Title VI/Title III Grantee 

Collaboration Action Document

What is Title VI and Title III grantee collaboration?

The Older Americans Act (OAA) requires coordination 

between Title VI grantees and AAAs/service providers

with support from State Units on Aging (SUAs).1,2,3

In 

2018, Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) 

Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, Lance 

Robertson, reiterated this requirement and advised SUA 

directors to support collaboration to meet the needs of 

tribal elders.4

“I am inviting you to consult with the tribes 

in your state and target tribal members as 

appropriate. The Older Americans Act 

(OAA) requires coordination between Titles 

III, VI and VII in efforts to meet the needs of 

tribal elders.”

-Lance Robertson

In 2020, ACL contracted with New Editions Consulting and 

their subcontractor, The Lewin Group (Lewin), to learn more about Title VI and Title III grantee collaboration. 

Lewin interviewed a small sample of Title VI grantees, AAAs/service providers, SUAs, and subject matter 

experts, for a study about activities, best practices, facilitators and barriers, and recommendations related to 

collaboration. 

During these interviews, Lewin learned that collaboration between Title VI and Title III grantees is not always 

related to funding. Examples of collaboration activities included: 

1 Compilation of Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended through P.L 116-131. (2020, July 21). Retrieved August 13, 2020 from: 

https://bit.ly/33LkvHz

2 Three sections relevant to grantee collaboration are: Sec. 306(a)(11) for Title III area plans, Sec. 614(a)(11) for Title VI applications, and Sec. 

307(a)(21)(A) for state plans on aging.

3

In this document, we define “Title III grantee” as including AAAs, service providers, and SUAs.

4 As referenced in a letter sent by Lance Robertson on March 30, 2018 to the directors of SUAs.
What are facilitators and barriers to Title VI and Title III collaboration?

Trust and relationship-building are key to successful collaboration among Title VI grantees, AAAs/service 

providers, and SUAs. This includes acknowledging, integrating, and respecting Native values and 

practices, cultural competency, and tribal sovereignty (when applicable).

· Cultural competency refers to a set of practices that acknowledge and meet individuals’ cultural,

social, and linguistic needs.5

· Tribal sovereignty is the inherent right of American Indians and Alaska Natives to self-govern.

Many, but not all, Title VI grantees are federally recognized sovereign nations.

Other facilitators and barriers to collaborative relationships include:

What are steps to create and build collaborative relationships?

During interviews with Title VI grantees, AAAs/service providers, and SUAs, directors and staff provided 

the following recommendations:

5 National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development. (n.d.). NCCC: Curricula 

Enhancement Module Series. Retrieved August 11, 2020, from: https://nccc.georgetown.edu/curricula/culturalcompetence.html
FIND LOCAL GRANTEES FOR COLLABORATION

See the Older Indians 

website for a list of Title 

VI Directors or the Aging, 

Independence, and Disability 

(AGID) map for information 

on grantee organizations.

State Units on Aging (SUAs) 

can consider distributing 

lists of grantees.

Introduce yourself and get 

to know the grantees.

TITLE VI

GRANTEE

AAA/

SERVICE

PROVIDER

SUA

UNDERSTAND THE POLICIES AND 

REQUIREMENTS AROUND COLLABORATION

Check out the Older Americans Act or 

state-specific information.

TITLE VI

GRANTEE

AAA/

SERVICE

PROVIDER

SUA

INCORPORATE CULTURAL COMPETENCY PRACTICES 

INTO ORGANIZATIONS

 Practice cultural competency.

 Recognize tribal sovereignty.

 Practice diverse hiring.

AAA/

SERVICE

PROVIDER

SUA

HAVE A CONSISTENT POINT OF CONTACT 

TO STREAMLINE COMMUNICATION

TITLE VI

GRANTEE

AAA/

SERVICE

PROVIDER

SUA

HAVE STANDING CHECK-IN MEETINGS 

Meetings can be helpful to brainstorm 

solutions or work on events together.

TITLE VI

GRANTEE

AAA/

SERVICE

PROVIDER

INCLUDE TITLE VI GRANTEE STAFF 

REPRESENTATIVES AND/OR TITLE VI 

SERVICE RECIPIENTS ON POLICY AND 

ADVISORY BOARDS

AAA/

SERVICE

PROVIDER

SUA

REGULARLY SHARE ORGANIZATIONAL 

GOALS AND PLANS WITH EACH OTHER

TITLE VI

GRANTEE

AAA/

SERVICE

PROVIDER

REACH OUT FOR HELP

SUAs, Regional Administrators, and grantees 

can all support collaboration.

TITLE VI

GRANTEE

AAA/

SERVICE

PROVIDER

SUA

DON’T GIVE UP! 

Remember that collaboration can take time.

TITLE VI

GRANTEE

AAA/

SERVICE

PROVIDER

SUA