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As the number of maturing baby boomers continues to grow nationally, hundreds of advocates in New York state gathered in Albany on to request that lawmakers “Step up for Seniors” by making older residents a budget priority, according to a report from WBNG News on February 7^th, 2017.

“The growing population of older New Yorkers should get everyone’s attention,” said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D), who chairs the New York State Assembly Aging Committee. “We need to ensure that adequate services are in place for those who want to remain in their homes for as long as possible; providing critical services for those in need. We also need to acknowledge that seniors want to stay actively engaged in their communities for as long as possible. Aging services and programs need to be prioritized in this year’s budget.”

According to Lupardo, the State Office for the Aging is facing the largest cut of any state agency at almost five percent. She and her colleague, New York State Senate Aging Committee Chair Senator Sue Serino (R), called for more investments in community services to support the elderly, such as meal delivery, transportation, in-home health and elder abuse prevention.

Some funders in the aging field are paying close attention to state budgets, and recognize a growing gap. One Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC, (ACS) client, the Health Foundation of Western and Central New York (HFWCNY), understands this gap and works for lasting change in health and health care across western and central New York with a special focus on young children, older adults and the systems serving them.  To learn more about how ACS works with clients like HFWCNY, click here.

Supporting children, youth and families is never a done deal – and plans that worked well 20 years ago don’t fare so well in today’s world. That’s what city leaders in Little Rock, Arkansas realized in 2015, when their system for supporting prevention, intervention and treatment programs for youth, created in 1994, wasn’t holding up so well in the face of the stresses and demands on young people and families in a 21st-century world. To reassess their current reality and reinvigorate their approach to serving children, youth, and families, Little Rock needed the help of a firm with expertise in community engagement and strategy development, but also was extremely knowledgeable about the needs of families and the possibilities for youth, in particular within communities of color.

Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC (ACS) was the perfect choice. In 2015, the firm began to work with the City of Little Rock Department of Community Planning to create the Master Plan for Children, Youth, and Families.

Little Rock’s Master Plan has provided a clear roadmap for a coordinated, citywide approach that is relevant to the needs, desires, and expectations of its citizens. Since the plan was completed in June 2016, the city already has worked closely with partners and community to make significant strides in implementation.

Read the full case study here to learn more about how ACS used facilitation expertise, strategy development, research, and community engagement to build capacity and create new city processes and a strategic roadmap for children, youth, and families.

By 2030 – just 13 years from now –those age 60 and older in Cuyahoga County will grow from 21% to 31% of the population. In the wider region, that percentage will grow to 40%. For the first time ever, the percentage of older residents will be larger than the percentage of those under age 20.

These figures, reported on February 9^th, 2017 by Freshwater Cleveland, signal a need to shift in community attention and priorities, according to some. Poverty rates among seniors in the county are as high as 38.7% in some areas, further complicating the problem. Organizations that serve seniors are already struggling to meet the growing demand, especially those that assist with food and housing needs. Ohio ranks among the ten worst states in the nation for food insecurity among seniors, and is the worst in the Midwest. In terms of housing, private sector developers report that they cannot keep up with the demand for senior nursing homes, assisted living communities, and independent senior apartments.

Yet, area nonprofits point out that little is being done to prepare for the “silver tsunami” that is bearing down on the region. “We need to get our heads out of the sand and realize we have a major issue on the horizon,” said Richard Jones, director of Cuyahoga County Senior Adult Services. “Our community needs to recognize that older persons helped build a strong city and county,” he says. “They worked hard all their lives. There is a moral and ethical imperative that we make sure they live their lives with dignity and purpose, and feel valued as persons who have made contributions over their lifetimes.”

Communities across the country face similar challenges. Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC, (ACS) is proud to partner with the Health Foundation of Western and Central New York (HFWCNY), which sparks lasting change in health and health care across western and central New York with a special focus on young children, older adults and the systems serving them.

“Indiana manufacturers, which represent 30 percent of the state’s economy, may not be able to fill 60 percent of their open positions in the next decade,” said Brian Burton, president and CEO of the Indiana Manufactures Association, in a written statement to the state’s General Assembly.

To help address the skills gap, high schools and colleges are adapting their curricula and degree programs to meet the needs of employers. This includes the addition of courses such as industrial maintenance and an emergency medical technician program in area high schools, and the development of a series of ” stackable and portable credentials at the college level. Stackable credentials are credits earned in certificate programs that can be applied to associate degree programs. Credentials can be earned in phases and the student does not have to be continually enrolled in a long-term program.  Portable credential means they can be applied at different educational institutions. This allows workers to pursue their education in “manageable chunks” that align with their career stages.

“It is really being driven by jobs that are in demand and will be in the future, and by the specific skill sets required,” said Linda Woloshansky, president of the Center of Workforce Innovations, regarding the transformation of workforce programs in Indiana.

State investment in Indiana’s workforce programs is modest, and interest groups are calling for more. The Indiana Manufacturers Association is one of several organizations that called on the state to provide a tax credit to employers who partner with schools and career centers to offset training expenses. Currently, the Indiana Commission on Higher Education is considering policies that will encourage workers to pursue occupational certifications in sectors like health care and business, which would provide another option to a 2- or 4-year degree.

Communicating value is necessary for successful advocacy for any issue. The needs, priorities, and value workforce development training programs provide to the economy are workforce development training is familiar work for Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC (ACS).   ACS is a proud partner of Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW), which catalyzes nationwide transformative change in education, economic, and workforce development through research and action.  To learn more about how ACS works with clients like CSW, click here.

According to a new W.K. Kellogg Foundation issue brief released on February 16^th, 2017, Medicaid fills important gaps in coverage left by Medicare, particularly for seniors, including long-term care in both nursing homes and community settings.  Medicaid also helps low-income seniors afford some or all of their Medicare premiums.  This issue brief helps to inform the national debate around potential changes and reductions in Medicaid financing.

Seniors who receive both Medicare and Medicaid often have more intensive healthcare needs, according to the Foundation. In health care policy circles, these individuals are known as “Dual Eligible”.  With regard to those who are dual eligible, the issue brief points out that:

• Nearly three in four Medicare beneficiaries who receive Medicaid have three or more chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, which can require regular doctor appointments, medication, and/or medical tests.
• More than 60% of Medicare beneficiaries who receive Medicaid need help with daily self-care activities, such as eating, bathing, or dressing, which are important for independent living.
• Nearly six in 10 Medicare beneficiaries who receive Medicaid have a cognitive or mental impairment, such as dementia, which can create the need for supports to live safely at home.

More intensive healthcare needs mean Medicare beneficiaries spend more on Medicaid. For example, although Medicare beneficiaries make up 15% of Medicaid enrollment nationally, they account for 36% of national Medicaid spending.  In nearly three-quarters of states, more than 30% of the total Medicaid spending is devoted to Medicare beneficiaries, and in six states, spending for Medicare beneficiaries comprises more than 45% or Medicaid budgets.   The needs and cost of care of the dually enrolled Medicaid and Medicare populations leave them particularly vulnerable to potential changes and reductions in federal Medicaid spending.

The brief goes on to say that President Donald Trump and other Congressional leaders have called for changes in Medicaid financing that could limit federal funding through a block grant or per capita cap, which may affect Medicare beneficiaries who receive Medicaid.  Changes to Medicaid’s financing structure could have significant consequences for enrollees and states and the possible changes necessitate careful consideration regarding their impact on Medicare beneficiaries.

The coming weeks and months will allow the public to understand how the story related to those who are Dual Eligible will unfold.

Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC (ACS) has worked on Medicaid policy since the firm’s inception in 2004 and has helped non-profits and government navigate health-related policy at the state and federal levels. ACS client HMS, is the nation’s leader in cost containment, program integrity, and coordination of benefits solutions for government-funded and commercial healthcare entities.  HMS works with state Medicaid agencies to help detect fraud as part of its contract to provide program integrity services, which allows for government to save millions within their Medicaid programs.

Read more about how ACS works with clients like HMS here.

Several Republican-led states are including expanded Medicaid coverage in their state budgets, according to a report by NPR. These include both Indiana, where Vice President Pence expanded Medicare when he was governor, and Ohio, where Governor John Kasich has included sustained Medicare expansion within his state budget proposal, which was announced on January 30, 2017.

In Indiana, Governor Eric Holcomb, who assumed office on January 9^th, 2017, applied for a federal Medicaid waiver that would extend coverage until January 1, 2021. Without federal approval, funding for Indiana’s Healthy Indiana plan will cease in January 2018.

The article quoted Holcomb’s statement: “Indiana has built a program that is delivering real results in a responsible, efficient, and effective way. I look forward to maintaining the flexibility to grow this remarkably successful tool and to preserve our ability to respond to the unique needs of Hoosiers.”

In addition to filling for a waiver for current services, Indiana also hopes to expand coverage for substance abuse treatment and support preventative services that help individuals quit smoking, manage chronic disease, and even train for jobs.

Ohio, Kentucky, and other states are considering plans similar to Indiana’s.

The unanswered question, however, is what happens if federal funding for Medicaid is discontinued through Congress’ efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act; a conversation that ACS is monitoring closely.

Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC (ACS) has worked on Medicaid policy since its inception and has helped various organizations navigate health-related policy at the state and federal level. A long time client in this work is HMS, the nation’s leader in cost containment, program integrity, and coordination of benefits solutions for government-funded and commercial healthcare entities.  HMS works with the state Medicaid agencies to help detect fraud as part of its contract to provide program integrity services. For several years, ACS has helped HMS identify and pursue growth opportunities for its business in Ohio. As a result of HMS’s work, clients like the State of Ohio are able to recover millions of dollars every year and save billions more through the prevention of erroneous payments. That’s a win-win for everyone! Learn more about how ACS works with clients like HMS here.

In a time of uncertainty for America’s social safety net, programs like Solutions for Change located in San Diego, CA offer a ray of hope for homeless families.

A recent article in the “Opportunity Lives” section of Forbes.com highlights the work of this San Diego nonprofit that is making family homelessness a thing of the past. Since its inception in 1999, the organization has helped more than 800 families, including more than 2,000 children, permanently end their homelessness.

Solutions for Change provides support that goes deeper than emergency or short-term assistance. Instead, it uses a “transformational housing model” that provides a wide range of services to address root causes of homelessness – from financial instability to mental health issues, to addiction and more. Transformational housing provides the supports to ensure that families have the job skills, job placements, parenting assistance, mental health supports, financial management, personal accountability and other skills to survive solidly in their own homes and avoid any repeat experiences with homelessness. Participants attend “Solutions University” for up to 1,000 days, get on-the-job training at businesses run by Solutions for Change, pay rent for their housing, and give back to the community as soon as they are able.

For this organization, programmatic success is measured by the number of families who stay permanently out of homelessness, rather than those who receive short-term assistance.  Solutions for Change’s success model is important because it makes their client’s independence the measure of success for both families and their program.

Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC (ACS) is proud to partner with A Place 4 Me (AP4M), cross-sector initiative that harnesses the strengths and resources of its partners to prevent and end homelessness among young adults age 15 to 24 in Cleveland/Cuyahoga County. A Place 4 Me is a collaboration led by a steering committee consisting of the YWCA Greater Cleveland; Cuyahoga County Department of Health and Human Services, including the Division of Children and Family Services and the Office of Homeless Services; FrontLine Service; the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative; and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland.  AP4M secured housing for 103 homeless youth by using a “by-name” list to track and evaluate the needs of homeless youth, deploying team of 12 navigators to work directly with youth, creating a resource guide to help youth connect to needed services, expanding the pool of age-appropriate options, and ensuring that youth leaving the foster care system receive extra support.  Learn more about how ACS works with non-profits, government agencies, and foundations here.

A January 9th, 2017, New York Times article explored the attempts of several cities to issue citations for homeless people living on public lands, and the backlash that can cause among advocates for the homeless. At issue is whether policies such as citations are criminalizing homelessness. The article features a video of police taking away tents and sleeping bags from homeless individuals living outdoors in the city.

While homelessness is declining overall nationwide, some cities – particularly in the Western U.S., are seeing increases in homelessness due to soaring housing prices and the lack of affordable or subsidized alternatives. In some cases, homeless individuals do not wish to stay in shelters because of the conditions there.

Challenges for housing the homeless abound, but Cleveland recently provided a powerful demonstration of what is possible by securing housing for 103 homeless youth in 100 days between September 9^th, 2016 and December 18^th, 2016. Cleveland’s effort was led by A Place 4 Me is a cross-sector initiative that harnesses the strengths and resources of its partners to prevent and end homelessness among young adults age 15 to 24 in Cleveland/Cuyahoga County. A Place 4 Me is a collaboration led by a steering committee consisting of the YWCA Greater Cleveland; Cuyahoga County Department of Health and Human Services, including the Division of Children and Family Services and the Office of Homeless Services; FrontLine Service; the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative; and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland.  AP4M secured housing for 103 homeless youth by using a “by-name” list to track and evaluate the needs of homeless youth, deploying team of 12 navigators to work directly with youth, creating a resource guide to help youth connect to needed services, expanding the pool of age-appropriate options, and ensuring that youth leaving the foster care system receive extra support.

Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC (ACS) partnered with A Place 4 Me (AP4M) on maximizing media coverage for the 100-Day Challenge.  The 100-Day-Challenge work in Cleveland was reported in a number of local media outlets, including News 5 Cleveland, Cleveland Magazine, ideastream, and Cleveland.com.   Learn more about ACS’s work with non-profits, government agencies, and foundations here.

Mayors across the country have named aging as a top priority for their cities as the number of persons aged 65 and older in the US is anticipated to double by 2050, from 46 million to 92 million, according a recent article on the Yahoo Finance website.

These statistics are from the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM)/American Association of Retired Person (AARP) Report on Aging in America, which surveyed 108 mayors – 92% of who said that aging issues are of high importance. In addition, sixty percent of mayors surveyed currently have an aging-related task force or initiative underway in their cities.

The report also details the top six priority issue areas that mayors identify as facing older Americans in cities across the country: health and wellness, housing, transportation and infrastructure, neighborhood and public safety, social activities, and workforce development.

Older Americans will have a significant impact on communities. As lifespans in the United States have gradually increased, so have the numbers of older people who wish to remain engaged in the workforce and in community. In addition, trends show that more people would like to remain in their homes as they age.

“It is critical for cities to make it easier for people to remain in their neighborhoods and communities as long as they want. As this report demonstrates, mayors and city leadership are actively and strategically developing their cities to support all of their citizens, including the nation’s rapidly growing population of older adults,” Mayor Frank Ortis, Mayor of Pembroke Pines (FL) and Chair of the USCM Taskforce on Aging, stated in the article.

How communities continue to address aging populations is of particular interest to several Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC (ACS) clients, such as the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York (HFWCNY). In 2017, ACS is helping HFWCY communicate about their “Triggers of Decline” framework for aging adults. Triggers of Decline are an event or change in the physical, cognitive, or mental health of otherwise healthy older adults living in the community that can lead to functional decline or limit their daily activities and ultimately, result in the loss of independence.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recently launched a two-year initiative called Power to the Profession (P2P), which seeks to unify the early childhood profession and develop a consistent structure for competencies, qualifications, standards, and compensation for all those who work in the early learning field. This work intends to positively impact the quality of child care and early education settings, as well as academic and social emotional outcomes for the children they serve.

P2P is based on NAEYC’s public opinion research, which sought to understand public perceived value of the profession, identify what obstacles prevent educators from committing to the profession long term, and develop messaging to increase support for early childhood education and educators. This research, which was published in a 2015 report, Early Childhood Educators: Advancing the Profession, details opinions from educators, potential educators, and American voters.  NAEYC’s research found that voters are convinced of the value of early education and also believe that educators are underpaid for the valuable work that they do.  This research also indicated that low pay and benefits are the largest obstacles to the recruitment and retention of early educators.   The messages that resounded the most with those surveyed were around brain development, importance of educators as role models, and ensuring readiness for K-12 education.

Concern for well-compensated and highly trained workforce is further supported by a report released in June 2016 by the US Department of Health & Human Services and the US Department of Education called High-Quality Early Learning Settings Depend on a High-Quality Workforce. According to this report, low wages for child-care workers, preschool teachers and Head Start teachers is undermining interest in and efforts to improve the quality of early childhood education in every state.  In 32 States, the median annual earnings for a child care worker is below poverty for a family of three (i.e. $20,090 according to the 2015 poverty threshold). In all states, child-care workers with median annual incomes qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits. Wages differ based on setting and the age of the child.

At the same time, required credentials for early childhood educators have increased. Currently preschool initiatives in 32 states require a Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in early childhood for all lead teachers, and 45% of all preschool teachers hold a Bachelor’s degree. But, as the report points out, “Without a significant increase in annual earnings for teachers working with our nation’s youngest children, there is little incentive for attaining higher credentials and seeking higher levels of education.”

The report calls for greater parity in compensation for all of those who work to shape young minds, and provides a look at some examples of state efforts to improve parity in pay as well as assist teachers in attaining Bachelor’s degrees. It also includes useful state-by-state infographics about compensation to help early childhood advocates make the case.

Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC (ACS) is proud partner of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  NAEYC is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. The association comprises nearly 70,000 individual members of the early childhood community and more than 300 regional Affiliate chapters, all committed to delivering on the promise of high-quality early learning. ACS currently provides technical assistance for five NAEYC state affiliates across the country that were chosen by NAEYC to conduct outreach and engagement with the early childhood field and inform the P2P process. More information about NAEYC’s work to expand the early childhood profession can be found here.