NORC-SSP Senior Advocacy Training

1. NORC-SSP Senior Advocacy Training Anita Altman Deputy Managing Director Government Relations & External Affairs UJA-Federation of New York

2. UJA-Federation of NY • Largest, local philanthropy in the world • Network of more than 100 social service, health care and community agencies • Pioneer in developing new approaches to help enable seniors to remain living in their own homes as they grow older • Invested in the development of the first professionally staffed supportive service program at a NORC in the country • Remains a leader in helping to promulgate NORC program model replication with local, state and federal funding

3. What is a NORC? Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) – a demographic term used to describe a community: • Not originally built for seniors • Significant proportion of its residents are seniors

4. Definition of a NORC Program NORC Supportive Service Programs are public-private partnerships of: • Housing/neighborhood organizations, • Residents, • Health and social service providers, • Community stakeholders, and • Government agencies to organize and develop services and programs to advance successful aging in place.

5. NORC Supportive Service Programs A Community Change Model NORC-SSPs are dynamic programs that aim to be responsive to their communities by: • Empowering seniors to take on new roles in the community, • Fostering connections within the community, and • Maximizing the health and well being of all older adults in the community.

6. NORC Programs Integrate: • Community Engagement (educational programming, community action initiatives, and opportunities for seniors to take on new roles). • Social work services (to individuals, caregivers, and groups of seniors). • Health care-related services (addressing both individual health management needs and the health of a community).

7. JPAC Advocacy Training for NORC-SSPs (JPAC - Joint Public Affairs Committee) Provided an opportunity for NORC-SSPs to identify “new blood”-seniors who may not currently be active, but who want to learn a new skill set of community organizing and leadership.

8. JPAC Advocacy Training for NORC-SSPs • A stream-lined, 2 day immersion training session that was customized for the senior residents of NORC programs.  • Each borough had its own training program, with the goal that seniors would develop close-working relationships and collaborations on issues of common concern. • Transportation, if required paid for by this initiative.

9. JPAC Advocacy Training for NORC-SSPs • Teach the critical fundamentals of advocacy. • Taught by outstanding practitioners. • Each NORC program’s delegates were asked to bring an issue of community concern to work on during these sessions. • Advocacy Institute staff was available to help each NORC develop its own action plan.

10. JPAC Advocacy Training for NORC-SSPs • Each session had a capacity of 28 participants • Each program assigned a staff person to be trained in addition to 2 residents • There were no out of pocket expenses for either the programs nor the residents

11. JPAC Advocacy Training for NORC-SSPs These characteristics were suggested to look for when recruiting volunteers: • Someone who will make a commitment to use the training • Someone who is vocal, and has an outgoing personality • Someone who has connections in the community, and can possibly bring in others to participate in activities • Has ability to work in a group  and not be disruptive • Seniors should reflect the different religious, ethnic and racial groups in the NORC community • If a senior has need for a translator need to try to secure.

12. NORC-SSP JPAC Participant Letter • Goal to learn or improve your advocacy skills, so that you feel you can be effective in helping to address issues of concern in your own community. • Intention is for each NORC supportive service program to organize an Advocacy Committee in which you will play a key leadership role.

13. Participants’ Training Pre-survey • Rate your level of experience in the following activities (1- no experience, 2 – some experience and 3 – much experience) • Planning / Chairing a Social Action or Community Meeting • Speaking to your Group or other Community Groups, • Working on Voter Registration • Recruiting Volunteers • Planning / Participating in Intergenerational Activities • Building Coalitions • Coordinating / Participating in Legislative • Actions: letters, phone calls, visits

14. Community Issues Identified During the Trainings • Transportation: MTA & Access-A-Ride • Membership: recruitment & retention, attracting younger seniors • Safety: neighborhood & police presence • NYC Housing Authority problems • Public Safety and Sanitation

15. Training Evaluation Over 80% of the seniors trained rated the institute excellent. • Seniors rated the following segments: • Techniques of Social Action • Community Building • Public Speaking Using Issues • Engaging in the Legislative Process

16. Participant Comments on Training • This enhanced my ability to speak in public • I now feel like I can take NORC a step further. I feel empowered. • Learn to speak on what NORC does and means • It provided concrete methods to plan social action groups • Gave me ideas on how I could advocate for program and senior needs.

17. NORC JPAC Advocacy Institute Resident Update • What issue did your community select, and why? • What are you trying to do about it? • How are you going about working on it • what specific actions have you taken? • What additional information do you need? • What are your next steps?

18. JPAC Participant Updates • Petitions have been sent to Gov. Paterson to stop funding cuts to NORCs. • We have increased our membership in the past 5 months and have been able to engage our seniors in the community more effectively.  • Last month we had emergency preparedness through the Red Cross come speak with our seniors, community members and partnerships.