Veterans and their families form a large and important subset of Americans — an estimated 80% of the 16 million veterans nationwide will need long-term care services at some point in their lives. A growing array of services exist to support them that states, AAAs, and community-based organizations may not yet be fully aware of.
By learning how to better identify and serve veterans, states can reduce duplication of service, more wisely allocate funding, and improve access for veterans and non-veterans alike.
This webinar was held March 2025.
Information access is a fundamental tenet of I&R services. Standards for information and referral emphasize that I&R services optimize access to community information and resources for all people. But what does it mean to truly champion inclusivity and accessibility in information access? Virginia has long recognized the challenges faced by people with disabilities and their families in navigating the maze of information sources along with complex service systems. Enter Information Access Champions – Virginia's project to rewrite the narrative of accessibility. Through an initiative grounded in human-centered design principles, partners are embarking on a journey toward collaborative system change to reimage how information is created, disseminated, and received.
This webinar was held October 2024.
Community and financial needs may drive individuals and families to reach out to Information and Referral/Assistance programs. As financial needs and situations become more complex, having access to reliable information and resources is increasingly important. Join this webinar to hear from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and learn about the many CFPB resources designed to support consumers, families, and even professionals on topics such as housing, debt, financial exploitation, retirement, caregiving, and more!
This webinar was held in September 2024.Demographic data can inform and impact key areas of Information & Referral/Assistance (I&R/A) programs, from service delivery and the resource database to partnerships and more. Developments in the policy environment also emphasize data collection on demographic characteristics. Yet collecting demographic information at the frontlines of service delivery can come with unique considerations. In this webinar, attendees gained insights on this topic from your national partners who will share findings from a survey of I&R/A programs and experiences from the perspective of national contact centers.
This webinar was held in July 2024.In this webinar, attendees heard about
the Disabled American
Veterans (DAV) caregiver support program and the free services offered by this
trusted organization. They learned how to navigate and connect with DAV’s inventory of
no-cost resources and services for veterans and their caregivers. Additionally,
a program representative shared specific examples of how DAV and the DAV
Auxiliary team have helped veterans and their caregivers as they navigate the
often-difficult adjustment to civilian life.
This webinar was held in May 2024.
This webinar aims to provide a foundation to understand the basics of
Alzheimer's and dementia, the importance of early detection and the diagnostic
process, and current FDA approved treatments for Alzheimer's. You will hear
about the challenges and stressors caregivers experience and also gain an
understanding of the role of the 24/7 Helpline and when to refer your clients
for support.
Join the National I&R Support Center and our partner, the National Council on Independent Living, for a presentation on key trends and developments in Information & Referral/Assistance services. This webinar draws on findings from the 2023 Aging and Disability I&R/A National Survey. This comprehensive survey explored the landscape of I&R/A services in areas such as staffing, referrals and unmet needs, partnerships, standards, training, and more.
This webinar was held in November 2023.
This course will further participants’ understanding of Alzheimer’s and other dementias and what differentiates these conditions from normal aging. Participants will learn communication strategies to provide phone support to someone living with early-stage dementia. Participants will learn about the impact that dementia can put on caregivers in order to prepare for empathetic phone interactions. Participants will learn about the role of the Alzheimer’s Association® in the fight against the disease and accessible resources to assist this population.
Advancing equity is a guiding principle for many programs that serve individuals and families, from gathering diversity data to addressing disparities in access to programs that meet social and health needs. Join this webinar for cross-system learning on advancing health equity. NORC at the University of Chicago is undertaking several important projects to understand how state Medicaid agencies are advancing health equity and will present findings on state Medicaid efforts in areas including:
- The extent to which social determinants of health are documented in state Medicaid data and state strategies for creating an environment that supports the documentation of that data,
- The state of race, ethnicity, and language data collection and state strategies for improving the collection of this data, and
- A framework for how state Medicaid agencies can advance health equity within their own programs and promote Medicaid system transformation towards health equity.
This webinar was held on June 29, 2022.
Does your agency serve callers who are blind, low-vision, or losing vision? Join this webinar to hear from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the nation’s largest and oldest organization of blind Americans with affiliates in all fifty states plus the District of Colombia and Puerto Rico. The NFB offers information, community, programs, and resources to people who are blind and those losing vision, including older adults. Learn about the types of inquiries that individuals reach out for help with; programs and resources through NFB; and examples of solutions for everyday living in the community.
Presenters:
- Danielle McCann, Social Media Coordinator, National Federation of the Blind
- Norma Crosby, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas and Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind Executive Board
- Sandy Halverson, Coordinator of the Silver Bells Seniors Program in Virginia
This webinar was held May 26, 2022.
Over a full lifetime many individuals may experience traumatic events. Trauma-informed care is a critical approach to engaging with individuals that recognizes and responds to the impact and risk of trauma. Having a workforce that is trained on trauma-informed care can help diminish the potential for triggers and improve both quality of care and quality of life. In this webinar, program leaders from Texas Health and Human Services describe a three-part training series on person-centered, trauma-informed care for Texas’ aging service providers. While this training, informed by the needs and experiences of Holocaust survivors, was developed for service providers, the care techniques and methods are best practices that improve the quality of care of all older adults. At all levels of engagement, understanding trauma-inducing situations and triggers can help create respectful methods of service delivery.
This webinar was held on February 24, 2022.
The National I&R Support Center hosted a webinar on the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center. The Reeve Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) promotes the health and well-being of people living with a spinal cord injury, mobility impairment, and paralysis by providing comprehensive information, and resources and referral services. This webinar teaches attendees about the Paralysis Resource Center, including the Center's I&R services; resources on spinal cord injury, paralysis and mobility related disabilities; peer support program; and the needs of individuals and families served by the Center. This webinar was presented by Bernadette Mauro, Director of Information and Resource Services.
The webinar was held on April 12, 2016.
Guardianship is a key but complicated issue that aging and disability I&R/A specialists address in their work with consumers, family members, and caregivers. This training covers the basics of guardianship including the process of becoming a guardian, responsibilities of the guardian, the difference between guardianship and powers of attorney and a discussion on when a guardianship may be necessary. To help I&R/A specialists gain more insight into guardianship issues, our presenter, Kim Grier, Adult Guardianship Specialist, Georgia Department of Human Services, shares her expertise on this topic.
This webinar was held on August 14, 2016.
I&R/A professionals across the country are receiving more calls for assistance from individuals with mental health conditions, often in conjunction with other complex needs. At the same time, mental health services are among the most frequently reported unmet service needs. This webinar discusses serving older adults with mental health conditions and capacity-building initiatives for this population. Our presenter, Jocelyn Chen Wise, serves as Project Director at the Fuqua Center for Late-Life Depression, an initiative of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at Emory University. As Project Director, Jocelyn provides support for community projects including the Fuqua Center’s work in affordable senior housing, and she serves as a social worker in the outpatient geriatric psychiatry clinic to assist individuals and families navigating mental health and aging resources.
This webinar was held January 19, 2018.
Serving veterans and caregivers with information, referrals, assistance and other supports is an important component of work within aging and disability networks. This webinar discusses resources for caregivers of veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program offers a menu of services to support family members and friends who care for Veterans at home and in their communities. The VA Caregiver Support Line is a national call center staffed by licensed social workers, who provide information and assist caregivers and Veterans in accessing services and supports through the VA. Our presenter was Christy Reynolds, LMSW, Program Coordinator with the VA Caregiver Support Line.
This webinar was held June 12, 2018.
This webinar discussed retirement issues and referrals. Around 10,000 individuals reach retirement age every day in the U.S. Retirement can bring new opportunities but can also raise concerns and issues with retirement plans for workers, retirees, and their families. This webinar covers the basics of retirement plans, common issues experienced by retirees and family members, resources that promote retirement security, and referrals for pension counseling and help. Our presenter was Emily Spreiser, Legal Program Director, Pension Rights Center.
This webinar was held November 7, 2018.
Assistive Technology Act Programs increase access to, and acquisition of, assistive technology (AT) devices and services for individuals with disabilities and older adults. Programs support a continuum of AT services, from public awareness and information and assistance to loans and reuse programs. This webinar discusses the Assistive Technology Act, state programs and services, and ways that AT can be useful to individuals across the lifespan.
This webinar was held April 23, 2019.
Do you know how to talk to your clients about communicating with a person living with dementia (PLWD)? Do you know what resources are available for caregivers and PLWDs? Individuals living with dementia tend to experience behavioral symptoms and behaviors that can be challenging during the course of the progression of the disease. This webinar discusses person-centered care strategies for effective communication and challenging dementia-related behaviors. During this webinar, attendees learn more about the resources for caregivers and PLWDs provided by the Alzheimer’s Association.
This webinar was held September 17, 2019.
The identification and sharing of promising practices can help strengthen our understanding of successful outreach strategies. During this webinar, participants heard from ADvancing States and NCOA’s 2019 Innovations in Benefits Outreach contest awardees. Presenters shared about their state and local outreach practices to engage, educate, and assist individuals in need of benefits assistance. The New Jersey Division of Aging Services shared about NJSave and Feeding the Gulf Coast provided information about their senior food bag program.
This webinar was held November 19, 2019.
The effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead individuals living with TBI and their families to seek information and assistance for a variety of needs. During this webinar, participants strengthened their knowledge of TBI, the role of state TBI systems and programs, and I&R services for this population. Along with a national overview, this webinar featured two state TBI programs that have robust I&R systems for the people living with TBI and have partnered with other state agencies to broaden the reach of their programs.
This webinar was held on January 15, 2020.