An official website of the United States government          

Here’s how you know

**Official websites use .gov**A              **.gov** website belongs to an official government              organization in the United States.            

**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**A              **lock** (              LockLocked padlock icon) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.            

Skip to contentSkip to navigation

- About   - About Us
  - Programs in the News
- Browse Resources +   - Business Management     - Business Skills
    - Contracting
    - Cost Containment
    - Finances
    - Health Care
    - Marketing
    - Partnerships
    - Policies & Procedures
    - Prioritizing Clients
    - Staffing & Training
    - Volunteers
  - Congregate Meals     - Basics of Congregate
    - Creativity & Innovation
    - Food Safety
    - Menus & Recipes
    - Volunteers
  - Emergencies & Disasters     - Food Supply
    - Infectious Diseases
    - Natural Disasters
    - Plan & Prepare
    - Respond & Recover
  - Finding Food & Assistance     - Food Assistance
    - Food Banks
    - Groceries
    - Markets & Gardens
  - Food Insecurity & Malnutrition     - Food Insecurity
    - Malnutrition
  - Health & Well-being     - Diabetes
    - Falls Prevention
    - Health Promotion
    - Social Determinants
  - Home-delivered Meals     - Basics of Home Delivered Meals
    - Creativity & Innovation
    - Food Safety
    - Menu & Recipes
    - Volunteers
  - Nutrition Counseling
  - Nutrition Education     - Consumer Food Safety 
    - Eating on a Budget
    - Healthy Eating Plans
    - Menu & Recipes
    - Nutrition Facts Labels
    - Other Languages
    - Ready-to-use Education
    - Resources & Strategies
    - Vitamins & Supplements
  - Nutrition Guidelines
  - Social Isolation & Connection     - Basics & Materials
    - Caregivers
  - Underserved Communities     - Cultural Competency
    - Rural Communities
    - Targeting Strategies
- OAA & Requirements +   - Data & Reports
  - Grantee Reporting
  - Nutrition Guidelines
  - Nutrition Services Incentive Program
  - OAA Nutrition Services Basics
  - Program Evaluation
  - Voluntary Contributions
- Nutrition Innovations +   - Grantee Spotlight
  - Looking to Innovate
  - Managing an INNU Grant
- ican!

# Cultural Competency

Older adults are an increasingly diverse group. Nutrition programs must make sure all feel welcome and included by acknowledging that diversity and meeting the unique needs and preferences of those they serve. 

## Briefs

                    - Why Diversity Matters to the Aging Network — USAging blog post
                    - Diversity and Cultural Competency  — ACL's information page

##  Quick Guides

                    - Health Literacy  — Guidance for communication and steps to address health literacy
                    - Diabetes Guide to Foods of African Heritage — Resource from the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists
                    - Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication — CDC guide to help professionals  communicate in a manner that addresses all people inclusively, accurately, and respectful

##  Guides

                    - Cultural Food Preferences in Food Service — Recommendations and resources from the CDC for adding culturally preferred foods
                    - Asian American CalFresh Healthy Living Implementation Guide — Tips and insights for working with Asian American audiences
                    - Inclusive Language Guidelines — Definitions, terms to avoid, and suggested alternatives from the American Psychological Association
                    - Words Matter: Preferred Language for Talking About Addiction — Guidance from the National Institute on Drug Abuse
                    - Reframing Language Guide — Guidance from the E4 Center for talking about various communities

## Tools & Toolkits

                    - Cultural Toolkits — Brief overviews of cultural food preferences and considerations from SNAP-Ed, with quick guides for Chinese, Latinx & Hispanic, Russian, South Korean, and Vietnamese communities
                    - Changing the Narrative About Native Americans: A Guide for Allies — Tool to reframe the narrative about Native Americans
                    - Cultural Sensitivity: Working with Native Americans — Online interactive educational module from the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative
                    - Native Diabetes Wellness Program — CDC program to help prevent type 2 diabetes

## Presentations

                    - Advancing Health Equity Through Meal Programs Serving Older Adults (YouTube) — Building healthy communities                       - Advancing Health Equity Through Meal Programs Slides
                      - Advancing Health Equity Through Meal Programs Takeaway Sheet 
                    - Equity Checkup (YouTube) — NYAM tips for serving diverse older adults and their caregivers
                    - Gray Hairs and Rocking Chairs: Exploring Our Own Age-Related Biases (YouTube) — Kansas State University presentation on the ways we think about aging                       - Gray Hairs and Rocking Chairs Slides 
                    - Making Your Meal Program THRIVE (YouTube) — University of Arizona Center on Aging project                       - Making Your Meal Program THRIVE Slides 
                    - Title VI Heart Healthy Traditional Foods (YouTube) — Title VI webinar on strategies for consuming traditional foods as part of a heart-healthy diet

##  Reports

                    - Title VI and Title III Grantee Collaboration Study (2020)                       - Summary Report
                      - Full Report 
                    - Understanding the Training Needs of OAA Title VI Program Nutrition and Aging Program Professionals (2019)  — Examines the availability of data on meeting the training needs of OAA Title VI nutrition and aging program professionals
                    - Native Elder Nutrition Education & Training Needs Assessment  — Survey on Title VI program staff training needs
                    - Recommendations for Training Curricula for OAA Title VI Nutrition Program Professionals  — Recommendations to improve the administration, implementation, quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the OAA Title VI Nutrition Program

## Resources

                    - How to Provide Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Evidence-Based Programs for Chinese Americans — Article from NCOA exploring learnings and best practices for working with the Chinese-American community
                    - Changing the Narrative — A site devoted to resources and information for "ending ageism together"
                    - COVID-19 Accessible Resources — Georgia Tech Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation microsite for accessible materials and culturally relevant messages for individuals with disabilities
                    - Ageism Factsheet — American Society on Aging resource
                    - Elder Health — Information and resources to support the health of elders from the National Indian Council on Aging, Inc. (NICOA)
                    - Accessible Parking Spaces — ADA.gov guidelines for accessible parking
                    - Service Animals — ADA.gov explains what service animals are, the difference between emotional support animals and service animals, example tasks, where service animals can go, what you may and may not ask about a service animal, and more
                    - Communicating Effectively with People with Disabilities — ADA.gov tips for successful communication
                    - Senior Nutrition Programs Promising Practices for Diverse Populations — A directory of programs that provide culturally sensitive services and program elements important in attracting and serving diverse populations
                    - Older Adults Equity Collaborative — ACL-funded resource library maintained by NYAM
                    - National Center to Reframe Aging — Resources to change the way we think and talk about aging
                    - Resources for Serving Persons with Limited English Proficiency — ASPR webpage with links to translation and interpretation services
                    - American Indian and Alaska Native Health — Medline Plus resources on health concerns for American Indians and Alaska Natives

*Last modified on 01/11/2024*

**         Back to Top    

## 

ACL funds the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center to build the capacity of senior nutrition programs funded by the Older Americans Act to provide high-quality, person-centered services and enhance program sustainability and resiliency.

## Site Support

-  Accessibility  
-  Disclaimers 
-  Privacy Policy 
-  Site Map 
-  Viewers & Players 

## Helpful Sites

-  Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 
-  No Fear Act 
-  Vulnerability Disclosure Policy 

* *Subscribe to e-news

* *Find a nutrition site 

* *  Email the Center

* * Facebook

   X

* * YouTube

* * LinkedIn

* * Share

An official website of the Administration for Community Living, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.