New Age of Aging Project

The New Age of Aging is a five-year project of the Alliance for Children and Families to help our member agencies and their workforce prepare for the needs of older adults. Thanks to a multi-million dollar grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies, we will work to build solutions and become change agents that bridge the gap between the human services community and the dynamics associated with an aging population that will affect us all.

Through the New Age of Aging, the Alliance and its members will develop new ideas to address the challenges and plan for the physical, social, and emotional needs of the new generation of older adults. This project will enable the Alliance to capitalize on the opportunities of our aging population.

Mini-grants are awarded to agencies that are interested in aging issues and want to gain competency in the field. It is not necessary to have experience in the field of aging to receive a grant. This project encourages agencies in early discussions and planning stages to apply for a grant.

Grants of $3,000 were awarded to 25 agencies during the first year of the project. Future grants of $3,000 will be awarded to 20 agencies in late summer 2008, then 21 during the project's third and fourth year, and 22 during the fiftth year of the project. Mini-grants can be used to leverage resources from other funders. After the first year of granting, agencies may receive a second year of granting, if they are able to match the funds.

Grants are flexible to encourage agencies to think creatively about how monies could best be used. Project possibilities include but are certainly not limited to supporting staff attendance at conferences or workshops focusing on older adults, hosting focus groups with community older adults to learn about strengths and needs, and sponsoring an event to connect generations. The purpose of the Mini-grant project is to increase membership involvement in providing quality aging services.

The Mentoring Initiative matches expert member organizations in aging services with agencies prepared to improve their services. The purpose of the Mentoring Initiative is to build capacity and leadership in aging services within the Alliance membership through encouraging a culture of peer-to-peer mentoring.

Ten mentor agencies are matched with ten learner or “mentee” agencies. The project runs in two cycles, each consisting of a preparation period for mentors and then a full year of a mentoring relationship.

Mentor grant awards are generous to support the agencies involved. Mentors receive a total of $14,000 in flexible spending.  Mentees receive $5,000 in flexible spending support.

Additionally, all participating agencies receive two scholarships of $1,500 each to support staff development, and stipends to offset travel costs. After both cycles have been completed, six participating agencies will be chosen to receive awards of $5,000 each to continue their work in the field of aging.

Mentors participate in preparatory “train-the-trainer” sessions. Mentors and mentees collaboratively develop a plan for the year, which includes site visits. Through teleconferencing, participants will share insights, outcomes, and creative solutions.

Case Studies will provide compelling accounts of creative programming in aging, longitudinal studies of participants in the Mentoring Initiative, and other topics related to the New Age of Aging.

Families in Society, through special publications, will publish articles and issues regarding aging.

Severson National Information Centersupport includes the infusion of gerontological knowledge and resources into library resources available to Alliance member agencies through the Severson Center.

The Alliance will host two Leadership Academies throughout the five-year project, one during 2008 and another during 2010. Leadership Academies will be major events in the field of gerontological human services and will assist with encouraging innovation through communication among leaders in the field.

Experts on aging will lead presentations, workshops, and discussions focused on human services and older adults, and there will be ample opportunities for networking and informal information-sharing. Mentor agencies are invited to attend and share their experiences. In addition to Alliance participants, presenters and attendees will include leaders in the field of aging, such as representatives from Boston University Institute for Geriatric Social Work and the New York Academy of Medicine’s Center on Aging Policy.