November 16,
2020 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
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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