Promoting Appropriate Supports for LGBT Elders

National Technical Assistance

Resource Center

ADSSP Grantee & Partner Meeting May 25, 2010

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Background

The Older Americans Act directs the Aging Network to pay particular attention to serving underserved populations

AoA has a history of funding national organizations to serve as technical assistance resource centers for specific minority populations including Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Native Americans.

With the encouragement of the Administration, AoA is recognizing through this new resource center that older gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals have unique needs and preferences that must be addressed

AoA Support for Underserved Populations

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Vision

Older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in the United States feel welcome and supported in their communities, urban and rural, by both mainstream and LGBT organizations and have access to culturally appropriate supports and services to assist them in their efforts to live as independently as possible in the setting of their choice

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Objectives of the Initiative

Educate mainstream aging services organizations about the existence and special needs of LGBT elders

Sensitize LGBT organizations about the existence and special needs of older adults

Educate LGBT individuals about the importance of planning ahead for future long-term care needs

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Key Components of an Effective Resource Center for LGBT Elders

Capacity to reach a diverse array of mainstream as well as LGBT organizations as well as to impact LGBT individuals in a variety of settings

Partnership and collaboration

Effective use of information technology

Quality measurement for continuous improvement

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ADSSP Grantee & Partner Meeting

May 25, 2010

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Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)

•Nation’s oldest and largest community-based organization serving and celebrating the older members of the LGBT community;•Offers a wide array of social and community-based services •National leader in advocacy, educating the LGBT and mainstream communities through training, SAGE National Conference, etc.

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SAGE c’td

•National network of affiliates (SAGEnet); currently 14 SAGE affiliates across the country•First LGBT organization invited to sit on the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO)•Facilitator, along with the NGLTF of the LGBT Aging Roundtable, a collective of 40 organizations around the country dedicated to working with and on behalf of LGBT older adults

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Program Components

• Training & Technical Assistance for “Mainstream” Providers

• Training & Technical Assistance for LGBT Community Providers

• Information & Education for LGBT Older Adults

• Data Collection & Evaluation

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Program Vehicles

• Web-based Trainings & TA (e.g. webinars)

• Conference-based Trainings & TA

• Social marketing for LGBT older people (on-line, etc.)

• Social networking supports for LGBT older people

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Creating a Model Training Curriculum

• Based on Adult-centered learning that empowers staff to respond to the individual

• Melding PHI experience in crafting multi-disciplinary curricula with the expertise of the NTARC training partners developing in-person and web-based training modules.

• Creation of evaluation tools

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Program Approach

• Three pronged partnership approach:• LGBT training partners (LGBT Aging Project, openhouse, GRIOT Circle, Transgender Aging Network)• Mainstream aging portal partners: ASA, NCOA/NISC, n4a• LGBT portal partner: Centerlink• Evaluation partner: Brookdale Center on Healthy

Aging and Longevity

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Collecting Data & Knowledge to Inform Policy

• Older Americans Act mandate for advocacy

• National Technical Assistance Resource Center as a source of data for policymaking

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The Timeline To Launch

• Convening of NTARC Training Partners- early July 2010

• Initial Phase 1 website launch- Fall 2010

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Catherine Thurston

Senior Director of Programs

SAGE305 7th Ave.6th FloorNew York, NY 10001

T: (212)741-2247cthurston@sageusa.org

Promoting Appropriate Supports for LGBT Elders

National Technical Assistance Resource Center

Questions?