Introduction

Our organizations, NANASP and the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, which have more than 150 combined years of work in the aging field, want to focus on an issue with an even longer history and with immediate urgency: racial and ethnic justice. We are strongly encouraging your input and participation in this open-ended survey; to be in a position to offer solutions, we must know the extent of any problems and challenges within the Older Americans Act programs and services we, our members, and the aging network at large provide for older adults. The results of this survey will shape a town hall meeting later in 2020 and further actions to be determined. All questions are optional and we value any input you can provide.

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* 1. Older Americans Act providers by law must target services to older adults with the “greatest economic or social need,” with particular attention to minority older adults and others. In your experience, does targeting work? Why or why not?

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* 2. Our nation will see a doubling of the minority older population by 2040—over 1 in 3 older adults will be a racial and/or ethnic minority. Do you think our present-day service model recognizes this? Why or why not?

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* 3. Do you think that OAA services might need to be specially tailored for minority older adults? If so, how?

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* 4. Approximately what percentage of your program participants are minorities?

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* 5. Are there any steps your program has taken or plans to take to increase the involvement of minority participants? If so, what are they?

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* 6. Approximately what percentage of your staff are minorities?

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* 7. Are there any steps your program has taken or plans to take to increase minority staff? If so, what are they?

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* 8. What percentage of your leadership (and your board, if applicable) are minorities?

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* 9. Are there any steps your program has taken or plans to take to increase minority leadership/board membership? If so, what are they?

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* 10. We understand, especially in these times, the value of socialization in programs and services for older adults. Do you find that socializing in your programs brings diverse groups of older adults closer together or draws them farther apart (via cliques, etc.)?

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* 11. Do you believe racial and/or ethnic discrimination exists in your program? Why or why not? What solutions would you offer to address this problem?

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* 12. Do you believe racial and/or ethnic discrimination exists in your community? Why or why not? If discrimination exists, what challenges does it pose to your program as you try to reach diverse audiences? What solutions would you offer to address this issue?

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* 13. Are there other issues you have encountered in delivering OAA programs to diverse populations that are not addressed in the questions above?

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* 14. COMPLETELY OPTIONAL: If you are willing to be contacted about your answers to this survey, please fill out your contact information.

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