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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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 Program and Policy Areas
  

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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 programs and services funded under the Older Americans Act (OAA) are designed to empower older adults to remain independent, healthy, and safe in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Legal assistance and elder rights programs, along with other AoA programs and services, help to promote the independence, autonomy, and well-being of older persons through legal advocacy interventions.
In addition, ACL-funded protection and advocacy systems provide critical advocacy and legal services to people with disabilities of all ages.
Administration on Aging Legal Assistance Programs
The Older Americans Act (OAA) envisions the key role of legal assistance in securing independence for and the rights of older Americans. Legal assistance programs are funded by the OAA and are available in every state, through contracts with Area Agencies on Aging. These legal programs enable older Americans to assert their rights and remove barriers to economic and personal independence and self-determination. Interventions by legal assistance providers can address the social determinants of health and wellbeing to preserve older Americans’ access to appropriate services. Legal assistance can also support older Americans’ rights to live free from or recover from the experience of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. Legal assistance providers are able to deploy a wide range of civil legal remedies in the fight against elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, from protective orders through restoration of title of property stolen by abusers. These programs also help older Americans to understand and exercise their rights, including the right to adequate and safe housing, health care, nutrition, and autonomy.
The Legal Assistance Program can assist older adults in accessing long-term care options and protect older adults against direct challenges to their independence, choice, and financial security.
The Legal Assistance Enhancement Program (LAEP) grants serve to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of legal assistance programs and networks. These grants support legal assistance enhancements and innovations that impact legal assistance services, practices, partnerships and capabilities. The program focuses on four key areas of legal assistance: outreach, partnerships, intake, and delivery. Current LAEP grantees are addressing a diverse set of legal issues in key areas, such as: reaching under-served communities, assisting individuals in disaster preparation and recovery, providing legal assistance to tribal communities, and strengthening community partnerships by co-locating legal services in underserved community housing settings.
The National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER) is the national resource center on legal assistance and elder rights. NCLER provides national resource support for professionals and advocates working in legal assistance, elder rights, and associated aging services networks. NCLER supports the knowledge, expertise, skills, and service delivery capacity of legal and aging services organizations through a range of activities, including case consultation, legal training, and technical assistance on issues related to OAA-prioritized legal assistance, elder rights, and capacity building.

                    *Last modified on 01/03/2023*
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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.