Proposal Presented for the Master Plan for Aging (#82)
Disclaimer
Throughout the MPA process, more than 100 proposals were developed thanks in particular to thousands of hours of work by external stakeholders and members of the public. These proposals and the MPA Council commentary are being submitted to the Governor and shared with policymakers and the public to inform policymaking. These proposals represent a starting point for discussion. Further discussion is necessary between relevant state agencies and stakeholders to both refine these proposals and assess which may be appropriate to adopt and implement.
Summary
Support older new Americans by funding trusted community benefit organizations in the Older New Americans network. Target organizations would provide case management support, referrals, information, and translation services in a way that overcomes existing linguistic and cultural barriers.
Justification
Older new Americans face significant challenges and restricted access to resources leading to negative health outcomes. Instilling support services to address the specific needs of this rapidly growing population would allow for more coordinated assistance between organizations, increased access to resources, and necessary services that bolster the health and wellbeing of older new Americans.
Full Proposal
Older new Americans face significant barriers accessing existing services due to status, cultural and linguistic barriers. Transportation and digital literacy are also barriers that this proposal would address. While federal programs do exist for refugees, these do not apply to other new Americans. The program, by funding trusted CBOs in the DOS Office for New Americans (ONA) network, would provide case management support, referrals, trusted information and translation services along the lines of the Services to Older Refugees Program, operated by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
MPA Council Commentary
This proposal is categorized as long-term. Funding allocations would be subject to the annual budget process and the availability of resources.