The Division of Aging and Disability Services (ADS) within Iowa HHS has launched a project that brings together government agencies and community partners and nonprofits to plan for and address aging issues across a person’s lifespan. The project, called, “Iowa Solutions for Aging with Independence and Longevity,” or "IA SAIL” gathers information from people across Iowa through town hall meetings, work group discussions, focus groups, surveys, and subject matter expert interviews.
IA SAIL Mission and Vision
Mission:To understand, plan for and address aging issues across multiple sectors and systems.To ensure everyone has access to person-centered services and supports needed to age well within their community of choice.
Vision: All persons in Iowa age with independence and health across their lifespans.
Why a Multisector Plan for Aging?
Iowa HHS values and supports all people living in Iowa, regardless of their age or ability, and ensures that all Iowans live and age well within their communities. Achieving that goal requires working together across the government and also with non-profit and for-profit organizations. The MPA will provide a long-term plan for how this teamwork across agencies happens. It will include strategies and goals to ensure real improvements are made and allow all Iowans to live their best lives.
A Multisector Plan for Aging is a cross-sector, state-led strategic planning resource that can help states change the infrastructure and coordination of services for their aging populations as well as people with disabilities. The plan:
Provides a clear framework to plan for 10 years or more.
Allows state and elected officials to communicate a common vision and clear priorities.
Guides direction for collaboration across the state, counties, local policies and public and private programs. It puts funding toward aging with dignity.
Reflects input from the community all across the state. This includes people of all ages and abilities, actively considering the needs of populations facing racial and ethnic disparities in aging.
Iowa Solutions for Aging with Independence and Longevity (IA SAIL) is an Iowa HHS project that brings together government agencies, community partners and non profit organizations to address challenges faced related to aging throughout Iowans' lifetimes.
Benefits of building a MPA for Iowa include:
Builds bridges across government agencies and encourages collaboration with local stakeholders.
Promotes equity and fight bias and discrimination.
Raises awareness among policy makers and the public.
Establishes statewide priorities.
Creates academic, research, and other partnerships.
Incorporates a focus on aging and disabilities across state priorities that reach beyond traditional healthcare and community services.
The term “aging” within developing a MPA, refers to how we are all aging from birth to death.
The MPA will create a plan to ensure everyone across one’s lifespan has access to supports and services needed to age well within the community of their choice.
IA SAIL is a project with many different phases. The first phase includes gathering information and feedback from people living in Iowa to draft a plan. Other phases include preparing to launch the plan and monitoring ongoing progress after the plan is live.
The MPA refers to the plan that will be drafted at the end of the first phase of the project. This document will provide guidance and goals to meet over the next 10 years in Iowa.
IA SAIL is a collaborative effort to address challenges Iowans face throughout their lives. The two project work hand-in-hand, but are seperate efforts.
IA SAIL Partnership members are pivotal in setting a vision for collective action, offering guidance on the IA SAIL process and MPA development, valuing the expertise of the community in health and human service planning, and recognizing the value and contribution each member of the community makes in support of health priorities. The IA SAIL Partnership represents diverse members throughout the state and includes subject matter experts, cross-sector representation of state agencies and divisions, community partners, service providers, and people with lived experience.
Please contact Eugenia Kendall to learn more about getting involved with Iowa SAIL efforts at eugenia.kendall@hhs.iowa.gov
The primary function of IA SAIL Work Groups is to develop data-driven strategies and tactics for implementing integrated efforts that improve the aging and disability system for Iowans of all ages and abilities. They seek to connect the work being done across multiple state plans to break down silos and build connections between community partners. Each work group focuses on a grouping of similar elevated MPA focus areas. These work groups will include individuals from the IA SAIL Partnership and other community members such as subject matter experts on the specific prioritized issue, representatives from different sectors, and people with lived experience. Work groups review key data related to their priority area, identify metrics and create strategies and tactics to bring back to the IA SAIL Partnership for review and feedback.
Listed below are MPA focus areas organized by Iowa SAIL Work Groups.
Access to Care Work Group
Access to Supportive / Person-centered Services
Direct Care Workers
Quality of Care
Economic Stability Work Group
Paying for Services
Accessible and Affordable Housing
Accessible and Affordable Transportation
Mental Health Work Group
Social Isolation
Caregiver Support
Please contact Eugenia Kendall to learn more about getting involved with Iowa SAIL efforts at eugenia.kendall@hhs.iowa.gov
Aging Readiness Dashboard – West Health provides an Aging Readiness Dashboard to explore the state’s aging landscape through an interactive data dashboard.
Iowa Data Profiles – The State Data Center publishes annual profiles on selected demographics for people living in Iowa.
State Plan on Aging – The State Plan on Aging is a multi-year plan developed by the state’s federally designated State Unit on Aging (SUA) that outlines the state’s goals, objectives and strategies for delivering OAA-authorized programs and services to older adults and their family caregivers.
Olmstead Plan - The Olmstead Plan is a comprehensive roadmap to ensure people with disabilities can live, learn, work, and enjoy life in integrated settings for present and future generations of Iowans.
