Policy Roundup: Regs, Reauthorization and Registrations!

• By: USAging
• On: 02/23/2024 15:52:04
• In: Policy & Advocacy

February has been a whirlwind of public policy developments from USAging, including important documents related to Older Americans Act regulations and reauthorization. As such, we wanted to ensure you’ve seen all the publications we’ve distributed recently.  

• Last week, USAging published a members-only high-level analysis of the OAA 2024 Final Regulations, along with a more detailed crosswalk.  
• Earlier this month, USAging released our recommendations for the 2024 OAA reauthorization. Additionally, we created a toolkit to help you connect with your lawmakers about reauthorization, including a fact sheet, OAA key milestones, key congressional committees, talking points, a social media toolkit, and more. You can find all these resources at www.usaging.org/OAA. 
• It’s not too late to join us in DC next month! If you’re already registered for our 2024 Aging Policy Briefing, please be sure to schedule your Capitol Hill meetings and register for the reception on Capitol Hill.  

If you have any questions, please contact policy@usaging.org.  

#USAgingHere4You: Molly French

• By: USAging
• On: 02/16/2024 09:58:03
• In: Program Update

Molly French joined USAging in April 2021 and serves as Program Director, Housing and Services. In this role, Molly designs and produces a variety of Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC) technical assistance resources to support the formation and strengthening of aging, disability, health and housing partnerships. They also work to bring in additional housing or homelessness initiatives to expand how we serve our members.  
 
“Leaders in aging kept recommending USAging as a top employer, and the housing director position caught my eye as an opportunity to shape an exciting new initiative and draw upon earlier professional training in community planning.” 
 
Across her career, Molly has experience in improving the health and well-being of older adults and populations that have been underserved. She previously served the Alzheimer’s Association as Director, Healthy Brain Initiative. As a consultant to national nonprofits, Molly elevated attention to the social determinants of health, including housing issues, through communications, technical assistance and policy analyses. She managed health policy and programs for state health care associations in California and gained hands-on experience by building homes for older Jamaicans during a year-long community-service project.
 
“USAging has a highly positive, supportive workplace culture, but the best part is working with our members who are simply amazing leaders. Through our HSRC work, I’ve learned so much about accessibility and inclusion. And still have more to learn.”
 
Molly enjoys reading literary fiction, especially “slow-lit” that focuses on everyday people over multiple years. Wendell Berry and Ivan Doig are two favorites, but listening to the What Should I Read Next podcast has helped Molly broaden her reading life. The recent season of Our Dream Deferred podcast is one she’d highly recommend to anyone concerned about polarization and intolerance in our country.
 
To learn more about the HSRC, visit acl.gov/HousingAndServices or consider contacting Molly at mfrench@usaging.org.

Tell Us About Your AAA’s Dementia Services, Programming and Screening

• By: USAging
• On: 02/09/2024 14:22:53
• In: Program Update

Through this ten-minute survey, USAging wants to learn more about your agency’s work screening for cognitive impairment and dementia and addressing the needs of those living with dementia and their caregivers.
 
The survey is open until Friday, February 23. The aggregated results will help USAging inform ACL, CDC, lawmakers and other stakeholders about the critical role of AAAs in screening for dementia and providing services for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
 
We will report back to you with complete results and share practice examples that can inspire your agency. Feel free to forward this survey to another staff member in your agency, if appropriate. One response per AAA, please.
 

OAA Final Regulations Released, Detailed Analysis Coming Soon

• By: USAging
• On: 02/09/2024 11:56:58
• In: Policy & Advocacy

Bipartisan Bill to Give Caregivers a $5k Tax Credit Introduced

• By: USAging
• On: 02/02/2024 15:34:40
• In: Policy & Advocacy

On January 31, Members of Congress reintroduced a bipartisan bill, the Credit for Caring Act, S. 3702 and H.R. 7165, which would provide a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 to eligible working family caregivers. Led by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), along with Representatives Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Mike Carey (R-OH), the bill would help offset a portion of the cost of caregiving expenses such as home care aides, assistive technology, respite care, transportation or other supports that help caregivers and their loved ones. USAging has endorsed this bill in the past and will continue to support it as part of our broader efforts to advocate for family caregivers. 

#USAgingHere4You: Traci Wilson

• By: USAging
• On: 02/02/2024 11:19:56
• In: Program Update

Traci Wilson joined USAging in January 2021 and serves as the Director, Research. In this role, Traci’s primary responsibility is leading the Information and Planning Grant Program, which is funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living and includes the administration of the National Area Agency on Aging and Title VI Native American Aging Program Surveys, various topical polls, the development of resources and the dissemination of survey research findings.
 
“USAging has a wealth of research and data resources that can support our members’ work with their board of directors, program planning, advocacy and more. Members can contact me anytime with questions about using these resources, and with detailed questions about the data. I love it when a member comes to me with a research question, and we get the chance to dig into the data and help answer it.”
 
Before joining USAging Traci was a research scholar at Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University in Ohio where she had the opportunity to partner with USAging and the Aging and Disability Business Institute. Before that, she lived in England for seven years, where she completed her DPhil (PhD) in Politics, conducting quantitative analyses of large surveys on European public opinion.
 
“I loved the research aspect but wanted a career path where I could make a positive difference in people’s lives.”
 
What Traci loves most about working at USAging is her colleagues and our members. She says the USAging staff is exceptionally talented, hardworking and mission driven. “Our members truly make a difference every day in the lives of millions of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. It is such an honor to work with my colleagues at USAging to support the incredible people and work at AAAs and Title VI programs across the country.”
 
In addition to working at USAging, Traci spends her free time supporting the active lives her children lead! You might find her watching riding lessons at the stables or leading a Girl Scout camping trip. She loves all kinds of crafts and is currently trying out embroidery. Traci recently began taking tap dance lessons last year after a 30-year hiatus. She says it’s a great way to stay socially engaged and physically active, and it’s a lot of fun!
 
To learn more about USAging’s AAA and Title VI research, visit www.usaging.org/research or consider contacting Traci and her team. 
 

• Traci L. Wilson, Director, twilson@usaging.org
• Beth Blair, Senior Research Associate, eblair@usaging.org