Monday, March 18th

New Director’s Training: Title VI Basics

***This training fulfills Title VI Grant requirement.***

Are you a new Title VI director? Do you have questions about reporting, spending your Title VI funds and how to manage this program? Do you think this is just a program that provides a meal at noon? This is the training for YOU. Participants in this session will gain basic information, resources, skills & tools needed to successfully manage a Title VI program. This session is targeted towards directors who are new(er) to the Aging Network.

Topics will include:

• A history and orientation to the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title VI requirements for Parts A, B, and C
• Program policies and procedures
• Program planning and management
• Part C – Caregiver support program
• Program evaluation and needs assessments
• Program reporting
• Part A – Nutrition & Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP)
• Part A – Supportive Services

 

Native Elder Caregiver Curriculum Training

NRCNAA has updated their caregiver curriculum, which can be used to train staff and caregivers in tribal communities. This session allows participants to become familiar with the curriculum and to use it to clarify roles and as a guide to provide required caregiver program training. The curriculum was developed to guide caregivers in tribal communities and to help define the role of caregivers. Programs could use this curriculum for coordinated training between tribal social service workers, CHRs, Public Health workers, respite workers, seniors, families and communities to build a caregiver network.

 

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Long-term Services & Support (LTSS)

Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) are types of person-centered care delivered in the home and community. A variety of health and human services are necessary to address the needs of people with functional limitations who need assistance with everyday activities, like getting dressed or bathing. HCBS are designed to enable people to stay in their homes, rather than moving to a facility for care. HCBS programs generally fall into two categories: health services and human services. HCBS programs may offer a combination of both types of services and do not necessarily offer all services from either category. HCBS programs are often funded by state waivers. Waivers are part of a state’s Medicaid program. Waivers usually require medical and financial eligibility, but state waiver eligibility requirements may not be exactly the same as state Medicaid eligibility. Other funders for HCBS might include your tribe or county. Join the Resource Center for Native Aging & Disabilities, Generations United, USAging, ACL for a tour of HCBS delivery in Indian Country, followed by highlights from the Pueblo of Zuni, the Pueblo of Isleta, & the Yakama Nation HCBS programs.

Topics will include:

• Introduction and overview of HCBS services
• Title VI Family Caregivers
• Meeting Access Needs—Transportation Assistance

 

Building Dementia Capability in Indian Country

Does your tribe have specific services for persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of Dementia? Does your caregiver program include caregiving for persons with Alzheimer’s or another form of Dementia? Tribal health clinics do the medical diagnosis. Who provides support to families & caregivers? Participants in this session will learn about existing ACL efforts around Alzheimer’s & Dementia & hear about programs already serving tribal communities in the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Aleutian-Pribilof Island Association & Absentee Shawnee. Participants will also be given ideas for Public Health Workforce Funds programs.

 

Elder Justice in Indian Country

Millions of older Americans experience abuse, neglect, exploitation, or discrimination each year. That includes tribal elders. What is the Elder Justice Act & does it apply to Indian Country? Are there tribal programs working to protect physical, mental, and financial security of elders? Join a national tribal elder justice advocate to better understand the Act, the network, & how to provide elder assistance to tribal elders. Listen to the Title VI Native American Elder Justice Initiative explain their work, resource & how they can provide assistance to tribal efforts. Learn about ACL-funded efforts to watch. And finally, listen to the Wills & Probates program discussion from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.

 

Nutrition

Meals are the bedrock service for the Title VI program. Everyone does them. But can we do them better? Why do we care? This half day intensive is for directors, cooks and other staff directly involved in the meals program. It will address Title VI program requirements, food and nutrition needs of elders, menu planning, food safety and sanitation, food ordering, meal costing, and use of traditional foods. Participants will solve congregate and home-delivered program problems. Participants will evaluate menus for health and appeal, share tips for service delivery, creative solutions to food service problems, and ways to incorporate traditional foods and cultural practices. Participants will leave this interactive session with new ideas for culturally appropriate food, healthy menu ideas, and ways to meet the changing nutrition wants and needs of elders. 

Topics include:

• Meal costing
• Menu planning

 

Caregiver Part C

This pre-intensive session will cover the Title VI Part C Family Caregiver Support Program requirements, definitions and examples.  Let’s simplify Part C one layer at a time. Who are eligible family caregivers?  What is caregiving? What are all those required services?  Join a participant guided discussion that will offer helpful tips on program management, caregiver services and record keeping for caregiver services. There are some excellent tribal examples.  Come learn from Zuni, Wyandotte & Yakama who will make it so easy

Topics will include:

• Eligibility for Part C
• Reaching your caregivers
• Services provided in Part C
• Planning your Part C Program

 

Tuesday, March 19th

Title VI Across the Nation

Let’s get the demographics about Title VI straight! We think you’re going to appreciate the new tool from ACL! Learn how we can distinguish between geographic tribal service areas to better understand your service areas. Look at our bird’s eye view of your tribal community, & how this tool can be used for education & awareness about Title VI programs. This is perfect to show the wide reach of Title VI services across the United States.

 

Tribal Consultation on Implementation of Older Americans Act Regulations

***This session will be both in person and virtual. ***

This session is intended to foster collaboration between tribes, Tribal Leadership & ACL. ACL welcomes testimony from tribal leaders, elected officials, & designated others on the implementation of the Older Americans Act. Comments on the updated regulations, recommendations for carrying out changes within Title VI grantees & the proposed schedule for implementation.

 

Title VI LTSS Survey Preliminary Results

Our friends at Scripps Gerontology Center & USAging are analyzing Title VI LTSS survey results! Join us for a sneak peak into some of the lessons you’ve talk us & the data that you shared. If you participated in the 2023 LTSS Survey then you’re included in this data. Join this exciting view into LTSS in Indian Country.

 

Title VI Needs Assessment Results

The National Resource Center on Native American Aging has compiled your 2022 needs assessment into an informative & useful summary document. Join the unfailing in this session!! If you participated in the UND NRCNAA needs assessments to use in your 2023-26 grant applications, then this summary includes your information. If you chose not to utilize NRCNAA for your needs assessments this summary will show what you missed out on. This summary can be used to educate & inform tribal leaders, tribal communities, seniors, AAAs, state units, local providers, grant applications, & for planning & presentations.

 

Overview of the New OAA Regulations

On June 16, 2023 ACL began the process of updating the OAA to better align with the current statute, to reflect the needs of today’s older adults & caregivers, to promote appropriate stewardship of the OAA regulations, clarify programmatic requirements, support the aging network & to improve implementation to better serve older adults & caregivers. That extensive 9-month process of holding hearings, gathering stakeholder input & comments. ACL reviewed that feedback & incorporated it in as appropriate. The OAA regulations Final Rule then went through a series of internal ACL, HHS & federal government clearance. The Final Rule became effective on March 8, 2024. ACL has established  October 1, 2025 as the final date for full compliance. ACL has already started our robust technical assistance & engaging with stakeholders regarding implementation of this Final Rule. Today we begin those efforts in Title VI.

 

Title VI Fiscal Training

***This training fulfills Title VI Grant requirement. ***

This training is intended to introduce participants to all the different fiscal components of Title VI. This training will be hosted by ACL’s Office of Fiscal Operations (OFO). OFO will cover a broad array of topics around Title VI financing

Topics will include:

• Allowable vs. unallowable expenses
• Coordinating with your tribe’s finance office
• Financial reporting requirements

 

Data Boot Camp

Calling all friends of data! Writing new grants, planning your programs, and advocating for additional funding. Title VI data can add so much. This session is intended to walk you through all the ways your data can work for you. Through original Title VI grants applications, needs assessments, LTSS surveys, OAAP reporting, Title VI staff, & Title VI participants program have a vast array of useable data. So how do you read the story & how do you use it? This session is also intended to answer any questions you have about the upcoming Title VI Program Performance Report (PPR).

Topics will include:

• Title VI Needs Assessment
• Historic PPR Data
• Tracking Your Services
• FY24 PPR

 

Choosing the Right Evidence-Based Program for Your Community

Evidence-based programs (EBPs) offer proven ways to promote health & prevent disease among older adults. They are based on research & provide documented health benefits. EBP participants build skills to take control of their health, from lowering the risk of falls to better managing chronic conditions, engaging in physical activity, and proactively managing mental health. There are several EBPs that have worked successfully in tribal communities, including Wisdom Warriors, Tai Chi, & Walk in Balance. What does it mean to adapt an EBP for native populations? Participants in this session will learn what EBPs are, & how they can be implemented in tribal programs. Better Choices Better Health, is a successful EBP partnership between SDSU & the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board. What makes it work?

 

Dementia Friends

Dementia Friends USA is part of a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. Anyone can be a Dementia Friend – we all have a part to play in creating dementia friendly communities! A Dementia Friend is someone who, through viewing a series of online videos or attending a live interactive session, learns about what it’s like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action. From telling friends about the Dementia Friends program to visiting someone who is living with dementia, every action counts.

 

Physical Fitness with Limitations

Physical fitness is critical to health. Title VI programs work hard to bring in physical activities to keep seniors moving, active & fit. Chair exercises, laughter, bingo, dancing & catch/throw games are alive & well in Title VI senior centers. What else can we do to enrich their lives physically? Join this lively session to learn about physical limitations that each of us encounters in our daily lives. Let’s look past those limitations & just have fun by allowing each person to define their own limitations.  Limitations are meant to be excelled.

 

Wednesday, March 20th

 

General Session: Discussion about LTSS Expansion

A provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) called for the expansion of Medicaid eligibility in order to cover more low-income Americans. Under the expansion guidelines, Medicaid eligibility is extended to adults under the age of 65 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level/FPL (133% plus a 5% income disregard). Pre-ACA, Medicaid was generally never available to non-disabled adults under age 65 unless they had minor children. And even then, the income caps to qualify as a parent/caretaker were very low. By expanding Medicaid, the ACA created a viable pathway to coverage for millions of low-income adults. So what does that mean for Title VI programs? Let’s break it down to the Indian elder, the tribe, Title VI services, HCBS waivers, expanding care to elders needing assistance to continue living in their own homes.

 

Evidence-Based Programs

Better Choices Better Health is one option for EBP. What are others? Are there EBPs that can be done easily? Do staff always have to be certified to conduct EBP? What is certification? Are there EBP that we can just do? This session digs deeper into EBP in Title VI programs & the importance of helping tribal elders better manage their own health care.  We can do them, Title VI!

 

Opportunities for Title VI Relative Caregiver Programs

Join this interactive session to learn how the ACL-funded, Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, the first national technical assistance center on the families, can assist you in your efforts to support older relative caregivers raising children whose parents cannot. American Indian and Alaska Native children are more likely to be raised by relatives than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S. The Network, and its partner USAging, will share their free-of-charge resources that can help you develop or enhance your supportive services for the older relatives who care for these children.  Learn more about the caregivers, their strengths and challenges, and how Title VI programs are currently supporting them.  Walk away with resources and ideas to help support these family caregivers.

 

Title III & Title VI Coordination

Did you know states are granted Title III funding to provide many of the same services that are provided in Title VI? Did you know Title III funding to states is based on state populations of persons 60 years & older.  If there are native elders living in the state they are counted just like all other people living there. States receive Title III funds to serve all persons age 60 & older within state boundaries. Do native elders live within identified state boundaries? Does your tribe receive Title III funds or services from your state? Did you know coordinating these services is required in the Older Americans Act?

This session will help participants understand this coordination requirement and facilitate a discussion about how to reach Title III funding and best practices for coordinating with the state.

Topics will include:

• Title III/Title VI Coordination Requirements
• Services Title III Provides
• Working With your State

 

Program Management/Policies & Procedures

There are two things to know about Title VI Policies and Procedures. They are required, and they will make your life easier. Policies are what your program can do, and procedures are how your program does it. Having Policies and Procedures that are approved by the Tribal Council means that you will provide consistent services in a consistent manner to all eligible persons. It also means that you will not provide services to ineligible people. This session will provide examples of current tribal Policies and Procedures for discussion. Make this session interactive and bring your program Policies and Procedures for additional discussion!!!!

 

Brain Health

Brain health is the state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioral and motor domains, allowing a person to realize their full potential over the life course, irrespective of the presence or absence of disorders. Different determinants related to physical health, healthy environments, safety and security, life-long learning and social connection as well as access to quality services influence the way our brains develop, adapt and respond to stress and adversity. These give way to strategies for promotion and prevention across the life course. Optimizing brain health by addressing these determinants not only improves mental and physical health but also creates positive social and economic impacts that contribute to greater well-being and help advance society.

However, conditions affecting the brain and nervous system in general emerge throughout the life course and are characterized by disruptions in brain growth, damage to brain structure and/or impaired brain functioning. These include for example congenital and neurodevelopmental conditions as well as neurological disorders across the life. Health and social care for these conditions require multisectoral and interdisciplinary collaborations with a holistic person-centered approach focused on promotion, prevention, treatment, care and rehabilitation and the active engagement of persons with lived experience & their families.

 

Evidence-Based Programs – Discussion/Tribal Planning

Previous sessions have defined Evidence-based programs.  We’ve learned different programs, different goals, about certification & choosing methods.  I this session let’s trouble-shoot to learn about tribal efforts in EBP.  There have been programs that have failed miserably.  Fact.  There have been programs that ring bells because they’ve worked so well for native elders. What’s the key? What makes for successful EBP in Indian Country?

 

Powerful Tools for Caregivers

Join this session to learn about the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona’s Powerful Tools for Caregivers Program.  Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a national evidence-based program that gives caregivers the skills to take care of themselves while caring for someone else. The concept is simple, by taking care of your own health and well-being you become a better caregiver. Mary will provide information that can be used to replicate the program in other areas. You might decide this would work well in your community, so stop in and learn more!

 

Elder Justice

Come and meet your Native American Elder Justice National Resource Center! This session will focus on the basics of elder abuse and neglect. What is elder abuse and neglect? What is self-neglect? Come and join this opportunity to share elder justice needs in your community and let ACL and IA² know how we can help.  Shoshone-Bannock Tribe will also share highlights about their elder justice program

Topics will include:

• Elder Justice Resource Center’s Current Resources
• Elder Justice Resource Center Future Plans
• Elder Justice in Your Communities

 

Developing and Monitoring a Simple Budget

So, if ACL doesn’t require a budget for Title VI why are we worried about helping you developing one? Because you can’t manage a program without knowing how much funding you have, what those funds can be used for, and what the funding deadlines are!  Many tribal programs receive money from several different sources and it’s important to track how they are utilized within your program. . Tracking expenditures and keeping aware of balances is a critical part of maintaining your budget. If you want a professional budget development specialist, come to Fong’s session!

Topics will include:

• Developing a Budget
• Managing your Program
• Tracking Expenditures
• Maintaining your Budget

 

Program Performance Report (PPR) & Older Americans Act Performance
Systems (OAAPS)

We are in the FY24 reporting season! During this session we will be doing a walk-through of the OAAPS reporting system and answering your questions about completing your yearly Title VI report. This session is intended to answer your questions about Title VI reporting.

Topics will include:

• Accessing OAAPS
• Completing the PPR
• Defining Title VI Services
• COVID Supplemental Reporting

 

AARP Resources aka "You've Got a Friend in Me"

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. Advocating for people age 50-plus is at the heart of the AARP mission. AARP is. If you’re looking for resources on brain health, chronic disease, falls, collaboration, EBP, nutrition, traditional foods, transportation, or most anything else check with AARP.  You’ll likely find what you are looking for, which includes printable information to include with senior meals on a variety of topics. If you haven’t met, collaborated with, or been a part of any AARP presentations you’ve missed out! Come to this presentation & prepare to leave excited at this new partnership!

 

Preserving Title VI Funds

There are so many ways you can sustain (and grow) your Title VI program! Medicaid HCBS waivers, Title III, & ACL just to name a few. This session is intended to pull out other resources being used to expand services for tribal elders. Money Follows the Person is a great CMS program. Federal Transit funds are critical.  Does anyone use CSBG? LIEAP? Tribal housing? AAAs? Counties? What else?

 

Title VI National Resource Centers

Title VI funding provides several resource centers meant to support you as you provide support for your elders. During this session, participants will learn about the work of these resource centers:

• The National Resource Center for Alaska Native Elders at the University of Alaska Anchorage is positioning itself to be the leading national resource center  for the development of Title VI resources to support Directors to serve older adults in their communities. Title VI resources are the foundation of successful aging and aging in place, and developing resources, training, education, webinars, and publications in partnership with faculty, Title VI Directors, tribal leaders, and Elders, we will establish a Title VI Director clearinghouse for Alaska Natives and provide consultations for other tribal communities to access and adapt these resources for their communities.
• The mission of Hā Kūpuna National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders at the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is to generate knowledge about Native Hawaiian elders and enhance services to support them. Like other indigenous people, Native Hawaiians experienced colonization and loss, but have retained and are revitalizing many aspects of their culture. In this presentation, you will hear about the experience of Native Hawaiian elders today and learn about the activities of Hā Kūpuna, including our needs assessment, our dementia education project, and our “resilience” interviews.
• The National Resource Center on Native American Aging (NRCNAA) at the University of North Dakota is committed to identifying Native Elder health and social issues. Through education, training, and technical assistance, we assist in developing community-based solutions to improve the quality of life and delivery of related support services to the Native aging population. The NRCNAA has collected a vast array of data that you can use to help your Title VI programs grow and prosper.
• Resource Center on Native Aging & Disabilities focuses on building long term services & supports throughout Title VI communities. Their work is highlighted throughout the agenda.
• Native American Elder Justice Initiative focuses on elder justice issues across tribal communities & helping tribes to develop awareness, education & prevention efforts within service delivery. Their work is also highlighted throughout the agenda.

Participants are also encouraged to share the needs of their communities and make suggestions about how Title VI resource centers can best address the needs of their programs.

Topics will include:

• Accessing the Resource Centers
• The Work of these Resource Centers
• What YOU Need from the Resource Centers

 

Home and Community Based Waiver Services

Let’s define HCBS within tribal communities & what that means to a typical Title VI program.  Let’s talk about waivers & what that means to tribal elders & Title VI services. What do we mean by waiver services?  Now let’s talk reimbursements through Medicaid to build up your Title VI program.

 

Nutrition, Menu Planning, and Meal Costing

Meals are the bedrock service for the Title VI program. Everyone does them. But can we do them better? This session will provide an overview of Title VI program requirements, food and nutrition needs of elders, menu planning, food safety and sanitation, food ordering, meal costing, and use of traditional foods. Participants will learn to evaluate menus for health and appeal, share tips for service delivery, & find creative solutions to food service problems. Participants will leave this interactive session with new ideas for culturally appropriate food, healthy menu ideas, and ways to meet the changing nutrition wants and needs of elders.

Topics include:

• Meal Costing
• Menu Planning

 

Person-Centered Care: Discussion with Title VI & Tribal AAAs

Person-centered care is about empowering elders to have autonomy and control over their own care decisions. It’s essential to recognize that individuals prefer to make their own choices whenever possible. However, achieving this requires robust supports systems from various stakeholders. In our discussion we will explore how to balance between offering guidance and respecting individual autonomy. How do we support that independence as families, communities & service-providers? What is that fine line between we know better or it’s our responsibility & truly allowing someone to determine their own care. With our support. Through this reflective end of the day dialogue, let’s collaborate and navigate the path towards empowering elders to determine their own care.

 

Thursday, March 21st

General Session: Native American Action Plan

Let’s learn about ACLs Center for Disabilities & some of the services that are available for persons living with disabilities & their family supports. Are you familiar with the Centers for Independent Living? Protection & Advocacy Centers? the National Council on Disabilities? State Disabilities Councils? Join this informative interaction session to learn more. Welcome ACL Disabilities!

 

Public Health/Public Workforce

Each Title VI program was given $80,000 in early 2022 to expand public health services in your programs. What can you do with this money? During this session we will discuss the requirements of this grant and using this money to expand public health services in your community. This session will also have an opportunity to discuss the needs in your community and work as a group to address these needs.

Topics will include:

• Overview of Public Health
• Identifying Public Health Needs
• Public Health Resources

 

Native Urban Elder Needs Assessment Survey

In order to explore health & social-related factors among tribal elders living in urban areas, NRCNAA partnered with the Coalition on Urban Indian Aging & AARP to expand the Title VI Elder Needs Assessment into urban communities.  Survey results clearly indicate gaps in services for this population & a need for conversation, collaboration & coordination among appropriate service agencies.

 

Resource Development/Maintaining Safe Housing

Title VI is all about keeping seniors home & in native communities. Who assures safe housing for native elders? Who is responsible to assess housing & to locate resources to maintain safe living in native homes?  There are resources that can help & there is some exciting work being done around the US.  Let’s talk housing assistance.

 

Providing Respite Care to Title VI Caregivers

Respite care sounds like a complicated term for a very easy concept. Caregivers need temporary breaks, usually short-term. That’s respite care. Caregiving can be extremely cumbersome. It’s time-consuming. It’s an enormous responsibility to be the primary caregiver for another person. Allowing caregivers to have a small break for a few hours to re-focus is critical. Chances are the caregiver doesn’t emotionally leave their responsibility, but they might be able to run a few errands or enjoy a quiet cup of tea. Respite programs and lending closets are 2 of the most utilized programs with Title VI Part C funds. This session will review the requirements of respite support and some tips for establishing policies and procedures to implement a great respite program. This session will tackle some of the challenges with providing respite care and provide an opportunity for participants to learn from each other about respite care in your community

Topics will include:

• Respite Care Requirements
• Policies and Procedures for Respite
• Best Practices for Respite

 

Maintaining Fiscal and Programmatic Compliance

All recipients of federal funding agree to comply with fiscal & programmatic compliance.  That simply means that grantees agree to spend funds as intended by the government & maintaining auditable records for all fiscal & programmatic aspects of the program. Join this discussion to learn federal expectations, tribal responsibilities, & how ACL works to ease that process for tribal grantees.

 

Open discussion with ACL on Medicare Assistance Programs (SHIP, SMP, MIPPA)

Share your thoughts and experiences with ACL about supporting American Indians and Alaskan Natives in accessing Medicare-related services in collaboration with the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), and Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) grantees. This open discussion is focused on learning the experience of American Indians and Alaskan Natives with Medicare-related services, as well as understanding the related challenges and opportunities.

 

Independent Living Facilities and P&A Centers

ACL funds Centers for Independent Living and Protection and Advocacy organizations. This session is intended to teach participants about these programs and how to access these services.

Topics will include:

• Describing Centers for Independent Living
• Reaching Centers for Independent Living
• Describing Protection and Advocacy Organizations
• Reaching Protection and Advocacy Organizations

 

Developing Relationships with Area Agencies on Aging

Area Agencies on Aging are a part of the Title III service delivery network.  Older Americans Act regulations require coordination & collaboration between AAAs & tribes.  This session provides guidance to tribal programs to prepare for introducing Title VI to a AAA & suggest how to approach a AAA, what information to provide about your program, & offers tips on types of coordination to seek.  Coordination with AAAs can only mean expanded services for native elders.

 

Nutrition: Traditional Foods

Traditional foods are more than healthy foods, they are a part of the history, land, culture, and spiritual practice of a people as well as part of the economic fabric of a tribe. Traditional foods are part of the generational heritage passed on from the elders. ACL encourages the incorporation of traditional foods into Title VI program meals. Does your program include traditional foods in monthly menus?  How do you attain traditional foods to serve?  Do you include any other activities around native foods?

Topics will include:

• The Importance of Traditional Food
• Incorporating Traditional Foods into Menu Planning
• How to Bring Traditional Foods into your Community

 

Transportation

Every Title VI program needs transportation to bring seniors to services or to deliver services to elders. Who provides those vehicles? There are state & federal funds for transportation assistance.  Let’s learn more & not use critical Title VI funds to purchase vehicles. Let’s learn more! What other funds can be used for the purchase of vehicles; what is required in the application process, and ongoing requirements and reporting? You already have the data that you need to:

Topics will include:

Finding Transportation Grants

Locate Other Transportation Resources

Develop a Focus for Transportation Needs in your Community

 

Using Information from Needs Assessments & Surveys

All Title VI programs completed a Needs Assessment as part of your Title VI grants application. Now what? Your elders completed a large survey about their needs, but how can you use this? The National Resource Center on Native American Aging (NRCNAA) (that provided the needs assessment survey) will walk through the needs assessment. Participants will be empowered to use their survey results to understand your community’s needs, request additional funding for your program and advocate for the needs of your elders.

Topics wills include:

• Understanding Results of your Needs Assessments
• Historic Needs Assessment Data
• Using Your Data for Planning
• Using Your Data for Advocacy

 

Allowable vs. Unallowable Costs

What can I spend my Title VI funds on? Can I purchase a building? Can I buy a new stove?  Can I pay staff? Can I purchase dinners for the Tribal Council so they will support my program?!!! Join us for a discussion about spending federal funds properly and about allowable and unallowable expenditures under federal grants.

Topics will include:

• Allowable vs. Unallowable Costs
• Large Purchase Requests
• Planning for the Future

 

ACL Innovation Lab – Falls Prevention Research

Join this exciting session to learn more about the upcoming ACL Innovation Lab around Falls Prevention Research! That sounds technical, doesn’t it? Don’t worry. The purpose for this session & of the lab is to clarify falls prevention, to determine how we can plan & develop falls efforts for our own communities with the bottom line of reducing falls among our elders. You know that this is going to be fun, creative & that it’ll make a real difference.

 

Disaster Planning & Response

Older adults face unique challenges; many are often dependent upon others for basic necessities and psychosocial support. This dependency often increases their vulnerability to the impacts of major disasters, when not only are the seniors themselves impacted, but critical services for older adults are also disrupted. FEMA and the Administration for Community Living have partnered to address this disparity through a session aimed at preparing the organizations that provide critical support services to senior citizens in their communities.

 

ECHO Programs

Project ECHO is all about democratizing knowledge and best practices. The purpose of the Title VI ECHO series is to respond to the needs of the nation’s growing Elder population, improve knowledge of the problems and needs of Elders, support training opportunities for personnel in the field of aging, and to explore best practices that improve the quality of life for Elders and their caregivers. This series is intended for Tribal providers of services supported by Title VI, including program directors, meal service providers, drivers, aides, caregivers, and other support staff.

 

Title VI Director’s Association

This time is set aside for the Title VI Director’s Association to meet, discuss their concerns & plan for greater collaboration.  It also allows other advocates to join this discussion without federal oversight.