News
SAGE awarded $900 k federal grant
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced an award totaling $900,000 over three years to Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) to establish the nation’s first national resource center to assist communities that provide services for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.
“The Resource Center will provide information, assistance and resources for both mainstream aging organizations and LGBT organizations and will provide assistance to LGBT individuals as they plan for future long-term care needs,” said Secretary Sebelius.
The Resource Center will provide training to aging service providers and LGBT agencies nationwide, and will offer critically important educational tools to LGBT older people, a statement said.
“The creation of a National Technical Assistance Resource Center for LGBT Elders is a monumental step forward for the LGBT community,” said Michael Adams, Executive Director of SAGE. “We are confident that . . . we will make a difference in the lives of every LGBT older person in every community in this country.”
SAGE is the nation’s oldest and largest organization serving LGBT older adults. In creating the Resource Center, SAGE will forge a partnership with 10 organizations with expertise in a wide range of areas including mainstream aging, LGBT aging, culture change and competency and program evaluation. The Resource Center will engage, empower and support mainstream aging providers, LGBT providers and LGBT older adults to ensure that LGBT elders have the necessary and culturally appropriate supports and services to successfully age in place.
Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee explained: “AoA frequently turns to national organizations to support the Aging Network in their efforts to work with specific minority populations that are traditionally underserved. With the full support of the current Administration, we now recognize that LGBT older adults also represent a community with unique needs that must be addressed.”
Among other tools, SAGE plans to develop a comprehensive, web-based clearinghouse targeting all three audiences. The clearinghouse will include diverse resources, social networking tools, an “Ask the Experts” service, web-based trainings and other features.