Strengthening Aging Services for Minority Populations Through Technical Assistance, Resource Development, and Program Coordination

Within the older adult population, there exists considerable diversity with respect to race, ethnicity, cultural background; and sexual orientation/gender identity. Diverse older adults often encounter unique challenges when seeking home and community-based services and other long-term care. The Older Americans Act (OAA) mandates that services and supports it funds be targeted with particular attention paid to those in greatest economic and social need and who are further isolated by their race/ethnicity and/or English speaking proficiency.  Many human services organizations serving older adults and their families report needing training and technical assistance to better target and serve diverse populations. Similarly, diverse older adults themselves can often benefit more equitably from culturally appropriate services and supports. The two primary objectives of this new Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) are as follows:1. Develop and disseminate training and technical assistance to strengthen the national capacity to address the multi-faceted needs of a diverse older adult population in areas such as (but not limited to) economic security, access to services, housing needs, self-advocacy, family and caregiver supports, and trauma informed approaches.2. Develop, test and disseminate approaches that aging and human services network agencies can employ to more successfully work one-on-one with diverse older adults, their families, and family caregivers.Older adults themselves who identify as African American, Hispanic, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Native American and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) are the minority populations most frequently targeted and served by the aging services network. In this new project, ACL will seek applications from national organizations serving these same populations while also encouraging an expanded focus to include other diverse populations of older adults and their family caregivers. Under cooperative agreements, the ACL program officer will work closely with each of the grantees to ensure their work is in line with the goals and objectives articulated in D-1 and that each of the grantees is working closely with the Coordination Center that will also be funded under this plan. Goals and objectives will be sought that seek to make measurable improvements in the lives of diverse older adults, their families and family caregivers.The successful grantees will be expected to establish and use measurable performance goals, including appropriate indicators to track progress.  Applicants will be given examples of performance goals and indicators typical for TA resource center activities funded by AoA. Additionally, the grantees and their partners will be required to participate in regular meetings and teleconferences with the ACL Program Officer/s to review project developments and accomplishments and to monitor progress towards the achievement of stated goals.