The March Forkful

Volume 2 | Issue 5

News from the

Nutrition and Aging Resource Center

Spring is in the Air!

Do you feel it? Here in Iowa we have seen beautiful glimpses of warmer weather! We had our fair share of snow (over two feet in January) and sub-zero temperatures. With March here, I am all about “Team Spring” and the amazing things that happen during this season. Not only does the weather change, but we start thinking about more produce selections, planting gardens, and extra vitamin D. Two other big things are happening this month. We are celebrating the Senior Nutrition Program with the theme Connection in Every Bite. We are also excited to celebrate National Nutrition Month with the theme Beyond The Table! As a Registered Dietitian, I love seeing so many resources from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to use for all aspects of life. You may find tip sheets and activity handouts, like a word search and fill-in-the-blank, and other fun ideas to celebrate nutrition! Here’s to a great month ahead and warm weather heading your way!

Stay healthy!

Ashley

Ashley Danielson,

RDN, LDN

Nutrition Coordination Director

Meet the Network!

Meet Pat Bohse, founder and president of Bohse & Associates. Pat talks about how she works to serve a diverse group of older adults. She shares great information on how to get started and resources that helped her with planning to meet the needs within diverse communities.

Learn more by reading Tips on Effectively Connecting and Serving Older Adults.

View New Resources Available on Our Website!

See what is new! New and updated resources included on acl.gov/senior-nutrition:

From the Administration for Community Living

It's Time to Celebrate the Senior Nutrition Program!

Don't miss the Senior Nutrition Program March 2024 Celebration! The theme this year is Connection in Every Bite; this virtual event will recognize the national program's impact and the importance of connectedness in the everyday work of local programs to support the health and well-being of older adults. This event will be captioned.

Join us on March 20, 2024; 2 - 3 pm ET.

Registration

New Grant Opportunity:

Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services

Opportunity Number: HHS-2024-ACL-AOA-INNU-0025

ACL has released an Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services (INNU) cooperative agreement funding opportunity for innovative approaches to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and outcomes of nutrition programs and services within the aging services network in collaboration with senior centers.

The intent of this funding opportunity is to create innovative, high-quality collaboration between senior nutrition programs and senior centers, to identify and disseminate best practices of senior nutrition program and senior center collaboration, and to expand and enhance previous efforts to modernize senior center programs.

Awardees will receive up to $1.8 million in the first year, with a maximum of $1 million per budget year during years two through four. The total award is $4.8 million over a four-year project period, with a required match of 25 percent.

An informational conference call will be held March 27, 2024, at 1:00 pm ET.

Toll Free Number: 888-790-3361
Passcode: 6877154

A recording will be available approximately one hour after the call concludes at the following toll-free playback number: 800-568-4850.

Questions about this funding opportunity should be directed to: Aniessa.Rollinson@acl.hhs.gov.

View the Opportunity

Concerned for Older Adult Mental Health?

Mark your calendars to join us on Thursday, May 2, 2024, for the Seventh Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium!

This free, all-day, virtual event will feature an engaging plenary, informative sessions, and a diverse array of topics addressing the most pressing needs in older adult mental health.

The symposium is brought to you by ACL, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the National Council on Aging (NCOA).

Watch your inbox for free registration information in mid-March!

Who should attend?

Public health practitioners, professionals in the aging network, mental health providers, health care professionals, and anyone interested in ensuring the mental health of older adults are encouraged to attend. In partnership with the E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging, NCOA anticipates offering continuing education for several disciplines.

Organizing Grant Applications Through Creation of Grant Templates

March 21, 1-2pm ET

From the National Council on Aging (NCOA):

This grant writing webinar will help you understand why, when, and how to create “templates” to facilitate the development of grant proposals and applications. Templates can assist in adhering to application requirements and being responsive to grant review criteria. Furthermore, using organized templates can be a strategy to facilitate involvement from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and proposal writing team members. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Make sure to choose the Add to Calendar button so that the event shows up in your personal/work email calendar. If you have questions about registration, please visit the Tech Support page.