HCOA Area Agency on Aging (AAA) 4-year Plan

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B. An Overview of the Aging Network The National Aging Network In 1965, Congress passed the Older Americans Act which established social service and nutrition programs for America's older adults. The purpose of Title III of the Older Americans Act (OAA) is to aid older adults in maintaining independence in their homes and communities by providing appropriate supportive services and promoting a continuum of care for the vulnerable elderly. The OAA laid the foundation for the current nationwide aging services network. The National Aging Network is headed by the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) under the Administration for Community Living (ACL), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is dedicated to policy development, planning, and the delivery of supportive home and community-based services to older persons and their caregivers. Directed by the Assistant Secretary on Aging, it is the agency that awards Title III funds to the states that monitors and assesses the state agencies which administer these funds. State and Area Agencies on Aging were created thus establishing a nationwide "Aging Network". This "Network" assists older adults in meeting their physical, social, mental health, and other needs in order to maintain their well-being and independence. The AoA Aging Network includes 56 State Units on Aging (SUA's), 629 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA's), 263 Tribal and native organizations including 1 organization serving Native Hawaiians. (See Chart 1) The AAA's are responsible for the planning, development, and coordination of a wide array of home and community-based services within each state under Title !Hof the OAA. Chart 1: National Aging Services Network Administration for Community Living (ACL) Administration on Aging (AoA) Tribal Organizations (263) Native Hawaiian (Alu Like) 5 State Units on Aging (56) Area Agencies on Aging (629) Local Service Provider Organizations CONSUMERS