Older Americans Act (OAA)

NHCOA Promotes Leadership, Advocacy and Community-Driven Solutions at Miami Open Forum

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NHCOA

This post originally appeared on the NHCOA blog.

The National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) brought together more than 100 elected officials, social advocates and service providers along with members of the older adult population in an open forum in the Miami-Dade College InterAmerican Campus on June 9th. This safe space gave those present the opportunity to discuss solutions to issues such as economic insecurity, hunger and unaffordable housing.

I am really excited about our forum as this is an important year. It is not only an election year, but it is also a.... Read More

             

Ringing in a New Year at the Diverse Elders Coalition

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As we flip our calendars from 2015 to 2016 (assuming you still actually use a paper calendar, that is), I find myself really excited about the initiatives that the Diverse Elders Coalition will be working on in the coming year. This promises to be a milestone year for our elders and their communities, with a presidential election in the balance and the continued “graying” and “browning” of America as our population grows older and more ethnically and racially diverse.

Here are just a few of the things I’m looking forward to in 2016:

ACA Enrollment: January 31st is the last day on which Americans can enroll in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. (Note that members of federally-recognized American.... Read More
             

Diverse Perspectives on The Older Americans Act

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A year into working at the Diverse Elders Coalition, I’ve been struck by the learning curve for the range of issues facing the elder constituencies our member organizations serve. I have worked on some of these issues in previous jobs, and I have some experience in policy areas such as immigration, LGBT equality, language access, and cultural competence. What has been exciting in the past thirteen months I’ve been with the DEC is thinking about these issues and their impact on the range of programs, legislation, and policy that specifically relate to aging populations. From Social Security to Medicare, applying an intersectional analysis has allowed me to think about how different kinds of discrimination such as ageism and xenophobia “intersect”.... Read More

             

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

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November 14-22 marks National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, an opportunity to reflect on the immense number of people in this country who do not have safe, affordable housing or reliable access to healthy meals – many of them diverse elders.

The Diverse Elders Coalition and its member organizations promote and prioritize the health and well-being – especially as it relates to having a safe place to live and nutritious food to eat – of our communities of color, American Indian/Alaska Native communities, and LGBTQ communities. In our 2012 report “Securing Our Future: Advancing Economic Security for Diverse Elders,” we shared some shocking statistics about the economic insecurity of our communities, many of which still ring true today:

Nearly.... Read More
             

Advocating for AAPI Older Workers in the Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act

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The Senior Community Service and Employment Program (SCSEP) is a federal program that helps low-income jobseekers who are 55 and older, and assigns them to subsidized community service employment opportunities where they update their skills through on-the-job training.

The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is the recipient of the national SCSEP grant targeted to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) older workers.  NAPCA partners with project sites in nine cities nationwide to administer the program.

Most NAPCA SCSEP participants are foreign-born with limited English proficiency, and therefore, they have limited work experience in the U.S. and encounter additional barriers to find employment.  Our participants gain marketable job skills through community service.  As a result,.... Read More

             

40 Years in the Making: Southeast Asian Americans and the 2015 White House Conference on Aging

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As the Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) and a member of the Diverse Elders Coalition (DEC), I was honored to be invited to the 2015 White House Conference on Aging. Knowing that the conference only takes place once every ten years, I felt a large sense of responsibility as one of a small group of participants selected to be in the room that day as President Obama helped focus the nation’s attention on the elders in our communities. Many have been observing the anniversaries of important milestones for aging policy that are taking place this year: the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act on July 14, the 50th anniversary of Medicare.... Read More

             

Commemorating My Time at the DEC and Marking This Summer’s Milestones

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It’s quite hard to believe that my time here at the Diverse Elders Coalition is almost over. Today is my last day, and as I wrap up a couple of final tasks here and there, I can’t help but reflect on and feel so fortunate and grateful for the past ten weeks. Collaborating with DEC staff and member organizations has been truly inspiring and empowering.

It’s fortuitous that I was able to work in D.C. during this particular summer. It’s been a special season, especially for those “fighting the good fight” and advocating for social justice because this summer marks multiple milestones and victories that support our diverse communities. In the past two weeks, we commemorated the 25th anniversary.... Read More

             

Diverse Elders Coalition to Host Congressional Briefing After White House Conference on Aging

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The Diverse Elders Coalition, in collaboration with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, is hosting a Congressional Briefing on July 14, 2015, the day after the 2015 White House Conference on Aging. Coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the Older Americans Act, this Briefing will discuss elders of color, indigenous elders, LGBT elders, and elders living with HIV/AIDS in light of the White House conference and will identify needs and challenges moving forward. The Diverse Elders Coalition will present a report documenting their engagement with the White House Conference on Aging and their policy recommendations on how to improve the lives of diverse elders and their families.

Congressmember Mark Takano (D-CA) will join the Briefing and provide comments. Rep. Takano.... Read More

             
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