Resource Center

Older Americans Adults (OAA) reauthorization presents a unique opportunity to make significant improvements to the advocacy provisions under the Act. This paper presents three dimensions and five principles that form the basis of advocacy under the OAA, and it offers seven recommendations to strengthen advocacy within the next OAA reauthorization. Virtually every program and funding stream created by the OAA requires that the entire aging network advocate on behalf of older Americans.

Various publications and resources are available for understanding and using an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP). ILP is a tool that students in secondary school use, with support from school counselors and parents, to define their personal interests and goals related to their career and postsecondary education and to plan what courses to take and what activities to participate in during high school to further their interests and achieve their goals.

Released each decade, this research measures progress for health issues in specific populations and serves as a foundation for prevention and wellness across various sectors and government levels. Review this site to find goals pertaining to living longer and free of preventable disease, disability, injury and premature death; achieving health equity; creating social and physical environments that promote good health; and promoting quality of life, healthy development and healthy behaviors.

Oregon’s CLP Options Counseling Protocol provides guidance for receiving, contacting, meeting and communicating with referrals for options counseling through the Community Living Program (CLP) grant. This could serve as a template for other organizations seeking to develop Options Counseling procedures.

Review this guide that outlines steps in the options counseling process. Find a detailed version of Utah’s Options Counseling Decision Tree, from initial point of contact to follow-up, as well as a one page flowchart representing a condensed view of these processes.

Are you looking to develop an Options Counseling training program? Explore Nevada's training materials including a presentation with information on what options and benefits counseling are, efficient ways to establish dialogue with a consumer, tips on conducting the Nevada Options Assessment, a listing of public resources and funding options. Also included are a role playing activity and a pre-test to obtain a baseline measure of knowledge.

A newly enhanced, person-centered call center that will serve as a link to information and services for older adults and caregivers across the United States has been introduced. Callers will speak with an Information Specialist who will help connect them to a local agency in their area for information and assistance. The service also features a newly re-designed website for boomers and older adults.

The ADRC program’s purpose is to help people of all ages, disabilities, and income levels more easily access LTSS through single points of entry, make more efficient use of care options, and maximize the services available. This publication provides background on the evolution of ADRCs, their functions and implementation, grants to states, and state and federal evaluation efforts. It also points to selected issues in continuing ADRC implementation.

DB101 provides online tools, resources and information on health coverage, work and benefits for people with disabilities and those supporting them. Four states (California, Minnesota, Michigan and New Jersey) have their own sites, which include benefits calculators to help individuals understand how a job may affect total income and health coverage, or whether they may qualify for specific state programs. The resource is a product of the Employment and Disability Benefits Initiative.

The information and assistance (I&A) service is a cornerstone of the ADRC. This guide provides tools that I&A supervisors can use to cultivate, mentor and maintain a top-notch team of professionals. It incorporates tools developed and used by two ADRC’s in Wisconsin, and includes tools for recruitment and hiring, ongoing communication, training, and performance feedback and appraisal. A number of sample forms are provided.