ADvancing States

🌟 Exciting News! Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available for the the 2025 Home and Community-Based Services Conference are now available! 🌟 We are thrilled to invite organizations to join us as sponsors for the 2025 HCBS Conference - a key gathering for innovators and policymakers dedicated to advancing home and community-based services for aging individuals and people with disabilities. By becoming a sponsor, your organization will connect directly with industry leaders and decision-makers and gain visibility among stakeholders committed to improving quality of life through sustainable systems. Spaces are limited, so don't miss the chance to showcase your commitment to enhancing lives in the HCBS space! Reach out to Gabriel Passos, Director of Executive Relations, at gpassos@advancingstates.org to learn more.

ADvancing States and NASDDDS are joining forces to provide consultation, subject matter expertise, and technical assistance to states regarding the implementation of the “Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services” (Access Rule) final rule. The Access rule calls for substantial effort by federal and state governments to implement the intended system improvements within the established timelines. States may obtain enhanced technical assistance support in a variety of areas pertaining to any of the Access Rule core components.   Questions about this opportunity may be directed to either Rachel Neely, LMSW (rneely@advancingstates.org) or Jeanine Zlockie (jzlockie@nasddds.org).

🌟 Stay informed with the latest updates in aging and disability policy! 🌟 The ADvancing States Friday Update is a free weekly newsletter that contains updates, news publications, events, and more on a broad range of topics pertaining to aging and disabilities services at the federal, state and local level. Sign up for ADvancing States Friday Updates! 📨 https://lnkd.in/gYzs5uGg #Aging #DisabilityAdvocacy #PolicyUpdates #ADvancingStates #HCBS

Oct. 9 is Ageism Awareness Day. Let’s #TalkAboutAgeism and reframe how we talk about aging and older adults. https://lnkd.in/gyWWHA_s #AgeismAwarenessDay American Society on Aging

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month! The theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (#NDEAM) is "Access to Good Jobs for All." NDEAM celebrates the contributions of disabled workers and highlights inclusive policies and practices that benefits both employees and employers. Learn more at www.dol.gov/NDEAM.

Congratulations Alison Barkoff for your incredible leadership and dedication while performing the duties of Administrator & Assistant Secretary for Aging for the Administration for Community Living (ACL)! Alison has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives that enhance community living options, promote person-centered care, and protect the rights of people with disabilities and older adults. Her work has focused on ensuring that these populations can live independently and fully participate in their communities. She has been an advocate for improving the quality of accessibility of long-term services and supports and expanding home and community-based services (HCBS) to provide more choices and better outcomes for individuals in need of care. Alison's tenure at ACL has been marked by a strong commitment to advocacy, equity, and the improvement of services and supports for older adults and people with disabilities. We want to acknowledge and thank you for the exceptional work you have done over the past four years. #HCBS #AgingServices #DisabilityAdvocacy

Staff Highlight Alert ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Meet Holly Riley, Director of Aging Services at ADvancing States, who brings over 25 years of experience in state services. We are thrilled to have her expertise and passion on our team!

Congratulations to the newly elected ADvancing States Alumni Leadership Network (ALN) Executive Committee: Karen Kimsey, Kathleen Dougherty, and Lorene Reagan RN, MS. For more information about how you, as a former federal or state LTSS or HCBS staff member, can join the ALN click here: https://lnkd.in/e6hvcmHp

Attending the National Adult Protective Services conference with ADvancing States colleague Sharee Rines, past-president of the NAPSA board. Sharee opened the annual awards luncheon.

Staff Highlight Alert ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Meet Abby Cox, the Senior Director of Aging Policy at ADvancing States. Abby is incredibly dedicated. We are so happy to have her expertise and positivity on our team.