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Archive November 2024

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Incorporate DEI Into Kinship/Grandfamily Services

A new tip sheet, Incorporating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Practices into Kinship/Grandfamilies Services, is now available from the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network. The tip sheet describes strategies and resources for including diverse voices when planning new kinship/grandfamily services and for ensuring that services are equitable.

Find more DEI tips via the Network’s tip sheet Connecting with Families in Black and Indigenous Communities, video Black Kinship Families and Culturally Appropriate Engagement and recorded webinars Supporting Kinship/Grandfamilies with LGBTQ+ Youth and Conducting Culturally Responsive Evaluations.

Need more guidance? Request no-cost technical assistance here. 

ACL Releases New OAA Guidance on AAA Contracts and Commercial Relationships

Last week, ACL published subregulatory guidance regarding the implementation of the OAA regulations that pertain to Section 212 of the Act, which provides guidelines for AAAs entering into contracts and commercial relationships with health care entities and others, as well as the SUA’s role in these activities. The new guidance builds on § 1321.9(c)(2)(xiv) of the regulations, offering additional explanation of ACL’s interpretation of the law and concrete examples as to when AAAs should seek prior approval from SUAs to pursue contracts, which is dependent on the funding source (OAA vs. non-OAA funding), the clients served, the services provided and more.  
 
We appreciate ACL publishing this additional guidance to clarify expectations under their regulatory interpretation of OAA Section 212. However, USAging is still advancing our OAA reauthorization recommendation to prevent SUA overreach and ensure maximum AAA flexibility to enter into contracts and commercial relationships when no OAA funding is used. A bipartisan proposal based on our recommendation is included in the Senate’s OAA reauthorization bill (S. 4776) and USAging will continue to champion its passage this year or in the next Congress if necessary. 
 
ACL recently held a webinar to review this new guidance; the recording and slides will be available in the coming weeks at acl.gov/OAArule.  

Find and Leverage Data on Kinship/Grandfamilies

Find the latest national data on kinship/grandfamilies on the website of the ACL-funded Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center. The Kinship/Grandfamilies Data page shares the latest numbers for the U.S. and provides details and instructions to help you learn about the numbers and get jurisdiction-specific information. The Network posts state-specific data for all 50 states and several territories and tribes (with more tribes to come) via GrandFacts Fact Sheets, which also include information on kinship/grandfamily resources in each state/territory/tribe.

Learn more from two recorded webinars: Leveraging Data to Seek Funding, Understand Kinship/Grandfamilies, and Inform Practice (from February 13, 2024) and Building Evidence of Success for Kinship Programs: Tips and Strategies (from July 17, 2023). Need more guidance? Request no-cost technical assistance here.
 
USAging is proud to be among five national partners in the Network, which is led by Generations United and funded by ACL.

Next Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator and AAA Partnerships

State Medicaid agencies, in partnership with other state and community organizations, may apply for the second cohort of the Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator (HSPA). This year-long opportunity is open to states with a CMS approved section 1115 demonstration or section 1915(i) state plan amendment covering housing-related supports and services for individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. HSPA technical assistance aims to strengthen state Medicaid agency collaboration with state and local agencies and community-based organizations providing affordable and accessible housing, aging and disability resources and programs. 
 
Along with representatives from the state’s Medicaid agency, each participating team must include state and community organizations focused on aging and disability (including AAAs, No Wrong Door systems, and Centers for Independent Living); homelessness and housing (including Continuums of Care and public housing authorities); mental health and substance abuse, public health, and more.  
 
USAging, a major technical assistance HSPA provider, anticipates that this new requirement for local-level collaboration will stimulate outreach to AAAs during this application period. States must submit a letter of interest by November 20 and their full application by December 20.  

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