Arlington, VA, November 16, 2018 – The National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging (NRCNA) today announced a collaboration with the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) to plan for the future of congregate meals programs. Together, the NRCNA – hosted by Meals on Wheels America as part of a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living (ACL) – and NANASP will complete a year-long supplemental grant project aimed at strengthening congregate nutrition programs to meet the rapidly growing demand for services.
The primary focus of this joint project is to further equip those within the Nutrition and Aging Networks with relevant, high-quality opportunities to build their knowledge and skills, including through a national convening to be held in Washington, DC, in March 2019. The convening will bring congregate nutrition program leaders together to discuss the challenges and opportunities these programs face. It will also serve as a catalyst for a series of virtual summits over the summer of 2019 which will focus on approaches for implementing of the strategies and best practices developed on a local level. Additionally, participants will have a space to share strategies and solutions for successfully moving forward in the changing landscape of nutrition and aging services.
“Further opening the channels for peer learning will benefit all of us within the Aging Network, and, in turn, will benefit the seniors we serve,” said Ucheoma Akobundu, Director, National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging. “I look forward to bringing together leaders in the congregate nutrition space in collaboration with NANASP to find inventive, effective and sustainable ways we can meet the increasing need for services now and well into the future.”
“We appreciate the opportunity to work with the National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging on this project,” said Bob Blancato, Executive Director of NANASP. “Today, the congregate meals program is the largest-funded program in the Older Americans Act. However, to move forward, the program needs to address diversified funding and other business challenges to coincide with the growth in the aging population it serves. We are excited to create new resources and opportunities to support leaders of these programs.”
To access tools and resources that cover best practices and emerging trends in the fields of nutrition, aging, healthcare integration, innovative program practices and more, visit the NRCNA at www.nutritionandaging.org.
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About the National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging
Hosted by Meals on Wheels America as part of a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living, the National Resource Center on Nutrition & Aging (NRCNA) is designed to build the capacity of the aging services network to provide nutrition services for both current and future older adult populations integrated into a home- and community-based service system and provide training and technical assistance to the aging network regarding nutrition services. To learn more, visit www.nutritionandaging.org.
About NANASP
Founded in 1977, the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) is proud to be a leading organization advocating for community-based senior nutrition programs and staff. Our member programs represent a wide range of essential services providers who support the nutrition, health and life quality of seniors. With over 1,100 members from across the United States, we are national advocates for senior health and wellbeing who strengthen the policies and programs that nourish seniors. We accomplish this mission through a collective national voice and through local community action. For more information, go to nanasp.org.
Press Contacts:
Ucheoma Akobundu
Meals on Wheels America
571-339-1629
uche@mealsonwheelsamerica.org
Meredith Ponder Whitmire
NANASP
202-789-0470
mponder@nanasp.org