News Releases
September is Senior Center Month.
The National Council on Aging has valuable resources to help you celebrate! Download our free Program Guide with examples of successful activities. Members of the National Institute of Senior Centers also get our Publicity Guide with tips and sample documents to attract media and elected officials. Download free resources then join NISC to get even more!
NANASP Congratulates Executive Director Bob Blancato on Presentation of 2010 Arthur S. Flemming Award
On June 29, 2010, NASUA President and Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Senior Services, Irene Collins, presented Mr. Robert B. Blancato with the 2010 Arthur S. Flemming award, telling him, "NASUA is pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate your ongoing efforts to champion the rights of older Americans. Your dedication to the Elder Justice Act, and your perseverance in successfully advocating for its inclusion in health reform, are true testaments to the impact that you have on the lives of older Americans." Established by the NASUA Board in 1978 to honor its namesake, since its inception, the Arthur S. Flemming Award has recognized notable leaders whose work has positively impacted the lives of older Americans and people with disabilities. As a devoted public servant, staunch advocate, and national expert on aging-related public policy, Mr. Blancato continues this tradition.
With more than 30 years in the public sector, Mr. Blancato has served as both Staff Director and Senior Advisor of the House Select Committee on Aging’s Subcommittee on Human Services. He was appointed by then-President Bill Clinton to serve as Executive Director of the 1995 White House Conference on Aging, and was appointed again ten years later to serve on the Policy and Executive Committees of the 2005 Conference. Most recently, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine asked Mr. Blancato to serve as Chairman of the Commonwealth Council on Aging in Virginia. Linda Nablo, Commissioner of the Virginia Department for the Aging, praises Mr. Blancato’s appointment to the Council, "Through his boundless energy, commitment, and contacts, he is strengthening and expanding the work of the Council, including securing, for the first time, funding to support the Council’s Best Practice awards for innovative services to seniors."
Mr. Blancato's commitment to improving the lives of older Americans transcends his time in public service. His numerous advocacy efforts and coalition involvements underscore his pivotal role in the aging community and beyond. In addition to his efficacy in securing the inclusion of The Elder Justice Act in The Affordable Care Act, he has worked for many years to promote the importance of, and elevate awareness for, elder justice in America, both as a past President and current Executive Committee member of the National Committee for the Prevention on Elder Abuse, and as the National Coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition. He has been on numerous boards, including the American Society on Aging, Generations United, and the Leadership Council of the National Council on Aging. Mr. Blancato currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, and he is also President of Matz, Blancato & Associates, a full-service firm integrating strategic consulting, government affairs, advocacy services, and association and coalition management.
NASUA congratulates Mr. Blancato on receiving the 2010 Arthur S. Flemming award, and applauds his continuing enthusiasm for, and contributions to, public service, advocacy, and the field of aging.
National Association of State Units on Aging, founded in 1964, represents the nation’s 56 officially designated state and territorial agencies on aging. The Association’s principal mission is to support visionary state leadership, advance state systems innovation and articulate a national policy on home and community based services for older adults and individuals with disabilities. http://www.nasua.org
Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Forums Update
On March 3, NANASP President elect Paul Downey testified at the third and final AOA sponsored Older Americans Act reauthorization forum held in San Francisco. As the only witness representing the national nutrition network, Downey discussed the importance of the nutrition program at both the national and local level. Paul also serves as the President/CEO of Senior Community Centers in San Diego.
In his statement, Paul on behalf of NANASP called on the base funding level for the nutrition programs to be set at the level as a result of the $100 million provided by the 2009 ARRA bill. He also called for consideration to be given to consolidation of the nutrition programs; limiting transfer of funds between the nutrition and supportive service program; a possible moving of the existing health promotion program into the nutrition program and some separate set aside of funds for transportation services.
For a copy of Downey’s full statement, please CLICK HERE.
AoA held a session on the OAA Reauthorization at the joint ASA/NCOA conference on March 16th in Chicago. At that forum NANASP Executive Director, Bob Blancato participated in his role as co-chair of the ASA Public Policy Committee along with other representatives from other national aging groups. To view Blancato’s remarks CLICK HERE. Assistant Secretary for Aging, Kathy Greenlee was in attendance and also made remarks about the OAA reauthorization process.
On February 25th, the second OAA 2011 Reauthorization Listening Forum was held in Alexandria, VA. NANASP Board member Dr. Shirley Chao gave testimony on the nutrition programs. Bob Blancato presented testimony on elder justice and elder rights including its relationship to the nutrition programs. NANASP serves as a member of the Elder Justice Coalition. For a copy of Blancato’s testimony, please CLICK HERE.
On February 12th, an AOA recognized Forum on Nutrition was held in Boston organized in large measure by NANASP Board member Dr. Shirley Chao. NANASP Executive Director Bob Blancato presented a keynote address on issues related to the 2011 reauthorization and nutrition. NANASP Board Members Chandra Ganapathy and Stephanie Belding also attending the forum.
Save the Dates: OAA Reauthorization Forums
In advance of the 2011 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA), the Administration on Aging plans to convene a series of listening forums early in 2010 to get input from the aging network, stakeholders, policymakers, and older Americans on key issues.
Forums are scheduled as follows:
- Dallas (Regions IV, VI, VII, and Title VI) on Feb. 18
- Washington, DC, Metro Area (Regions I, II, and V) on Feb. 25
- San Francisco (Regions VIII, IX, X, and Title VI) on March 3
- Chicago (Aging in America Conference) on March 16
NANASP Joins Forces with Seniors to Seniors to Educate Seniors About Health Care Reform
Seniors to Seniors is a coalition of senior citizen, labor and provider organizations all committed to educating seniors about what the current health care reform legislation means for them once it is implemented. The coalition's goal is to help filter through the clutter and the hype to educate seniors about how health reform will help keep doctors in Medicare, stop physician payment cuts, improve long-term care choices, keep Medicare affordable, and close the prescription drug "doughnut hole." For more information visit www.seniorstoseniors.org
NANASP Announces Partnership with U.S. Census Bureau
NANASP is pleased to announce we will be partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to support the 2010 Census and the effort to achieve a complete and accurate count of our nation’s growing population. Our organization strives daily to improve the lives and welfare of people in our community, many of whom are experiencing hardships related to economic status, language fluency, disabilities or more. Our support of the 2010 Census is another example of our commitment to help improve the quality of life in our community.Every year, the federal government distributes more than $400 billion to state, local and
tribal governments based on census data. In addition to determining political representation, the 2010 Census will help leaders:
- identify where to build new roads, schools, hospitals and more.
- indicate where funding is needed to enhance important community initiatives and programs.
- provide more efficient local emergency services thanks to better maps and information.
In addition, accurate census data aid our organization with grant writing, and help us to
target our services and ensure maximum benefit to those we serve.
In 2010, every person living in the United States must be counted. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and noncitizens. As a 2010 Census partner, our goal is to relay the ease, importance and safety of census participation to our community, and we encourage you to do the same. Census forms will be delivered or mailed to households in March 2010; households should complete and mail back their forms upon receipt. One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete.
We will keep you informed with the latest information about the 2010 Census in the upcoming months. In the meantime, you can visit 2010census.gov to learn more. Also, please don't hesitate to contact Shannon Donahue at sdonahue@nanasp.org with any questions about our partnership with the Census Bureau and what it means for our organization.
Urge Members of Congress to Co-Sponsor the Elder Justice Act
http://www.elderjusticenow.com
Elder Justice Now uses the power of video and the Internet to put a human face on elder abuse. Watch the new campaign documentary "An Age for Justice: Elder Abuse in America" or browse through compelling video stories from victims, survivors and advocates that build the case for passage of the Elder Justice Act. You can share the documentary or the stories with your friends or colleagues by using the buttons on the bottom of the page or your member of Congress by going to Take Action.
NANASP Board Meets with US Assistant Secretary for Aging and Key Members of Congress
The National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) Board of Directors met with U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee in Washington D.C. on November 5th. In her remarks to the Board, Secretary Greenlee focused on the importance of the nutrition program as one of the core programs of the Older Americans Act. She also referred to the link between the nutrition programs and health. NANASP board members spoke with her about the upcoming 2011 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act and offered NANASP as a resource as they begin to plan for this important process.
Kathy J. Greenlee was sworn-in by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius on June 29, 2009. She was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 4, 2009 and was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate as the 4th Assistant Secretary for Aging at the Department of Health and Human Services on June 25, 2009. Ms. Greenlee served as Kansas' Secretary of Aging, heading a cabinet-level agency whose mission is to promote the security, dignity and independence of Kansas seniors. KDOA is responsible for administration of Older Americans Act programs, distribution of Medicaid long-term care payments and regulation of nursing home licensure and survey processes. Greenlee had previously served as the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman in Kansas, as well as the state's Assistant Secretary of Aging, with the responsibilities of legislative liaison and chief budget officer.
The Board also met with members of Congress on Capitol Hill to discuss key NANASP priorities on November 6th. Board members made a total of 19 hill visits during their time in D.C. and focused their meetings on the following NANASP priority issues: the White House Conference on Food and Nutrition, Labor-HHS and Agriculture Appropriations, the Elder Justice Act, Health Care Reform, and the Older Americans Act 2011 Reauthorization. Board members received much in the way of feedback from the Congressional offices they visited and overall, the visits were very positive.