Julie Strother

The meeting included reports from the Chair and the Executive Director, followed by an annual report presentation on Minnesota Aging Pathways. Committee reports were provided for Executive, Program Operations, Public Policy, Governance, and DEIA committees. The board approved the issuance of a Request for Proposal for Regional and Local Dementia Grants totaling $750,000 for the 2027 fiscal year. Additionally, the board approved the acceptance of a federal grant award from the Administration for Community Living for supporting family caregivers and approved technical changes to the Board Policy Manual and Framework Rules.

The board discussed reports from the Chair and Executive Director, and received presentations on the APS-AAA pilot program, the LTSS website, and the Age-Friendly MN Blueprint Implementation Tracker. Key actions included the approval of a sponsorship for the MN Leadership Council on Aging's summit and the amendment of a contract with 10K Lakes Consulting. The board also approved CY 2026 Area Plan grant awards and obligational authority for several area agencies on aging, including the Arrowhead, Southeastern Minnesota, Minnesota River, Minnesota Indian, Metropolitan, Dancing Sky, and Central Minnesota agencies. Additionally, committee reports were provided by the Governance, Public Policy, and DEIA committees, followed by external liaison reports and an opportunity for public comment.

The board meeting included executive and committee reports, alongside a presentation on the Older Americans Act Performance System. Key actions taken included the approval of funds for a DEIA consultant to support strategic planning, authorization of a consultant to facilitate legislative priority discussions, and the establishment of a permanent two-person Vice-Chair role. The board also approved policies ensuring compliance with the Older Americans Act Title III Final Rule, adopted a new funding formula for the Senior LinkAge Line for the 2026-2028 cycle, and authorized the distribution of unobligated state and federal funds for agency-specific projects.

The committee discussed several business items, including the continuation of virtual meetings for the board, state plan development, and a timeline for various initiatives. A performance measurement contract was extended through September 30, 2022. Additionally, the committee addressed training and technical assistance needs, received an update on the Aging in Minnesota project, reviewed the HCBS spending plan, and heard co-chair reports. Finally, approval was granted to support the Wisdom Steps annual conference by covering breakfast costs.

The committee meeting covered updates on new member engagement and participation in the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging's Annual Summit. Key financial and program decisions included the allocation of COVID-19 vaccine administrative funds, the establishment of a sole source contract for performance measurement and evaluation, and the approval of American Rescue Plan Act funding for compliance review and legal programming. Additionally, the committee discussed the State Plan update and approved a request for an extension on the State Plan on Aging submission to allow for comprehensive needs assessment and public hearings. A presentation on the Senior Linkage Line was also delivered.