The Senior Alliance’s Post

Join us May 23-24 for #FRIESEN2024 This year's conference highlights "Community Care and Supports for Older Adults: Inclusion, Innovation and Integration." Themes include social prescribing, integration of community and health care systems, and more. Register: https://lnkd.in/gX8evMtu

Living with any disability is a challenge, but living with an invisible disability presents unique obstacles. Fortunately, Congress created the protection and advocacy (P&A) system to help individuals with disabilities find resources and critical information to help with recovery. Learn more about P&A systems and how they can help brain injury survivors here: https://bit.ly/3xPiM7q

Happy Reframe Friday! Policy is about people. Policy is about communities, and unfortunately, policy is usually created by those who are not representative of the community in which it impacts. We had the honour this week to attend two conferences that were centered around upstream solutions to community safety and gun violence reduction. A quote that stuck with our team "Policy makers deciding what works for racialized youth and programming is like a doctor prescribing medication to a patient they have never met". Forcing high risk youth into boxes such as barrier ridden programming, 9am-5pm support models and punitive approaches limits their ability to use their existing strengths towards healing. At The HUB, our intake process looks a bit different. It is slow, client led, time line free and based on what the client feels safe to share on their terms. We can't possibly know what someone needs until they let us in enough to express it, and policies often force high risk youth, specifically those from BIPOC communities, to feel additional oppression and stigma. What would it mean if we released the walls of the boxes our systems try so hard to uphold? How much more available and safe would services feel is we reduced the urge to force youth into boxes that are suffocating and white centric? #bedifferent

Advocacy plays a crucial role in driving positive change and ensuring that the voices of individuals with disabilities and mental health needs are heard. Organizations, policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities must work together to advocate for policies and initiatives that promote equitable access to care. This includes investing in inclusive healthcare systems, increasing funding for mental health services, implementing anti-discrimination measures, and providing education and training on disability awareness and accommodations. Learn more about the work that we do at mycri.org/advocacy

Did you know about Nashua Center's Day Services for Adults program? We go beyond traditional services to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) including those with acquired traumatic brain injuries. Our program offers job opportunities, ongoing support, social connections, independence training, recreational activities, and health monitoring. This is why we find it important to share the attached https://buff.ly/3QvxplF. Nashua Center also recognizes the importance of advocacy in empowering individuals with I/DD. Utilize the advocacy tool found at the provided link to support the #HCBSReliefAct of 2023, crucial for home and community-based services. It proposes a 10% FMAP increase during fiscal years 2024 and 2025, benefiting countless individuals with I/DD. Click https://buff.ly/3QvxplF to share your voice. Together, let's make a positive impact in our community! #NashuaCenter #SupportingAbilities #CommunityAdvocacy #DidYouKnow

This Mother's Day, let's recognize the resilience of mothers and caregivers navigating challenges for their children's futures. Support Five Counties Children’s Centre in providing essential care. Together, we can make a difference. https://lnkd.in/etnPAmtR #ProfessionalSupport #FiveCountiesImpact

*Tomorrow* March 7, 12-1pm Eastern: We Live for the We, Join me in conversation with Dani McClain, author of We Live for the We: The Political Power of Black Motherhood. We'll explore how to address inequity and social conflict with children, and the importance of honest and responsible engagement. Additionally, we will delve into the unique challenges faced by single parents, emphasizing the need for community support, and Dani will share insights on the critical issue of Black maternal health during the postpartum period. Register here! https://lnkd.in/eNne7PFm #BlackMotherhood #ParentingPanel #CommunitySupport #MaternalHealth #ParentingDiscussion #EquityInParenting

📢Virginia families are struggling to balance work, health, and family Discover the Key to Breaking the Health-Poverty Cycle in Virginia! 🔎Explore our latest policy brief, "Breaking the Health-Poverty Cycle: The Urgent Need for Paid Family and Medical Leave in Virginia," authored by Senior Policy Analyst Emily Moore. 📑Learn how paid leave can transform family economic security and child health. Don’t miss the essential recommendations for policymakers and the latest on Virginia's efforts. ✅Understand the latest research, real-life impacts, and why this policy is crucial for Virginia families. 🖱️Click the link below to read or download and be part of the change that supports children and families in our state! Read/download here: https://lnkd.in/eiTeKNU5 #paidfamilymedicalleave #vapfml #vakids #voicesforvakids #voices #vafamilies

Focusing on 1. Health, 2. Family, 3. Education, and 4. Community! We foster “for” giving hearts and responsible citizenship. #FGH #Fourgivinghearts #childhoodcancerawareness #suicidepreventionawareness #sicklecellawareness

I recently spoke with Victoria Schall on RVN Television about our efforts to increase access to Medicaid benefits for older adults and people with disabilities in New Jersey. Enrolling in Medicare or turning 65 places older adults and people with disabilities at a "coverage cliff" for Medicaid benefits, subjecting them to stricter income and asset thresholds than younger populations. This harsh reality strips many of the essential Medicaid benefits they rely on, depriving them of critical home care services, such as personal care services, that support aging in their communities. Current financial eligibility criteria also impoverish these populations, limiting their ability to manage inevitable expenses like home or car repairs. Furthermore, these stringent financial criteria disproportionately impact older adults of color, who are more likely to be renters and, therefore, need ready access to cash. A coalition of aging and disability stakeholders in New Jersey is working to rectify these coverage disparities. To learn more about our policy proposals to address these inequities and how you can support our efforts, please consider watching: #realizing Olmstead #HCBS #advocacy #Medicaid #equity