The September Forkful

Volume 2 | Issue 16

News from the

Nutrition and Aging Resource Center

Long Sleeves and Falling Leaves!


With September here, summer is coming to a close and fall is officially on its way. Some of my fall favorites include the beautiful color change of leaves, pulling out cozy sweaters, making a trip to the apple orchard and cooking seasonal recipes to match the chill in the air! Speaking of recipes, did you know the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center Website has a whole page dedicated to Menus & Recipes | ACL Administration for Community Living?

 

  • Perhaps you’re looking for simple techniques to elevate food? Check out the Culinary Enhancements Quick Guide
  • Or maybe you’re searching for a resource to better understand OAA nutrition requirements, menu creation and identify food safety practices? Our ican! Module 5: Menu Planning: The Basics encompasses all three topics!
  • Or maybe you’re searching for Healthy Aging Recipes, take a peek at our curated recipe collection page on Pinterest!

 

With all of the recipe talk, now I’m hungry! Enjoy the fall season with the picturesque scenery, seasonal activities and delicious food that comes with it!

 

Warmly,

Caroline 

Caroline McKinney, MS, RDN, LD, CNSC

Nutrition Innovation Director

Meet the Network!


Meet Jinyoung (Jenny) Lee, PhD.; a Researcher, Public Health Gerontologist at the University of Hawaii Center on Aging. Her research interests include food insecurity, aging in place, and social isolation. Learn more about story mapping and the work that Jenny does to support older adults in her state.

Grantee Spotlight


Connections. Referrals. Improving health and social isolation. Apostle Group, LLC, focused on improving the health and social isolation of those living with diabetes in the state of Maryland.

How? By providing Diabetes Self-Management Programs and medically tailored meals, to improve diabetes management.

Listen more on their Grantee Spotlight, along with other resources on our website.

Learn, Eat & Age Well


Join legendary nutrition and elder rights advocate Bob Blancato to keep on top of the latest innovations in the senior nutrition program!

Brought to you by the Nutrition & Aging Resource Center, this podcast invites experts and real-life service providers to share their secrets of success, offer free resources and tell us their sage advice.

photo of a flip chart saying take our survey

Survey Opportunity: Obtaining Funding— Current Practices, Challenges, and Successes


Feedback due Thursday, October 31, 2024


Funding has been cited as a challenge for providers, including Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers. Iowa State University is completing a study to better understand current funding practices, including common funding sources and challenges. The survey is anonymous and will be used by the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center to provide more relevant and useful resources related to funding. 


As an organization part of the aging network, please complete this ~20-minute survey, by October 31. We ask that only one survey be completed per organization, so you can fill it out as a team if needed. You may begin, stop, and return to the survey at any point using this link to finish (as long as you’re using the same device).



Please feel free to share this survey with your colleagues. Don’t hesitate to contact Savannah Schultz at schultzz@iastate.edu if you have any questions or concerns about this survey.

Survey

From the Administration for Community Living

Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program


On July 24, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) made available nearly $1 billion to fund programs that ensure communities have access to devices and skills needed to fully participate in the digital world, regardless of their background or circumstances. This is the first funding opportunity from the Digital Equity Act’s $1.25 billion Competitive Grant Program and is part of the “Internet for All” initiative, a key component of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The disability and aging networks play a pivotal role in helping people learn about and access affordable high-speed internet, as well as the tools and resources needed to be successful online.


ACL encourages the disability and aging networks to join with partners in your state and/or community to apply for this competitive grant opportunity. Under the Notice of Funding Opportunity, a variety of organizations can apply on a competitive basis for funding. Eligible applicants include political subdivisions of states, such as city and county governments; Native entities, including Indian tribes, Alaska Native entities, or Native Hawaiian organizations; certain nonprofits; community anchor institutions; local educational agencies; and workforce development organizations. United States Territories are eligible to apply for funding under a separate set- aside. Partnerships among these entities are allowed, and NTIA encourages proposals that demonstrate a broad partnership of entities with the ability to administer significant resources and address wide-ranging populations.


Please direct programmatic questions to digitalequity@ntia.gov and grants management questions to darren.olson@nist.gov.

NTIA Grants Portal - Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program Information

From the Aging Network

See Who’s Missing Out on Benefits with New Interactive Map


From NCOA: “How many older adults are eligible for, but not enrolled, in SNAP, Medicare Savings Programs, and Supplemental Security Income in your county?

You have a new tool to find out.


Our Benefits Participation Map displays rates of enrollment among older adults at the national, state, and county levels. Just click on the map or search for a specific location and apply your preferred data layer. You can even compare enrollment across programs using a dynamic table, or just download the results for future reference. Start exploring the data.”

Title VI Native Food Directory and Recipes & Gardens Pages Updated


The Office for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs has recently updated their Native Food Directory and Recipes & Gardens pages. These can be helpful while looking to collaborate with Older Americans Act Title VI programs and when serving Native Elders in your communities.

Grow Your Market Intelligence for Evidence-Based Program Success Webinar Series


From NCOA: “Join us for a unique learning experience designed to supercharge your evidence-based program (EBP) growth and impact.

Through this webinar series, you can empower your team with the tools and knowledge to:

  • Conduct comprehensive market assessments that drive informed decision-making based on community need and demand for programs.
  • Develop targeted strategies that maximize program impact and leverage policy-driven opportunities.
  • Build lasting partnerships that amplify your organization's influence and resources long-term.


Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your wellness programs to new heights! Whether your goal is to fill the seats in this year’s workshops or establish a contract with a health care entity for payment of services, this series will offer tools to improve your program planning and performance.

  • Decode Your Market: Sharpen your understanding of the wellness landscape to pinpoint opportunities and connect with those who need your services most.
  • Forge Powerful Partnerships: Unlock the secrets of successful collaboration with health care organizations, opening doors to greater impact and sustainability.
  • Drive Data-Fueled Growth: Learn to harness the power of market intelligence to refine your strategies, expand your reach, and elevate your wellness program to new heights.”

Innovations in Nutrition Programs and

Services Grantee Spotlights

Team Member Ashley Danielson spent two days with Texas State University, as they are currently developing a meal delivery app, Nutrition for Underserved Elders Via Application (NUEVA). Texas State University has partnered with Meals on Wheels Central Texas and other stakeholders to serve the disenfranchised and underrepresented older adults throughout Texas. Major highlights of Ashley’s visit included a tour of the Meals on Wheels Central Texas Facility and meal delivery ride-along, meet and greets with different Texas State University teams that all play a part of the grant, and the Family and Consumer Science Bloom Event that featured research on the NUEVA app research. Thanks to Texas State University for hosting!

Have you listened to the Learn, Eat & Age Well Podcast? This new podcast featured two of our #INNUGrantees - AgeSpan, and Humboldt Senior Resource Center. Tune in to learn more about their programs on how they reach older adults in both rural and urban areas with stories on successes and challenges.

Learn more about what works well with physicians and nurses in Texas referring individuals to long-term support in regard to food insecurity and wellbeing in older adults.

Read More

Tune in - literally - to the podcast "Inspiration for Warriors". The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is currently partnering with a Nurse Navigator, Veteran and Chaplain to provide encouragement and resources for Veterans.


Web  Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube  Email