Through the New Age of Aging, the Alliance and its members will develop new ideas to address the challenges and plan for the physical, social, and emotional needs of the new generation of older adults. This project will enable the Alliance to capitalize on the opportunities of our aging population.

Learn more about:
         key components and activity descriptions
         planned outcomes
         project timeline [.PDF]
         NAA Preliminary Report [.PDF] - Results of planning for the grant.
         additional articles & information.

Key Components and Activity Descriptions [TOP]
Mini-Grants will be awarded to agencies that are interested in aging issues and want to gain competency in the field. It is not necessary to have experience in the field of aging to receive a grant. This project encourages agencies in early discussions and planning stages to apply for a grant.

Grants of $3,000 will be awarded to 20 agencies during the first and second years of the project, 21 during years three and four, and 22 during the last year of the project. Mini-grants can be used to leverage resources from other funders. After the first year of granting, agencies may receive a second year of granting, if they are able to match the funds.

Grants are flexible to encourage agencies to think creatively about how monies could best be used. Project possibilities include but are certainly not limited to supporting staff attendance at conferences or workshops focusing on older adults, hosting focus groups with community older adults to learn about strengths and needs, and sponsoring an event to connect generations. The purpose of the Mini-Grant project is to increase membership involvement in providing quality aging services.

The Mentoring Initiative will match expert member organizations in aging services with agencies prepared to improve their services. The purpose of the Mentoring Initiative is to build capacity and leadership in aging services within the Alliance membership through encouraging a culture of peer-to-peer mentoring.

Ten mentor agencies will be matched with ten learner or “mentee” agencies. The project will run in two cycles, each consisting of a preparation period for mentors and then a full year of a mentoring relationship.

Mentor grant awards are generous to support the agencies involved. Mentors receive a total of $14,000 in flexible spending. We anticipate that $7,000 will support mentor preparation, and $7,000 will support activities related to the mentoring relationship. Mentees receive $5,000 in flexible spending support.

Additionally, all participating agencies receive two scholarships of $1,500 each to support staff development, and stipends to offset travel costs. After both cycles have been completed, six participating agencies will be chosen to receive awards of $5,000 each to continue their work in the field of aging.

Mentors will participate in preparatory “train-the-trainer” sessions. Mentors and mentees will collaboratively develop a plan for the year, which includes site visits. Through teleconferencing, participants will share insights, outcomes, and creative solutions.

Each mentor, mentee, and mini grant agency funded under the New Age of Aging will receive five professional development scholarships valued at $315 each ($1,575 per agency) to obtain Certificates in Aging from Boston University Institute for Geriatric Social Work.

The Alliance will host two Leadership Academies throughout the five-year project, one during 2008 and another during 2010. Leadership Academies will be major events in the field of gerontological human services and will assist with encouraging innovation through communication among leaders in the field.

Experts on aging will lead presentations, workshops, and discussions focused on human services and older adults, and there will be ample opportunities for networking and informal information-sharing. Mentor agencies are invited to attend and share their experiences. In addition to Alliance participants, presenters and attendees will include leaders in the field of aging, such as representatives from Boston University Institute for Geriatric Social Work and the New York Academy of Medicine’s Center on Aging Policy.

Case Studies will provide compelling accounts of creative programming in Aging, longitudinal studies of participants in the Mentoring Initiative, and other topics related to the proposed plan.

Families in Society, through special publications, will publish articles regarding Aging.

Severson Collection support will include the infusion of gerontological knowledge and resources into library resources available to Alliance member agencies through the Severson Center.

The New Age of Aging will work with a researcher to evaluate project impact. The evaluation will be both formative and summative and will document how planned activities unfold, the implementation of planned activities, and intended outcomes. Information generated during the evaluation will be used in decision-making and to boost general knowledge about evidence-based practice.

Planned Outcomes [TOP]
As the New Age of Aging tagline indicates, the purpose of the project is to build competency and capacity in human services around serving older adults and building upon their strengths.

Short term outcomes include changing practice among Alliance member agencies, specifically:
• Increased staff commitment to training,
• Improved agency collaborations,
• Increased agency and staff interest in new services, and
• Implementation of new services.

Short term outcomes include improved capacity for training among mentor agencies, and improved Alliance capacity to provide support for aging services through knowledge sharing and enhanced staff skills.

In the medium term (five to seven years from implementation), an increasing number of Alliance members will provide high quality aging services that benefit older adults, and that the Alliance is recognized as an aging resource and expert, with a demonstrated commitment to the field.

The long term outcome of the New Age of Aging is that members of the Alliance and other social service agencies provide improved services to older adults that effectively promote independence and dignity.

Conclusion [TOP]
The New Age of Aging project includes strategies to reach agencies with varying levels of experience with older adults and from the very involved to those not involved but interested, as well as strategies to excite and involve executives, board members, senior staff, and frontline human service workers. Combined, these components represent a comprehensive approach to influencing the culture of Alliance member agencies to become more responsive to the needs and strengths of older adults.

To read more about the NAA project go to the Alliance for Children and Families
Magazine online articles Member Engagement Includes Funding Support and Changing Demographics Require Action.

New Age of Aging is an Alliance for Children and Families program.