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  Program and Policy AreasColumn 1 - Programs*** COVID-19 ***ACL A to Z: Programs, Networks, & Focus AreasOverviewAging and Disability NetworksAging and Disability Resource CentersAmericans with Disabilities Act National NetworkArea Agencies on AgingAssistive Technology NetworkCenters for Independent LivingProtection and Advocacy SystemsSenior Centers and Supportive Services for Older AdultsState Councils on Developmental DisabilitiesState Units on AgingUniversity Centers for Excellence in Developmental DisabilitiesAlzheimer’s Disease and DementiaConnecting People to ServicesAging and Disability Resource Centers Program/No Wrong Door SystemMedicare Improvements for Patients and Providers ActState Health Insurance Assistance ProgramConsumer Choice and ControlPerson-Centered PlanningSupported Decision MakingTransportation Research and Demonstration ProgramVeteran Directed Care ProgramData ProjectsEmpowering AdvocacyThe President’s Committee for People with Intellectual DisabilitiesEmploymentFor American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native HawaiiansHealth & WellnessBehavioral HealthBrain HealthChronic Disease Self-ManagementFalls PreventionHealth PromotionI Can Do It! (ICDI)HIV/AIDSNutritionOral HealthOpioid CrisisProgram Evaluations and ReportsProtecting Rights and Preventing AbuseElder Abuse PreventionElder Justice Coordinating CouncilHelp America Vote Act ProgramsLegal AssistanceLong-Term Care OmbudsmanFor People with DisabilitiesSenior Medicare PatrolSupporting Adult Protective ServicesResearch and DevelopmentAdvanced Rehabilitation Research and Training (ARRT) ProgramDisability and Rehabilitation Research ProgramField-Initiated Projects Program Rehabilitation ResearchModel Systems ProgramNIDILRR Annual ReportNIDILRR External EvaluationNIDILRR Performance and EvaluationRehabilitation Engineering Research Center ProgramRehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) ProgramSmall Business Innovation Research ProgramSwitzer Research Fellowship ProgramRetirement Planning and Pension SupportSupport to CaregiversLifespan Respite Care ProgramNational Family Caregiver Support ProgramRAISE Family Caregiving Advisory CouncilSupporting Grandparents Raising GrandchildrenSupport for People with Limb Loss, Paralysis and TBILimb Loss Resource CenterParalysis Resource CenterTraumatic Brain InjuryStrengthening the Aging and Disability NetworksAging and Disability Evidence-Based Programs and PracticesDiversity & Cultural CompetencyDuals Demonstration Ombudsman Program Technical AssistanceImproving Business PracticesImproving Quality of ServicesNational Resource CentersProjects of National SignificancePerson-Centered, Trauma-Informed ServiceSuccess StoriesVolunteer Opportunities and Civic EngagementGrantsColumn 1 - GrantsACL’s Grants ProcessApplying for GrantsApplication TipsHow to ApplyFunding OpportunitiesClosed OpportunitiesGrant LifecycleManaging a GrantData, Research & IssuesColumn 1 - AgingOverviewData and ResearchACL DataThe State of the States in Developmental DisabilitiesNIDILRR Publications and ResourcesProfile of Older AmericansIssue Briefings and Other ReadingNewsroomColumn 1 - NewsLatest NewsAnnouncementsACL BlogEvents and ObservancesSpeeches and TestimonyColumn 2 - NewsACL UpdatesReady-to-publish materialsACL LogosArticles, Infographics, and Fact SheetsVideosFor ReportersStory IdeasCommunicating with Older AdultsFOIAAbout ACLColumn 1 - About ACLAbout Community LivingAbout the Aging and Disability NetworksMission & VisionOrganizationOrganizational ChartLeadershipRegional OfficesHistoryBudgetPolicy and RegulationsPublic InputReports to Congress               and the PresidentColumn 2 - About ACLAuthorizing StatutesDevelopmental Disabilities ActOlder Americans ActWorkforce Innovation and Opportunity ActElder Justice ActHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)Help America Vote ActMedicare Improvements for Patients & Providers ActPublic Health Service ActRehabilitation ActWorking at ACLContact Us
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    *** COVID-19 ***
                          ACL A to Z: Programs, Networks, & Focus Areas
                          Overview
                                
                
        Aging and Disability Networks
          
                                  Aging and Disability Resource Centers
                          Americans with Disabilities Act National Network
                          Area Agencies on Aging
                          Assistive Technology Network
                          Centers for Independent Living
                          Protection and Advocacy Systems
                          Senior Centers and Supportive Services for Older Adults
                          State Councils on Developmental Disabilities
                          State Units on Aging
                          University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
                                Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
                                
                
        Connecting People to Services
          
                                  Aging and Disability Resource Centers Program/No Wrong Door System
                          Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act
                          State Health Insurance Assistance Program
                                      
                
        Consumer Choice and Control
          
                                  Person-Centered Planning
                          Supported Decision Making
                          Transportation Research and Demonstration Program
                          Veteran Directed Care Program
                                Data Projects
                                
                
        Empowering Advocacy
          
                                  The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
          
                                  President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities releases 2015 Report to the President
                                Employment
                          For American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians
                                
                
        Health & Wellness
          
                                  Behavioral Health
                          Brain Health
                          Chronic Disease Self-Management
                          Falls Prevention
                          Health Promotion
                          I Can Do It! (ICDI)
                          HIV/AIDS
                          Nutrition
                          Oral Health
                                Opioid Crisis
                          Program Evaluations and Reports
                                
                
        Protecting Rights and Preventing Abuse
          
                                  Elder Abuse Prevention
          
                                  Draft Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State APS Systems
                          Elder Abuse Prevention Intervention
                          Late Life Domestic Violence
                          National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS)
                          National Center on Elder Abuse (Title II)
                          National Elder Abuse Incidence Study (1998)
                          Prevention of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (Title VII-A3)
                          State Grants to Enhance Adult Protective Services
                          The National Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center
                                Elder Justice Coordinating Council
                          Help America Vote Act Programs
                          Legal Assistance
                                Long-Term Care Ombudsman
          
                                  LTC Ombudsman National and State Data
                                For People with Disabilities
                          Senior Medicare Patrol
                          Supporting Adult Protective Services
                                      
                
        Research and Development
          
                                  Advanced Rehabilitation Research and Training (ARRT) Program
                                Disability and Rehabilitation Research Program
          
                                  Knowledge Translation Program
                                Field-Initiated Projects Program Rehabilitation Research
                          Model Systems Program
                          NIDILRR Annual Report
                          NIDILRR External Evaluation
                          NIDILRR Performance and Evaluation
                          Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center Program
                          Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) Program
                          Small Business Innovation Research Program
                          Switzer Research Fellowship Program
                                Retirement Planning and Pension Support
                                
                
        Support to Caregivers
          
                                  Lifespan Respite Care Program
                          National Family Caregiver Support Program
                          RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council
                          Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
                                      
                
        Support for People with Limb Loss, Paralysis and TBI
          
                                  Limb Loss Resource Center
                          Paralysis Resource Center
                          Traumatic Brain Injury
                                      
                
        Strengthening the Aging and Disability Networks
          
                                  Aging and Disability Evidence-Based Programs and Practices
                          Diversity & Cultural Competency
                          Duals Demonstration Ombudsman Program Technical Assistance
                          Improving Business Practices
                          Improving Quality of Services
                          National Resource Centers
                          Projects of National Significance
                          Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Service
                                Success Stories
                          Volunteer Opportunities and Civic Engagement ACL celebrates our nation’s rich diversity, and recognizes that minority Americans are often at greater risk of poor health, social isolation, and poverty. Between 1999 and 2030, the older minority population (age 65+) is projected to increase by 217%, compared to an increase of 81% for the older white population. In addition, the number of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals continues to increase, and many people face discrimination based on their age and sexual orientation. The information provided here is intended to help increase access to and improve programs for our diverse American population.
Cultural Competency
Cultural competency is critical to reducing health disparities and improving access to health care that is respectful of and responsive to diverse needs. Culture involves a number of things, including personal identification, language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions that are often specific to ethnic, racial, religious, geographic, or social groups. For the provider of health information or health care, these elements influence beliefs and belief systems surrounding health, healing, wellness, illness, disease, and delivery of health services.
Resources
**Administration on Disability Programs Promoting Diversity and Cultural Competency**
A variety of ACL disability programs award funding to enhance the cultural and linguistic competency of the disability network and ensure that all people with disabilities can access ACL-funded programs and services.
**Older Adults' Equity Collaborative**
Established in 2020, this collaborative includes five ACL-funded Minority Aging Technical Assistance and Resource Centers (TARCs) that each focus on serving a unique community. Together, they work to ensure access and equity across aging services programs by providing technical assistance to the aging services network.
**Toolkit for Serving Diverse Communities**
This AoA toolkit provides the Aging Network and its partners with replicable and easy-to-use methods for providing respectful, inclusive, and sensitive services for any diverse community.
**Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication**
This living document from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasize the importance of addressing all people inclusively and respectfully. These principles are intended to help public health professionals, particularly health communicators, ensure their communication products and strategies adapt to the specific cultural, linguistic, environmental, and historical situation of each population or audience of focus. CDC stresses that this is **not**a style guide and is not meant to be prescriptive or exhaustive, but rather to provide principles, resources, and specific suggestions on a variety of topics to help inform an inclusive approach to public health communications.
**HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH)**
OMH's mission is to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities.
**Cultural Competence Resources for Health Care Providers**
This resource page for health care providers is provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
**National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC)** 
NCCC's mission is to increase the capacity of health and mental health programs to design, implement, and evaluate culturally and linguistically competent service delivery systems.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT)
Experts estimate that between 1.75 and 4 million Americans age 60 and older identify as LGBT. Research suggests that many older LGBT adults face discrimination based on their sexual orientation as well as their age.
Recognizing the unique needs and concerns of this community, AoA has provided funding to create the country’s first national technical assistance resource center focused on the health and social disparities faced by older LGBT persons. The center will:
Educate mainstream aging services organizations about the existence and special needs of LGBT elders
Sensitize LGBT organizations to the existence and special needs of older adult
Educate LGBT individuals about the importance of planning ahead for future long-term care needsIn 2010, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) was funded to create the **National Resource Center on LGBT Aging**.
SAGE is a nonprofit agency that has been addressing the needs of LGBT elders for more than 30 years. SAGE works with older adults to address and overcome the challenges of discrimination in senior service settings, while also being an essential component in the creation of informal caregiving support, and leading development of new "family" networks. A network of SAGE partners has been created across the country to serve LGBT elders at the local level.
Additional resources include:
**HHS LGBT Health Resources** 
HHS and its agencies have created a number of products designed to improve the lives of LGBT individuals.
**National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study**
This landmark study is the first federally-funded longitudinal national project designed to better understand the aging, health, and well-being of LGBTQ midlife and older adults and their families.
**LGBT Aging Issues Network (LAIN)** 
LAIN, a constituent group of the American Society on Aging, works to raise awareness about the concerns of LGBT elders and about the unique barriers they encounter in gaining access to housing, health care, long-term care, and other services. LAIN's website includes an Aging Resources Clearinghouse.
**MedlinePlus Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Health Resources**
MedlinePlus has a section on their website that provides information about health issues specific to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
**Protecting Your Health Care Wishes**
Prepared by Lambda Legal, this guide is designed to assist LGBT individuals in protecting their rights in health care settings.
**Outing Age 2010: Public Policy Issues Affecting LGBT Elders** 
This report provides an in-depth look at public policy issues and challenges facing millions of aging LGBT Americans.
**LGBT Older Adults in Long Term Care Facilities: Stories from the Field**
This report is the result of a survey seeking to better understand the experiences of LGBT older adults in long-term care settings. The survey also sought to capture personal comments that describe experiences of older adults, their loved ones, and providers.

                    *Last modified on 05/16/2023*
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    An official website of the Administration for Community Living, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.