Learn about Medicaid rules and what it takes to meet the Medicaid requirements.

Presenter:

FT38) Introducing a New Federal Resources: Real Life Considerations for Older Adults

Focus Area: Running Your Agency: Strategies to Strengthen Systems and People

Older adults–particularly those with moderate to low incomes – need decision support that helps them connect the dots of retirement benefits, finances and health. ACL, in partnership with other Federal partners, has developed a new resource guide which pulls together information on benefits and supports available across the federal landscape into one place to assist community-based partners and older adults in accessing unbiased information in order to make essential decisions. During this session ACL will share details on the process used to create the guide along with information on how to access and use the guide with clients, and how to provide feedback to help ensure the guide is providing the information necessary to help individuals navigate federal benefits and program decisions.

Presenter:

Rebecca Kinney, Director, Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC [biography]

FT39) Collaboration in Rural Communities to Improve Quality of Life of Older Adults

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

In 2019, the University of Southern Indiana was awarded a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program grant with the purpose of improving health outcomes for older adults in underserved communities of southwest Indiana. The focus was on developing a workforce to maximize patient and family engagement and integrate geriatrics into primary care. This required collaboration between academia, health systems, Area Agencies on Aging, health educators and the local communities. The twelve-county area covered was mostly rural, medically underserved, and experienced higher mortality from diabetes and Alzheimer's than the national average. Evidence-based programs were selected to address these health concerns, individuals were trained and community partners established. AAA case managers were embedded in clinics to provide resources and support. The university expanded its gerontology curriculum.

Presenter:

Catherine Jones, Director of Planning and Community Development, Generations, Area 13 Agency on Aging, 47591, IN [biography]

FT40) Exploration into Becoming Savvy Caregivers and Savvy Providers

Focus Area: Supporting Caregivers

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas has been providing Evidenced Based programs covering falls prevention and chronic disease management, funded under OAA Title IIID for over 20 years. AAAPP researched and determined that evidence-based services to caregivers were an unmet need in our PSA and that Savvy Caregiver would be the best way to address this growing need. The AAAPP will present an overview of the Savvy Caregiver curriculum, the initial start-up activities, the evolution of this program from PSA to statewide, outreach to targeted populations and the lessons we have learned regarding the evolution of this national program. The overall intent of this presentation is to provide information to other AAAs to understand the efficacy of the program and how it can be replicated at other AAAs.

Presenter:

Jason Martino, Director of Planning, Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL [biography]

FT41) How Data Dashboards Can Advance Agency Programming

Focus Area: Data, Information Exchange and Interoperability

In this session, attendees will learn about the process used to create a food program dashboard focused on Baltimore City older adults and an overview of creating dashboards in ArcGIS online. Attendees will also receive a tour of the finished product and learn about how Baltimore City uses the dashboard for program planning, reporting, and evaluation. The dashboard houses meal data from three of Baltimore City’s food programs, as well as maps of food program sites, SNAP recipients and several demographic variables – including the older adult population and older adults in poverty. By the conclusion of the session, attendees should understand how they can create and use similar tools to inform their programmatic work or share information with the individuals they serve.

Presenters:

Alice Huang, Acting Assistant Commissioner, Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, MD [biography]

Amanda Smith, Epidemiologist, Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, MD [biography]

FT42) Community-Based Organization Partners: The Unsung Heroes of Community Care Hubs

Focus Area: Health Care Contracting and Integrated Care

With the number of community-based organizations (CBOs) and community care hubs (CCHs) pursuing contracting relationships with healthcare organizations is increasing, challenges persist. Learn the benefits and accommodations necessary to build successful relationships to deliver health-related social needs statewide.

Presenter:

William Massey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Peninsula Agency on Aging, Inc, Newport News, VA [biography]

FT43) Social Engagement: Staying Socially Fit

Focus Area: Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness Through Engagement

A look at how the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc.’s Volunteer Social Engagement Program promotes “staying socially fit” for older adults through peer-to-peer social inclusion. Learn how to create programs that allow the development of positive social connections through weekly interactions via telephone or in person visits. The session will address community partnerships, funding and social outcomes for both consumers and volunteers. Participants will learn how to establish community partnerships that benefit homebound, lonely or isolated older adults; how to develop protocols and procedures to create a safe and positive social connection program; how to develop both telecare and in-person social connection programs; and creative ways to recruit and maintain volunteers.

Presenter:

Julie Forrester, Program Manager, Area Office on Aging of NWO, Toledo, OH [biography]

5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Film Viewing

5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

FV01) All the Lonely People: See the Film Find Connection!

Focus Area: Not Applicable - General Session

The epidemic of loneliness and social isolation have become priority issues in the U.S. The Clowder Group’s documentary "All the Lonely People" serves as a powerful exploration of these issues. The documentary presents personal stories, expert insights, proven solutions, and a comprehensive analysis of these issues. The "All the Lonely People" film screening will be followed by a filmmaker-led panel discussion with audience participation. The screening event serves to ignite conversations, drive awareness and inspire action within communities worldwide.

Presenters:

Joseph Applebaum, Producer, The Clowder Group, San Francisco, CA [biography]

Stu Maddux, Director, "All the Lonely People", San Francisco, CA [biography]

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM Fast-Track Sessions

FT44) Managing and Leveraging Relationships with Consultants

Focus Area: Running Your Agency: Strategies to Strengthen Systems and People

As greater opportunities present themselves for Area Agencies on Aging, CBOs and CBO-led networks to participate in cross-sector contracting opportunities, preparing for those partnerships may require the help of outside expertise. Engaging with a consultant can support your organization by offering objective insight, subject matter expertise and provide customized approaches that leverage your organization’s strengths and prioritize new opportunities to meet the needs of potential new partners. Join this session to learn about key success factors in managing working relationships and ways to get the most from your consultants.

Presenter:

Paul Cantrell, Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care, USAging, Washington, DC [biography]

FT45) Building on Momentum to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia

Focus Area: Building Livable and Dementia-Friendly Communities

The Maryland Department of Aging and Prince George’s County Area Agency on Aging will discuss the state’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias initiatives, providing insight into how stakeholder engagement and policy development leads to state-level action and how this work is guided by flagship initiatives at the local level. The Prince George’s County (AAA) will discuss the launch and rollout of their volunteer-led Dementia Friendly Prince George’s County initiative and federal Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative grant. The Maryland Department of Aging will discuss the development of the Virginia I. Jones Council’s State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia 2022-2026 and how that plan was used in the creation and launch of the Long-Term Care and Dementia Care Navigation Programs in July of 2025.

Presenters:

Karen Sylvester, Associate Director, Prince George’s County Aging and Disabilities Services Division, Prince George’s County Department of Family Services, Aging and Disabilities Services Division, Camp Springs, MD [biography]

Mark Tseoro, Cognitive and Behavioral Health Specialist, Maryland Department of Aging, Baltimoer, MD [biography]

FT46) Brain Health Education and Dementia Risk Reduction

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

Brain health education programs are powerful tools to engage and empower community members. These curricula, delivered in age and culturally appropriate formats, are not only tools to support multigenerational audiences in reducing risk of future cognitive decline but also a positive entry point for people who might have personal concerns about cognition and are not ready to seek clinical interventions. ACL grantees are seeing brain health education as the first step in a pathway to diagnosis and the delivery of supports and services to keep people in their homes and communities. In this session attendees will learn about ACL and their grantee’s efforts to advance brain health education, through real time examples and a new resource highlighting state and community providers engaging in this work.

Presenters:

	Erin Long, Aging Services Program Specialist, Administration or Community Living, Washington, DC [biography] Coming soon
	Christopher Stockton, Aging Service Program Specialist, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC

FT47) Building Financial Confidence and Retirement Security for Caregivers of All Ages

Focus Area: Supporting Caregivers

As the population changes, even younger households find themselves navigating complex decisions associated with caregiving. Managing financial matters as a caregiver can be especially difficult. The goal of this session is to strengthen the financial capability, confidence and well-being of family caregivers, most of whom are women. Participants will learn about obstacles caregivers face planning for their own retirement, including challenges facing younger caregivers who are beginning to get their own finances in order when they find themselves needing to take care of parents and grandparents. Key information about Social Security will be shared along with resources from WISER’s Financial Caregiving Hub. Results from two national surveys conducted by WISER and NCOA about workable policy solutions like raising the minimum retirement benefit will be presented.

Presenters:

Lara Hinz, Director of Programs, Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER), Washington, DC [biography]

Linda Stone, Senior Pension Fellow, American Academy of Actuaries, Bryn Mawr, PA [biography]

FT48) Specialized Aging Support for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Differences

Focus Area: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

Individuals with intellectual and developmental differences (IDD) face lifelong battles of inclusion and access to services. Throughout the aging process, even more significant needs for support present as they experience Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias (ADRD) at a staggering rate. As individuals with Down syndrome and other IDD diagnoses face everyday challenges associated with ADRD, they also face struggles of providers and caregivers unsure of next steps. The Specialized Aging Support program launched the next phase of services, developing an interactive day center for those living with and at high-risk of dementia, caregiver support and education and trainings focused on IDD and dementia. We aim to establish a more dementia-capable workforce that is equipped for this next phase of life in individuals with IDD.

Presenters:

Abigale Such, Occupational Therapy Manager, The Arc Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL [biography]

Jean Wetstein, Vice President of the Arc Jacksonville’s Independent Living Support Services, The Arc Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL [biography]

FT49) Combatting Malnutrition Through OAA State Plans

Focus Area: Best Practices in Healthy Aging

Between 1999 and 2023, over 90 thousand older adults died from malnutrition. The final regulations for the Older Americans Act are expected to include malnutrition prevention programs in area plans for the first time. This session will focus on a malnutrition learning collaborative and how it will help Areas Agencies on Aging.

Presenters:

Robert Blancato, Executive Director, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP), Washington, DC [biography]

Laura Borth, Policy and Advocacy Associate, NANASP, Washington, DC [biography]

FT50) Empowering Mandated Reporters: A Personalized e-Toolkit on Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse

Focus Area: Elder Justice

To make Adult Protective Services mandated reporter training more accessible, user-friendly and cost-effective, the County of San Diego’s Aging & Independence Services created a comprehensive e-toolkit on elder and dependent adult abuse. Tailored for senior centers in San Diego County, the toolkit enables senior center leaders to equip their teams to recognize signs of abuse and understand their role as mandated reporters. The toolkit, which includes a PowerPoint presentation, short videos, handouts and resources, encourages an interactive, personalized approach and can be administered by center leaders as the need arises. Join this session as we delve into the development, implementation and replicability potential of this e-toolkit. Come away with new approaches to make mandated reporter training and elder abuse awareness more accessible.

Presenters:

Rachel Lehnert, Aging Program Specialist II, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services, San Diego, CA [biography]

Jonathan Tague, Outreach & Education Specialist, Aging & Independence Services, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego, CA [biography]

FT51) Using Congregate Dining Clubs to Encourage Nutrition, Generate Socialization and Provide Education

Focus Area: Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness Through Engagement

The COVID-19 pandemic required aging professionals to respond to increased isolation across older adult populations. The pandemic closed many congregate meal sites leaving a lasting impact. Further, food insecurity continued to serve as a growing concern for older adults. An innovative congregate meal program structure allowed AAA3 to leverage this approach to address post-pandemic priorities. Learn how AAA3 leaned on their restaurant-based congregate model along with community partners to host social clubs that enforced positive nutritional choices, generated engagement and socialization, and provided education of community resources and supports available to program participants.

Presenter:

Dre White, Population Health Director, Area Agency on Aging 3, LIMA, OH [biography]

FT52) On the Front Lines: Health Care Fraud Trends by the SMP

Focus Area: Elder Justice

In this session, representatives from the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) will discuss the current spectrum of health care fraud schemes affecting older adults, including Medicare beneficiaries. The presentation will provide an overview of fraud schemes including information on opportunistic fraud that encompasses the method of contact and social engineering techniques used by scammers to target older adults. The session will include related emerging schemes such as remotely monitored medical services and artificial intelligence. Data analysis of scheme and geographic fraud hot spots will be presented. The session will include resources and action steps from the SMP that can assist people that work with older adults, the public, law enforcement, and service providers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud.

Presenters:

Jennifer Trussell, Fraud Prevention Consultant, Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center, Knoxville, TN [biography]

Marissa Whitehouse, SMP Program Manager, Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC [biography]

FT53) Synergy in Support: ADRCs and Senior Centers Collaboration for Aging Well

Focus Area: Cutting-Edge OAA and Aging Programs

Presenters will share their unique journeys, challenges and strategies that were used to connect ADRC and senior centers in an effort to benefit older adults and individuals with disabilities in Baltimore City. This session will also show the plan and outcome measures that were adopted to measure the long-term impact of this collaboration. By sharing the process regarding connectivity and collaboration, it is the hope that other ADRCs will replicate these efforts and enhance collaboration amongst their local senior centers. Presenters will discuss processes for establishing effective communication channels, aligning goals, and navigating different organizational structures. Another discussion point involves continuous evaluation, feedback mechanisms and expanding collaborative efforts. Additionally, exploring ways to enhance community engagement and address evolving needs.

Presenters:

Lori Fagan, Senior Center Director, Baltimore City Health Department, Division of Aging, Baltimore, MD [biography]

Chrystle Samuels, Director of Constituent Services, Baltimore City Health Department, Division of Aging, Baltimore, MD [biography]

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Meet the USAging Consultants

Thursday, July 11

7:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Lactation Room

8:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Registration and Information Desk Open

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Continental Breakfast

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM