The National PACE Association (NPA) is proud to announce the Call for Nominations for the 2026 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award. This distinguished award honors a PACE organization that has demonstrated outstanding commitment, leadership, and innovation in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in ways that directly strengthen and reflect the mission of the PACE model of care.
Through this award, NPA seeks to recognize transformative work that advances the core principles of PACE—delivering person-centered, comprehensive, and coordinated care that enables older adults to live safely and with dignity in their communities. Efforts to foster inclusive environments, reduce barriers to access, and address disparities are essential to achieving the PACE model’s commitment to serving diverse populations with complex needs. NPA believes that integrating DEI into care delivery and organizational culture enhances participant experience, supports interdisciplinary team effectiveness, and drives better outcomes.
This award was established to elevate and advance equity as a foundational component of high-quality PACE care. It celebrates organizations that are aligning DEI with the PACE model through meaningful action and measurable impact, including improving access, tailoring services to community needs, and strengthening culturally responsive care.
We invite you to submit nominations of PACE organizations that exemplify these values and demonstrate how advancing DEI supports the integrity, effectiveness, and sustainability of the PACE model. Let us recognize and amplify the work of those who help ensure that PACE continues to deliver equitable, high-quality care to all who can benefit.
Through this award, NPA seeks to recognize transformative work that advances the core principles of PACE—delivering person-centered, comprehensive, and coordinated care that enables older adults to live safely and with dignity in their communities. Efforts to foster inclusive environments, reduce barriers to access, and address disparities are essential to achieving the PACE model’s commitment to serving diverse populations with complex needs. NPA believes that integrating DEI into care delivery and organizational culture enhances participant experience, supports interdisciplinary team effectiveness, and drives better outcomes.
This award was established to elevate and advance equity as a foundational component of high-quality PACE care. It celebrates organizations that are aligning DEI with the PACE model through meaningful action and measurable impact, including improving access, tailoring services to community needs, and strengthening culturally responsive care.
We invite you to submit nominations of PACE organizations that exemplify these values and demonstrate how advancing DEI supports the integrity, effectiveness, and sustainability of the PACE model. Let us recognize and amplify the work of those who help ensure that PACE continues to deliver equitable, high-quality care to all who can benefit.
Nomination Criteria: Eligible nominees must be PACE organizations that have implemented DEI strategies which meet the following criteria:
- Leadership & Commitment: Demonstrated commitment to DEI at all levels of the organization, including leadership engagement and accountability.
- Innovation & Creativity: Use of innovative and non-traditional approaches to advancing DEI, especially those that challenge the status quo and promote structural change.
- Integration of DEI Principles: Successful embedding of DEI values into organizational culture, policies, and day-to-day practices.
- Community Impact: Evidence of meaningful engagement with and impact on diverse communities, including strategies that address health equity and social determinants of health.
- Measurable Outcomes: Clear, measurable results that demonstrate progress toward DEI goals, such as improvements in workforce diversity, equitable care delivery, or inclusive governance.
- Sustainability & Replicability: Efforts that show promise of long-term sustainability and can serve as a model for other organizations in the PACE community.
Nomination Deadline: July 13
Please complete the following form by July 13. The award recipient will be honored on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Leadership and Awards Luncheon during the 2026 NPA Annual Conference in Denver, CO.
Please complete the following form by July 13. The award recipient will be honored on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Leadership and Awards Luncheon during the 2026 NPA Annual Conference in Denver, CO.