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Call for Sessions


The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) Annual Conference and Tradeshow is the largest and most prestigious gathering of local aging leaders and professionals in the United States. More than 1,000 Aging Network professionals, as well as nationally renowned decisionmakers and experts, participate in the Conference because they know that the issues and programs, they care about most will be showcased. 

 
The latest trends in home and community-based services, long-term services and supports, and integrated care are presented by seasoned practitioners eager to share their cutting-edge programs utilizing creative and interactive workshop formats.
Why do attendees return year after year? Responses to post-Conference surveys overwhelmingly show that participants leave the event feeling they have been given exciting new information, tools and contacts they can leverage as soon as they return to their agencies.
 
The n4a 46th Annual Conference and Tradeshow will be held virtually, July 19-22. The n4a call for sessions is now closed.
 
Submissions were accepted in the following topic areas:
 

Addressing Social Isolation/Promoting Social Engagement

Especially now, creating opportunities to engage older adults and help them stay socially connected is a vital part of the healthy aging services offered by the Aging Network. Topics may include research on the negative health outcomes from social isolation and loneliness; program innovations to reduce those harms; creative ways to reach older adults with technology and without; and much more. 

 

Advancing Our Advocacy

Learn about the latest advocacy approaches, innovations, trends and opportunities. From individual advocacy to advancing federal aging policy, AAAs are mandated by the Older Americans Act to advocate for older adults. Attendees will have the opportunity to get up to speed on timely federal policy issues, as well as expand their skills and learn from their peers about new approaches to state and local advocacy.

 

Best Practices in Healthy Aging

The latest programs and services being implemented to improve health outcomes for older adults in the areas of health promotion/wellness, nutrition, physical activity, evidence-based disease prevention, prescription drug programs, medication management, mental and behavioral health, and more will be showcased in presentations by leading practitioners from the Aging Network and renowned national experts. Workshops will feature proven, highly-effective programs with a focus on outcome-based interventions with older adults.

 

Building Livable Communities for All Ages

The latest programs and services developed to help older adults “age in community,” involving such issues as community planning, housing, transportation, lifelong learning, economic security and workforce development, as well as dementia-friendly communities, will be showcased by experts who will provide guidance to attendees on implementing these plans back home.

 

Cutting-Edge OAA and Caregiver Programs

Find out how the Aging Network is enhancing core Older Americans Act and other aging services in exciting new ways to address the needs of older adults and caregivers. Workshops will address the evolving needs of consumers and innovative approaches to meet those needs.

 

Elder Justice

Sessions will highlight best practices, new innovations and replicable programs to prevent, detect and address elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, as well as broader elder justice initiatives from around the country.

 

Enhancing Independent Living Through Mobility Innovations

Transportation sessions will showcase mobility innovations, developments in the field and funding opportunities, focusing specifically on transportation options that increase accessibility for older adults and people with disabilities.

 

Innovative Programs for Integrated Care

Sessions will focus on existing and emerging models of community-based long-term services and supports, including integrated care, Medicaid managed care, Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits, care transitions, contracting with health care and other new opportunities and challenges for the Aging Network.

 

Meeting the Needs of Diverse Aging Populations

Because the ethnic and cultural diversity of the aging population is expanding at a rapid pace, it is vital to learn about new and innovative programs that address ethnic and cultural diversity issues. Workshops focus on planning initiatives, cultural competency training for staff and volunteers, workforce development issues and the development and implementation of new policies and practices to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion.

 

Strategies to Strengthen Systems and People

Learn about cutting-edge management practices that the Aging Network can utilize to strengthen operations and build capacity. Finance, grants management, professional development, diversity/equity/inclusion practices, fundraising, marketing, program evaluation and new technologies are just a few of the topics that will be addressed.

 

Title VI Programs: Unique Challenges and Solutions

Innovative and proven strategies to help directors and staff from Title VI Native American aging programs address the unique service needs of elders in Indian Country will be featured in these workshops. Successful initiatives that leverage the synergies associated with AAA and Title VI program coordination will also be featured.

 

Submission Deadline

The deadline for submissions is December 4, 2020. To be considered, proposals must include ALL requested information. Late submissions will not be accepted.
 

Status Notification

A notification of the status of your proposal will be sent by March 3, 2021 [new date]. On occasion, n4a combines sessions with complementary topics and submitters are notified well in advance if it is deemed necessary to combine their session with another. Please hold the dates of July 19-22, 2021 until you are notified of the status of your submission.
 

Submission Requirements

Submissions MUST include the following information:
• Contact information for all presenters involved in the workshop being proposed 
• A two-to-three sentence biography for each presenter
• Session title (maximum of 10 words) and session objectives (bullet points)
• Session description (maximum of 125 words)
All submissions must be made through the Call for Sessions page.
**PLEASE NOTE: If accepted, ALL presenters will be required to register for the n4a Annual Conference
 

Evaluation

When completing your proposal, please keep in mind that your presentation will be evaluated on the following:
• Outcomes/Impact (30%): How have older adults, people with disabilities and/or caregivers benefitted from your program/service; and/or how has your program/service improved the operations of your agency?
• Innovation (25%): What are the unique elements and achievements of your program/service?
• Replicability (25%): What elements of your program/service can readily be utilized by another Area Agency on Aging/Title VI Native American aging program? Is a AAA/Title VI staff member part of the proposed workshop?
• Interactive/Engaging Quality (20%): It is critical that the workshop content and presentation style both engage and involve Conference attendees. Outline strategies that you will employ to make the workshop highly interactive.
 

Submitter/Key Contact Responsibilities

• Provide complete information for up to three presenters per 60-minute workshop and one presenter per 30-minute workshop or Fast-Track session.
• Review presenters’ responsibilities with each presenter prior to submission.
• Provide a two-to-three sentence bio summary for each presenter for introduction purposes.
• Communicate the accept/decline status of the proposal to all additional presenters.
• Hold the Conference workshop dates of July 19-22, 2021 until notified of your proposal status.
• If selected, contact each presenter to re-confirm their participation and remind them to register for the Conference.
• Register and pay for the Conference.
• If applicable, pay extra audio visual and/or internet costs in advance.
 

Presenter Responsibilities

• Provide complete contact information and a two-to-three sentence bio summary to submitter.
• If selected, register and pay for the Conference.