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by Lacey Boven, Regional Administrator, Region VII and Dr.
Thomas Moran, Deputy Administrator for Regional Operations and
Partnership Development
On November 19th, 2020, America will celebrate
the tenth anniversary of National
Rural Health Day. In recognition of this milestone, the
Administration for Community Living reiterates our commitment to the
health and human services provided by the aging and disability networks
across all rural communities. The efforts of the networks fulfill the
guiding principle that older adults and people with disabilities should
be able to fully participate in their communities and enjoy the blessing
of health and well-being.
Each unit within ACL supports health and human services
through information delivery, providing resources, and conducting
research. These services center around ACL’s five pillars: (1) Connecting
people to resources; (2) Protecting rights and preventing abuse; (3)
Supporting families and caregivers; (4) Strengthening the aging and
disability service networks; and (5) Expanding employment opportunities
for the people we serve.
A central theme that runs through each of these pillars is
that well-being starts in our homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods,
and communities – including rural communities. The goal of full
participation by older adults and people with disabilities in rural
communities will help every state and our nation become stronger, more
diversified, and more successful. ACL supports this goals through a
number of policies and programs that we will briefly describe.
The community-based organizations that form the backbone of
America’s aging and
disability networks operate in rural areas in every state and
territory. These social service providers deliver many of the human
services that augment and complement health care by addressing the social
determinants of health. In conjunction with these community-based
organizations, ACL funds and supports the No Wrong
Door systems. No Wrong Door is a powerful approach that
supports people who need long-term services and supports in order to
reside and thrive in the community. To learn more about available
services in rural communities and beyond, individuals seeking support and
their families can contact ACL’s Eldercare
Locator. You will be connected with the Aging and Disability
Resource Center or Area Agency on Aging that serves your community.
ACL also funds the Centers for
Independent Living (CIL) program, which works collaboratively
with the No Wrong Door systems. The CIL program supports a system of
urban and rural community based organizations that provide services and
supports ensuring that people with disabilities live in their community
of choice with the supports they need. The Association
of Programs for Rural Independent Living supports CILs
in rural communities by advancing the rights and responsibilities of
people with disabilities in rural America. The Association serves as a
center of resources and through leading systems change.
ACL's engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging
Older Adults, which is administered by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, put
together a set of suggestions for how older
adults – and people of any age – can prevent social isolation and
loneliness while staying safe. These resources are particularly
useful for people in rural areas, where distance can be a factor
impacting social isolation.
Adult Protective Services (APS) are a key provider of
intervention and services to those experiencing adult maltreatment or
exploitation in rural settings. Unfortunately, most cases of elder abuse
go undetected, underreported, and unresolved, which results in injury,
financial decimation, and even death. The National
Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative was created to address the
lack of culturally appropriate information and community education
materials on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation in Indian Country.
Resources for Native American programming are available through the National
Center on Native American Aging and Older
Americans Act, Title VI Program websites.
For 30 years, ACL’s National Institute on Disability,
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research has funded the
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural
Communities. The Center conducts research projects that generate new knowledge
about the experiences and outcomes of people with disabilities living in
rural areas. These grants also include training projects, and knowledge
translation and dissemination projects. Related efforts at the University
of Montana’s Rural Institute have included projects focused on
rural self-employment, the geography of disability, and the ecology of
community living outcomes in rural communities.
New data tools are making it possible for rural health
advocates to quantify and visualize health equity disparities within
their community, which in turn allows them to be better advocates for
their people and places. As part of the celebrations leading up to
National Rural Health Day, the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) is hosting a variety of events throughout the week of November 16.
Although these events are open to the public, registration is required
for some events.
HRSA Events
Monday,
November 16, 2020
Tuesday,
November 17, 2020
Wednesday,
November 18, 2020
Thursday,
November 19, 2020
Friday,
November 20, 2020
ACL is honored to celebrate National Rural Health Day with
HRSA and our fellow Department of Health and Human Services agencies.
Together we celebrate the great work of community-based organizations in
rural communities. We commend their role in supporting the health and
wellbeing of older adults and people with disabilities so that America’s
rural communities can continue to thrive.
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