The Alliance for Aging, Inc. is creatively responding to the complex challenges of an aging society by expanding the quantity and quality of services.  The aging network in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties last year delivered services to over 74,000 older adults and their families.  The Alliance administers contracts to 40 agencies and provides oversight of 556 Medicaid Waiver providers totaling $62 million in services.  Funding supports over 30,000 elders who receive quality home and community-based services.  American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding of $1,330,319 served 1,549 additional clients with meals and nutrition-related services to low income frail elders. 

The Alliance serves as the Aging Resource Center (ARC) for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, serving not only as the focal point for information and access about services to elders, but also as the primary organization that funds services to older persons.  Equally as important, the Alliance advocates for improved services and is engaged on an ongoing basis with development of new initiatives and programs that will expand services and improve quality of life. The ARC enhances access by consumers to a wide variety of programs and services through a coordinated locally focused approach to information, counseling and intake through the use of multiple access points to the system.  The ARC makes the delivery system more friendly to consumers by reducing fragmentation and by supporting individual choice.  Furthermore, it improves fiscal control over limited public resources and enhances quality assurance.

Our Program Integrity and Accountability unit oversees the awarding and monitoring of all contracted funds for home & community-based services.  These include conducting competitive procurements for providers under the Community Care for the Elderly program and the Older Americans Act. Importantly, this unit ensures not only that funding is expended in accordance with legislative and contractual requirements, but that quality outcomes are achieved.

We recently instituted six innovative programs, addressing transportation, in-home and center-based computer and broadband installations, incontinent supplies, and chore and personal care services to those on waiting lists.   The in-home computer and broadband project had the most significant impact in the community by providing broadband connections, computers, and training for homebound elders and their caregivers.  This connected them to caregiver and other resources that reduce isolation, increased access to services, connected with friends and family, and provided intellectual stimulation. 
                                                                                                  
The Alliance’s office of Healthy Aging Programs incorporates Evidence-Based Health Promotion programs and both the new federal Veteran Directed Home and Community Based Services program (VA) and the Community Living Program (CLP).  VA is already one of the US’ leading programs in the number of veterans served.  CLP is innovating new models to ensure transitions from hospitals to community living.  It also administers a special corporate grant on Financial Exploitation and Identity Theft, and administers the Medicare Beneficiary Outreach Assistance (MBOA) program.

The Alliance is now engaged in a major new transportation and mobility options planning and advocacy initiative.  I serve on the National Advisory Council of the National Center for Senior Transportation and participated in a congressional briefing on transportation planning.  At the invitation of the Florida Department of Transportation, I am also serving on its Bicycle and Pedestrian Partnership Council.  The Alliance recently hosted an asset-based strategic planning session to address transportation issues of older adults in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.

In addition to an n4a Aging Innovations Award in 2009, for its diabetes-related evidence-based Hispanic Health Disparities Initiative, the Alliance has won two 2010 n4a Aging Achievement Awards for its work on Transportation & Mobility Options planning and for its Positive Living Awards program which recognizes outstanding contributions of older adults in a dozen areas of community activity.  This event celebrates the contributions of elders and memorializes them on videos. It attracts substantial corporate support and enhances community awareness of positive aging and the aging network.
                                                                                    
Each week the Alliance conducts radio shows in Spanish and English to expand community knowledge about available programs and services and regularly participates in other media opportunities in English, Creole, and Spanish.  The Alliance’s Board of Directors established a Community Awareness Committee to develop a strategic plan to expand knowledge and awareness of the Alliance, the aging network, and programs and services available to assist elders.

I look forward to continue actively working with our Board, Advisory Council, staff, and providers, to address the needs and concerns of older adults.  Working collaboratively with federal, state and local governments, and the private sector, we will continue to plan effectively on behalf of the older population of Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.