State Office of Digital Equity and Literacy Launches $24M Digital Equity Grant Program

Initial Phase to Fund Projects by State Agencies, Universities and Community Colleges

Governor Roy Cooper announced the launch of the state’s first digital equity grant program, which will help North Carolinians afford high-speed internet, obtain digital devices and access digital literacy resources. The multi-phased program, administered by the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Office of Digital Equity and Literacy, will invest up to $24 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for collaborative digital equity projects.

"We want more North Carolinians to get the tools and knowledge they need to connect to high-speed internet and to use it to transform their communities and their lives,” said Governor Cooper. “This is an important step toward getting more people connected online so they can work, learn, access telehealth and connect with one another.”

The program’s first phase will invest $10 million in total funding to support 10-15 state government entities to develop or expand digital inclusion programs. Applicants must be an entity of North Carolina state government, which includes: all state government organizations as outlined here; University of North Carolina System or individual schools, universities, or centers within the system; and N.C. Community College System or individual schools, colleges or centers within the system. This two-year, noncompetitive grant funding program encourages collaborative partnerships. Each grantee will be awarded a maximum of $2 million for a project that must be completed by the end of 2024.

Applications from state government entities will be accepted through Oct. 28. Information sessions for applicants will be held Oct. 4, Oct. 10 and Oct. 20. Additional details can be found at www.ncbroadband.gov/funding-programs/digital-equity-grant.

In winter 2023, the Office of Digital Equity and Literacy will launch the second phase of the digital equity grant program, a competitive grant process with $14 million in total funding, which will be open to applications from municipalities and nonprofits, community-based organizations, and key stakeholder groups for local digital inclusion projects and device distribution.

“We are excited to collaborate with digital equity experts across the state through this new grant program,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Jim Weaver. “These strategic partnerships at the state and local level will help drive meaningful and measurable change for North Carolinians in the next two years.”

These grants are part of Governor Cooper’s plan to give 95% of North Carolina households access to high-speed internet by expanding access and addressing issues of affordability and digital literacy. Through these investments, the Office of Digital Equity and Literacy is seeking partnerships with experts across the state to implement digital equity solutions that positively impact target populations identified in the Digital Equity Act. These populations include: low-income households; individuals who primarily reside in a rural area; older Americans/aging residents; incarcerated and/or second chance citizens/reentry/justice involved; veterans; individuals with disabilities; individuals with a language barrier (including individuals who are English learners or whose first language is not English and/or those who have low levels of literacy); and individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group.

For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Equity, please visit www.ncbroadband.gov. 

USDA Releases DEIA Strategic Plan



USDA has recently released its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Strategic Plan that outlines the priorities, goals, and commitment to integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout the Department. This plan, in strong alignment with USDA’s Equity Action Plans, will serve as a roadmap towards policy development and equitable service delivery.

NC Recreational Trails Grant Program

North Carolina’s Recreational Trails Program is now accepting grant applications for the 2023 cycle. The program values trail projects that are legal, safe, managed, provide connectivity, public access, and reasonable parking. Grant candidates should be shovel-ready trail projects that enhance sustainability and provide low-infrastructure economic development opportunities through natural resource tourism. Please visit the program’s website at Trails.NC.Gov for more information.

Final applications are due February 17, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcing more than $573 million in available grant funding this year alone for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Program. This new competitive discretionary grant program – which will help improve safety, eliminate lengthy delays at railroad crossings in communities across the country and ultimately lower the costs of transporting goods, making them more affordable for American families – was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will be administered by the Federal Railroad Administration. At least 20% of available funding will go to rural and Tribal areas. In 2021, there were approximately 2,148 grade crossing incidents, resulting in 236 deaths and 662 injuries.

Upcoming Environmental Justice Funding Opportunities

Environmental Justice Funding Opportunities

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to invest 40 million dollars into Environmental Justice (EJ) grants across the country. The EPA’s funding opportunities are expected to award non-profits with grants ranging from $100,000-$500,000 and US Territories, local governments, and federally recognized tribal government with access to $20 million in funding through the State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement (SEJCA) Program. $50 million is dedicated to the creation of Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTAC), one-stop-shops dedicated to supporting environmental justice initiatives in under-served communities.

A 14 minute presentation from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality covering these funding opportunities can be found here.

Other Resources

·    EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice

    Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center

·    EPA Grants

USDA Now Accepting Applications for $1 Billion Rural High-Speed Internet Program



USDA is now accepting applications for ReConnect Program loans and grants to expand access to high-speed internet for millions of people in rural America nationwide. The application deadline is November 2, 2022. For additional information, see page 47690 of the August 4, 2022 Federal Register or click here to learn more. 

Accessibility for Parks Grant Program 

Application Period Now Open

The program is administered through the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

The Accessibility for Parks grant program provides $10 million for parks and recreation grants to benefit children and/or veterans with disabilities in North Carolina. Municipalities and counties are eligible to apply for the matching grants. The application period closes November 1.

The matching grants can be used to build special facilities or adapt existing facilities that meet the unique needs of children and/or veterans with physical and developmental disabilities. 

The NC Department of Commerce’s Main Street & Rural Planning Center announces a technical assistance program offering Outdoor Recreation Economy Strategic Planning and Asset Development services.

The program, Creating Outdoor Recreation Economies (CORE), will offer planning and asset development to leverage the abundant outdoor recreation assets available across the state of North Carolina to bolster local economic vitality.

Strategic planning will focus on activities centered around outdoor recreation to:

• Increase tourism
• Encourage small business development
• Plan for outdoor recreation asset and infrastructure development
• Enhance quality of life for residents
• Position communities to attract outdoor gear manufacturing industries.

Individual planning or asset development process will be tailored to meet the needs and objectives of each specific community.

The application form is available for interested communities to apply: Click here for the Creating Outdoor Recreation Economies (CORE) Application The application deadline is October 24^th, 2022. But this will not be the last opportunity to engage with this program. Dependent upon demand the application window will reopen soon after the deadline for the next round of program participants. If you miss the deadline but would like to participate, please contact the program lead or your Prosperity Zone Planner.

An application must be completed and signed by the local government administrator or Chief Elected Official. We do not anticipate this being a competitive application process wherein you are scored against other communities for acceptance. Rather this process will look at how the local government will engage in the planning process and the local capacity to support economic development through outdoor recreation. The application will provide an opportunity for the Rural Planning Program to gain information about your community and allow you to elaborate on how outdoor recreation economic planning will benefit your region.

Prior to officially engaging with the program a Memorandum of Understanding must be adopted by the governing board of the local unit of government. 

Resource: New Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation Portal

Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) jointly launched the Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) Portal to help communities across the nation understand the real-time climate-related hazards in their area, analyze projected long-term exposure to those hazards, and identify federal funds to support climate resilience projects for their communities. 

CMRA integrates decision-relevant information from across the U.S. government, including climate maps and data; non-climate data such as building code standards, economic justice, and social vulnerability information; and federal grant funding opportunities. The website’s new CMRA Assessment Tool offers information on past, present, and projected future climate conditions to support planners and managers in assessing their exposure to climate-related hazards. The site also helps users create their own custom climate exposure assessment for specific locations and customize statistics and visual representations of the hazards in their particular area.

Hurricane Safety Notice:

While the summer may be coming to an end, hurricane season is not. Historically, some of the strongest hurricanes have occurred throughout the latter months of the year, producing devastating hurricanes throughout October and November. So far, this year's hurricane season has fortunately been relatively light, however, this does not mean that the second half of hurricane season will be as quiet. It is not too late to consider or reupdate a hurricane preparedness plan, as recommended by the National Hurricane Center. Make sure to constantly monitor weather updates, and most importantly, stay safe.  

Need technical assistance? UNC Environmental Finance Center is here to help!



The UNC Environmental Finance Center offers free one-on-one technical assistance for small water systems. If you have an interest in our support, fill out our interest form here.

NC Broadband Matters October 27 Free Zoomcast:

Hey Counties! CAB Grants are coming:

How to Pick an Internet Service Provider Partner

CAB grants (Completing Access to Broadband) will be arriving on the heels of the NC Great Grants.

Although the guidelines for CAB have not been finalized, what we do know is that NC Counties will be the focus of these broadband grants. They will be the applicants, recipients, and overseers of their grant. This means they will have to pick an Internet Service Provider (ISP) partner in advance to submit their CAB application, to serve what remains of their unserved areas. Join us in this one-hour session with various NC Broadband Matter Board members as we learn the secrets behind picking an ISP partner for these types of adventures. Get ready now for when these deadlines hit.

Moderator: Catharine Rice, Community Engagement Manager, TING (Alexandria, VA), NCBM Board Member

Speakers:

Doug Dawson, President, CCG Consulting, NCBM Board Member & President

Greg Coltrain, Vice President for Business Development, Wilkes Communications & Riverstreet Networks, NCBM Board Member

Alan Fitzpatrick, CEO, Open Broadband, NCBM Board Member

Thursday, Oct 27 @ 11:00 to Noon

The webinar is free to attend but registration is required.

ALL REGISTRANTS WILL RECEIVE AN ARCHIVE VIDEO OF THE ZOOMCAST.

The Challenges of Childcare: What Works for Working Families and Businesses?

The Down East Partnership for Children and the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments convened an array of stakeholders to unpack the complex issue of childcare, and its impact on working families and the businesses that employ them. Hear from providers, business representatives, policy makers, and other subject matter experts and discuss solutions and ideas in an open forum.

View a recording of the workshop here:  Childcare Workshop Recording

USDA and EDA Launch Resource Guide to Boost Economic Development in Rural Communities

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development just released a joint resource guide to help community organizations access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to boost economic development in rural America.

VIEW THE JOINT PLANNING RESOURCE GUIDE FOR RURAL AMERICA

This joint planning resource guide for rural America will better equip our communities with an easy to access and easy to use tools to maximize the work of providing greater and inclusive economic prosperity across our country.

WHAT'S INSIDE

The resource guide outlines programs and services that can be used to advance community and economic development in rural communities through four key focus areas:

• Planning and technical assistance
• Infrastructure and broadband expansion
• Entrepreneurship and business assistance
• Workforce development and livability

The guide also features information and links to USDA Rural Development and U.S. Economic Development Administration key priorities and resources.

AARP Releases Disaster Resilience Toolkit

The AARP Disaster Resilience Tool Kit has been created for local leaders, government staff, aging services professionals, and community volunteers. It examines the realities faced by older residents when a disaster strikes, and it presents strategies that can be used during all stages of the “disaster lifecycle” to ensure that an all-ages lens is effectively integrated into preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts.

ARP Office Hours through the end of October:



• Friday, October 7, at 8:30am
• Friday, October 14, at 12:00pm
• Wednesday, October 19, at 8:30am
• Monday, October 24, at 12:00pm
• Monday, November 1, at 8:30am

The Zoom link for all sessions is 

https://zoom.us/j/91906998701?pwd=eWg0anp1MFJzSFVsU0FIYmduU3ZQUT09

Meeting ID: 919 0699 8701

Passcode: 912104

Did your local government receive your second remittal of ARPA funds? 

Did you select the “Revenue Replacement” option?

If you answered “Yes” to these questions, you may be ready to take the next steps towards spending your ARPA funds!  

Your Upper Coastal Plain COG stands ready to help you. On our ARPA Technical Assistance page, you’ll find Frequently Asked Questions, where you will find out the two next steps that will enable “Revenue Replacement” communities to start expending ARPA funds. https://www.ucpcog.org/planning_and_development/arp.php

You can also use this Roadmap developed by the UNC School of Government to guide you through ARPA next steps:

https://canons.sog.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1175/2022/09/Roadmap-for-Revenue-Replacement-Expenditures-Fillable-PDF-FINAL51.pdf

FREE course from the UNC School of Government

From A to Z: Using ARPA Fiscal Recovery Funds to Directly Fund a Capital Project

Is your local government carrying out a capital project (water, sewer, stormwater, or broadband) with its ARPA funds? This FREE, conveniently pre-recorded training course shows you exactly how to implement a capital project with your ARPA funds, from start to finish!  

Go to https://arpa.sog.unc.edu/arp-training-videos/ and scroll down to “From A to Z: Using American Rescue Plan Act Fiscal Recovery Funds for a Capital Project”. The link goes to pre-recorded videos that you can watch at your convenience. 

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You’ve got ARPA questions -- Your Upper Coastal Plain COG has answers!

Newly updated Frequently Asked Questions” on the UCPCOG website can help you. 

·       How do we get started with spending our ARPA funds? 

·       When is the next Treasury report due? 

·       What can we spend our ARPA funds on?

·       How must we track and keep records of our ARPA projects      spending? 



The most popular queries from our member governments are posted on our website with answers and resources to help you!  Check it out at:

https://www.ucpcog.org/planning_and_development/arp.php

On October 12, the “ARPA Experts Tour” will be in Rocky Mount!

The ARPA Experts are coming to you

Sponsored by the N.C. League of Municipalities, the ARPA Expert Tour is an all-day event (9:00-3:00) that will feature a Helpdesk, time for local governments to compare notes and share ideas, and expert panels on ARPA topics.

·        Talk to experts and learn from others in your position.

·        Ask questions and get answers from School of Government and League of Municipalities specialists.  

·        Find out what other local governments are doing with their ARPA funds. 

Information here: https://www.arp.nclm.org/events

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet face to face with your peers as well as statewide specialists in ARPA guidance!

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 12

Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (lunch will be provided to registrants at no cost)

Location: Rocky Mount

Registration is required – Register here:

https://www.cognitoforms.com/NCLM1/TheAmericanRescuePlanExpertTourRockyMount

Are You Posting Jobs to NCWorks.gov?

Is your business posting job openings to NCWorks? If not, you should be! It’s completely free to use the NCWorks.gov website, which offers you the chance to connect daily with jobseekers across North Carolina. Plus, you can find resumes of candidates with the skills and qualifications you’re looking for, as well as up-to-date labor market information.

Your next employee could be just a few clicks away! If you need assistance, the professionals at your local NCWorks Career Center are here to help.

Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments to host Lead for North Carolina local government fellow

The Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments is pleased to announce that it is one of 23 host sites statewide for the Lead for North Carolina (LFNC) program, part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government. Beginning this August, the council will host a recent college graduate in a one-year paid local government fellowship.

Yasharth Singh, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill hailing from Wilson, North Carolina, has been placed with Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments (UCPCOG) for his fellowship year.

“I became an LFNC Fellow in order to utilize my passion to serve my local community by drawing on the knowledge I've gained through my education,” Singh said. “I'm looking forward to coming back home and doing work that matters and can improve the community I grew up in. Working as the community’s opioid navigator, I hope to improve rehabilitation options for people who are struggling and create a positive environment where residents can find support.”

LFNC serves as a bridge between North Carolina communities and smart, passionate, and committed young leaders. With the launch of its fourth cohort this year, the program has placed 74 fellows in positions with municipal governments, county governments, and regional councils across North Carolina.

By recruiting, training, and placing these fellows, it seeks to strengthen public institutions, support local communities, and cultivate a new generation of public service leaders.

Mary Marlin, Aging Program Director, said “we are excited to have Yasharth to assist in our efforts to expand the role of the Opioid Navigator. While his focus will be in Nash and Wilson counties, he will work with Edgecombe, Halifax, and Northampton Counties as well. We look forward to the fresh insights and energy that Yasharth brings to the role and to the region.”  

The 23 fellowship placements span levels of local government: 10 will serve in municipalities, eight in county offices, and six in regional councils of government. In total, fellows’ assignments will cover 37 individual North Carolina counties. Fellows will work in areas including budgeting, management, opioid response, planning, housing, and economic development.

Lead for North Carolina is made possible through funding from an array of partners, including the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation, AmeriCorps, The Anonymous Trust, Golden LEAF Foundation, The Jessie Ball duPont Fund, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, State Farm, Wells Fargo, and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

Lead for North Carolina is joined by the following founding partners: the North Carolina League of Municipalities, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, the North Carolina City/County Management Association, and Lead for America.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Allison Brown, Chair, NCSTHL Public Relations Committee

Email: katbrown1029@gmail.com

Mobile: 336-940-8185

Service Access Issues Committee Presents Five Resolutions for the NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature

September 7, 2022 – Raleigh, NC

This article is the third of six features describing the current focus of the NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature leading up to the 2023 legislative session of the NC General Assembly.

The six issues committees and five standing committees of the unicameral NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature (NCSTHL) operate similarly to the NC General Assembly, which has 18 senate committees and 42 house committees. The NCSTHL’s Resolutions Standing Committee received a record number of 67 legislative proposals during July 2022 from its member body of 84 delegates and 51 alternates. Fourteen of the 67 proposals were assigned to the Service Access Issues Committee, chaired by Gayla Woody (Gastonia), which was tasked to narrow the proposals from 14 to the top three to five for the upcoming legislative cycle’s slate of resolutions.

The NCSTHL’s Service Access Issues Committee is authorized to assess obstacles that stand in the way of older adults who need to access supportive services. The issues may include provision for transportation to medical appointments, groceries, prescriptions, and other life necessities; access to services such as in-home aide, nutrition programs, housing, education, exercise, and socialization outlets; and any gap that blocks the ability of older adults to live independently.

After two weeks of deliberation, the Service Access Issues Committee has chosen five resolutions to put before the NCSTHL body for vote.

Tied for 1st rank is a resolution to restore $50 million for state transportation funding for the Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) grant. When it comes to quality of life for older adults, transportation is the fundamental common denominator for accessing all other goods and supportive services. Seniors without transportation face crises of hunger, lack of medical care, and social isolation in both urban and rural areas of the state.

Also ranked 1st is a resolution to establish a wage floor of $15 an hour for all direct care workers in all settings of care. Anyone who is trying to care for an aging adult can confirm the difficulty they face in hiring in-home care workers or seeking placement in long-term care, which is currently limiting admissions due to staffing shortages. Direct care workers are the aides who perform the essential tasks that preserve dignity and ensure health and safety, such as toileting, changing, bathing, grooming, dressing, and feeding. Low wages and lack of medical insurance benefits have resulted in an exodus from this field, leaving family caregivers with few options for critical support.

The third ranking resolution is to allocate to the NC Housing Trust Fund at least $3 million dollars over the current amount in recurring annual funding. Approximately 1.2 million North Carolinians cannot find affordable housing, yet the NC Housing Trust Fund was decreased to $7.6 million in FY 2021. NC ranks 28th nationally in highest housing income needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment in fair market rental.

The fourth resolution is to increase state in-home care funding by $2 million to allow more senior residents to remain at home rather than having to be admitted to long-term care facilities.

The fifth resolution is to increase funding to $300,000 for the Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, and to expand eligibility beyond congregate nutrition participants, increasing the maximum allocation per person. North Carolina has the 10th highest rate of food insecurity in the nation. The NCDHHS identified 622 census tracts across NC as having low access to healthy food. It is proven that a diet rich in vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and prevent some types of cancer, all of which lower the costs of healthcare.

Any individual or family engaged in caring for an aging loved one can attest to the difficulties they face in all of these service access arenas. In many cases, the first hurdle is convincing the care receiver to accept help, but then the pathways to finding the assistance that is needed are blocked by lack of funding, inadequate systems, and unrealistic policies established by decision-makers. Medicare provides assistance for medical expenses but makes no provision whatsoever for long-term care expenses, whether in-home care or placement in facilities. The NCSTHL has repeatedly requested legislation to preserve and protect older adults, and will continue in its mission to bring priority issues to the attention of the NC General Assembly. For now, the Service Access Issues Committee has completed its work. In October, the NCSTHL will decide which of these five resolutions will be chosen as legislative recommendations for the NC General Assembly’s consideration in 2023.

About the NCSTHL: The North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature was created as a nonpartisan, unicameral body by the North Carolina General Assembly with the passage of Senate Bill 479 in July of 1993. Its purpose is to identify the most pressing issues facing older adults across the state and propose new legislation that will improve their quality of life to the NC General Assembly. The NCSTHL is comprised of delegates and alternates representing each of North Carolina’s 100 counties, supported by the area agencies on aging serving the state’s sixteen service areas.

For more information about NCSTHL, visit www.ncseniortarheellegislature.org.

To contact your local NCSTHL member, send an email request to media contact Allison Brown at katbrown1029@gmail.com, stating the originating county. Or visit the North Carolina Association of Area Agencies on Aging (NC4A) to locate the correct region and county, at https://www.nc4a.org/membership, and request NCSTHL member contact information from the local Area Agency on Aging.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Allison Brown, Chair, NCSTHL Public Relations Committee

Email: ncsthlpr@gmail.com

Mobile: 336-940-8185

General Legislative and Health Issues Committees Submit Resolutions for the NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature

September 16, 2022 – Raleigh, NC

This article is the fourth of six features describing the current focus of the NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature leading up to the 2023 legislative session of the NC General Assembly.

For those who are following this series of features describing the current work of the NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature (NCSTHL), we are highlighting the six issues committees as they determine which proposals are most important and timely for legislative consideration by the NC General Assembly in 2023. Two issues committees are combined for this article, the General Legislative and the Health Issues Committees.

The General Legislative Issues Committee, chaired by Kaye White (Dare County), addresses proposals that don’t readily fall into the other five issues categories. Topics may include livable communities, employment skills, financial education, veterans services, and grant funding for supportive services. One of the longest-standing requests is for the NC General Assembly to appropriate recurring funds for the Home & Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG). The services provided by the HCCBG include adult day care, home-delivered meals, transportation, senior center operations, in-home aide, and caregiver respite, among many others. With a wait list of nearly 11,000 older adults, the committee proposed an increase of $8 million in recurring funds for the HCCBG budget, in addition to the amount for the HCCBG grant, which is matched by federal funds authorized through the Older Americans Act (1965) and administered by the state’s 16 area agency on aging offices.

Research has shown that providing supportive services that enable older adults to age in their home costs far less than placement in institutional settings such as assisted living or nursing homes. According to the NC DAAS State Expenditures Report, for fiscal year 2021, the average expense per person for home-delivered meals was $841; in-home aide for personal care services was $4,318; and adult day care with nursing supervision cost $4,075. In comparison, Medicaid nursing home expenses were $27,846 per person for the year. While many affluent retirees may not ever require the services provided through HCCBG programs, there are many who are one medical emergency away from needing help. The typical HCCBG recipient is a 78-year-old widow living alone who has two or more impaired activities of daily living. A cancer diagnosis, a broken hip from a fall, the death of a spouse caregiver, or the accumulation of multiple health issues can suddenly disrupt the life of an older adult who has been living independently.

The General Legislative Issues Committee also proposed the enactment of an automobile insurance discount for adults age 55 and older who successfully complete a driver safety class.

The Health Issues Committee identifies remedies to practices and policies that challenge the physical and mental well-being of older adults. Of chief concern is the need to establish incentives to attract and retain healthcare practitioners who will choose aging-related fields and work in North Carolina. The committee proposed the allocation of $5 million to provide scholarships and incentives that build the corps of medical specialists and motivates them to stay in the state to practice medicine.

The second proposal is to continue recurring funding of $225,000 for an online portal hosted by Trualta that has proven to be of great benefit to family caregivers, who are often home-bound and unable to attend support groups.

As much as 80% of a person’s health is affected by the quality of their community’s social determinants of health and the person’s ability to access basic resources. These proposals to be submitted for vote by the NCSTHL in October will work in concert with existing programs to expand their reach to older adults who are underserved and unable to thrive in their golden years.

About the NCSTHL: The North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature was created as a nonpartisan, unicameral body by the North Carolina General Assembly with the passage of Senate Bill 479 in July of 1993. Its purpose is to identify the most pressing issues facing older adults across the state and propose new legislation that will improve their quality of life to the NC General Assembly. The NCSTHL is comprised of delegates and alternates representing each of North Carolina’s 100 counties, supported by the area agencies on aging serving the state’s sixteen service areas.

For more information about NCSTHL, visit www.ncseniortarheellegislature.org.

To contact your local NCSTHL member, send an email request to media contact Allison Brown at ncsthlpr@gmail.com, stating the originating county. Or visit the North Carolina Association of Area Agencies on Aging (NC4A) to locate the correct region and county, at https://www.nc4a.org/membership, and request NCSTHL member contact information from the local Area Agency on Aging.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Allison Brown, Chair, NCSTHL Public Relations Committee

Email: ncsthlpr@gmail.com

Mobile: 336-940-8185

Crime-Safety-Security Issues Committee Presents Proposal for the NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature

September 23, 2022 – Raleigh, NC

This article is the fifth of six features describing the current focus of the NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature (NCSTHL) leading up to the 2023 legislative session of the NC General Assembly. We are highliting the six issues committees as they determine which proposals are most important and timely for legislative consideration. The Crime-Safety-Security Issues Committee is featured for this article.

The NCSTHL’s Crime-Safety Issues Committee, chaired by Rosalyn Pettyford (Durham County), focuses on physical, emotional, and financial threats faced by older adults. The topics include fraud and scam schemes; elder abuse; residents’ rights; supporting Adult Protective Services; housing subsidies; ADA home improvements; and enhancing disaster preparedness; among others.

The Crime-Safety-Security Issues Committee received five proposals to review as possible resolutions. They included providing electronic notification devices for older adults living alone; enacting a Victim’s Rights Assistance Bill to compensate victims for injuries and damages; supporting efforts to reform NCs Guardianship Law; updating NC’s judicial system to be more efficient for all NC’s citizens; and one of the longest-standing requests for the NC General Assembly, investing in the state’s Adult Protective Services (APS) program. After two weeks’ deliberation, the Committee chose the proposal to allocate recurring state funds to address current and future APS staff shortages as its primary recommendation that the NCSTHL body will consider when it votes to determine its top legislative priorities at the October General Session.

In NC, county departments of social services are mandated by statute 108A to investigate reports of the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older, disabled, and vulnerable adults. Most people have heard of Child Protective Services, but many do not realize their county department of social services (DSS) is also responsible for Adult Protective Services, when older adults are subject to mistreatment. Mistreatment includes physical, sexual, psychological abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and financial exploitation.

With the growth in the older adult population, county departments of social services APS units are simply overwhelmed by increased demand. In SFY 2005-2006, across the state, APS received 14,001 reports, compared to 32,075 reports received in SFY 2020-21, reflecting an increase of 129% in 17 years. Compare this growth in the number of abuse reports to the growth rate of the older adult population: In 2005 there were 1.46 million adults age 60+, increasing to 2.46 million in 2021, for an increase of 68%. The increase in the number of APS reports is almost double the rate of increase in the age 60+ population, indicating a tragic rise in the percentage of older adults who are experiencing mistreatment. Added to that, the NYS Elder Abuse Prevalence Study reports that for every one case that is reported, 24 cases go unreported.

In North Carolina, the federal Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funds 21% of the programs, the counties fund the remaining 79%, and the state provides no funding. Unfortunately, the SSBG is a shared bucket of funding across several other county DSS departments, which results in disparities across counties as to availability of APS resources. Often, the limited SSBG funds earmarked for APS are depleted by mid-year. Counties report on average they need two additional full-time APS staff to address programmatic needs.

APS incidents are reported from across the spectrum of income and education. The state has more people 60 and older than under 18 years. The projected growth among the age groups 65-74 (25%), 75-84 (88%) and 85+ (116%) indicates that as the baby boomers continue to age, by 2040 there will be a significantly increased proportion of older adults in the state, creating challenges for long-term services and supports. (NC State Profile 2020 https://www.ncdhhs.gov/media/14887/open )

The NCSTHL is committed to bring attention to critical challenges faced by the state’s older adults. The need to increase additional APS staff, in keeping with the growth of not only the population but the growth of abuse reports, will be one of 16 proposals the NCSTHL will vote upon in October.

About the NCSTHL: The North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature was created as a nonpartisan, unicameral body by the North Carolina General Assembly with the passage of Senate Bill 479 in July of 1993. Its purpose is to identify the most pressing issues facing older adults across the state and propose new legislation that will improve their quality of life to the NC General Assembly. The NCSTHL is comprised of delegates and alternates representing each of North Carolina’s 100 counties, supported by the Area Agency on Aging serving the state’s sixteen service areas.

For more information about NCSTHL, visit www.ncseniortarheellegislature.org.

To contact your local NCSTHL member, send an email request to media contact Allison Brown at ncsthlpr@gmail.com, stating the originating county. Or visit the North Carolina Association of Area Agencies on Aging (NC4A) to locate the correct region and county, at https://www.nc4a.org/membership, and request NCSTHL member contact information from the local area on aging. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Allison Brown, Chair, NCSTHL Public Relations Committee

Email: ncsthlpr@gmail.com

Mobile: 336-940-8185 NC

Senior Tar Heel Legislature Announces Five Legislative Priorities for 2023-24

October 5, 2022 – Raleigh, NC

Woody Brinson (Duplin County), Chair of the Resolutions Standing Committee, announced the results of voting by the NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature (NCSTHL) to determine the five legislative priorities it will promote to the NC General Assembly for the 2023-24 lawmaking cycle. The announcement was made Tuesday, October 4, as a result of Monday afternoon’s vote.

The top-ranking recommendation is for the state to provide $8 million in recurring funds for county Adult Protective Services (APS) programs, to cover current staff shortages and future staff needs. In NC, the federal Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funds 21% of the programs, the counties fund the remaining 79%, and the state provides no funding. With the growth in the older adult population, county departments of social services APS units are overwhelmed by increased demand in reports of the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older, disabled, and vulnerable adults.

Second in priority is the recommendation to increase recurring funding for the state’s 169 senior centers to $2.5 million, providing each center $5000 to cover administrative costs and allocating the remaining $2 million based on the existing merit-based system. Since 2004, funding for senior centers has remained at $1,265,316 per year, with a one-time non-recurring increase in FY 07-08 of $200,000. The age 60+ population has nearly doubled from 1.3 million in 2000 to 2.4 million in 2020.

The recommendation to increase recurring state funding by $8 million for the state’s Home & Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) is the third priority. Approximately 11,000 residents age 60 and older are currently waitlisted for services that support malnourished, homebound, dependent, and economically needy older adults. These supports help them continue to live at home and prevent more costly interventions.

The fourth priority is the recommendation to increase the number of regional long-term care ombudsman by appropriating $1.5 million to add 11 full-time staff, bringing NC up to industry standards. Ombudsmen serve as advocates for residents in assisted living facilities and nursing homes, providing critical protections for the vulnerable population living in long-term care settings.

The fifth priority is a policy recommendation to enact minimum standards of staff-to-patient ratios in long-term care facilities for personnel providing direct patient care, such as certified nursing assistants. In NC, minimal staffing standards exist for RNs and LPNs in long-term care settings, but there are no state requirements that establish how many residents may be assigned to the care of an aide, often resulting in neglect of frail older adults and overwork of their primary caregivers.

The budget for state’s Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) is $174 million for 2022. The fiscal impact of these recommendations would add $20 million to the DAAS budget, for a total of $194 million in 2023-24. Consider these facts: adults age 60+ comprise 24% of the total NC population; the DAAS budget represents 0.26% of the total state budget of $66 billion. The NCSTHL recommends that the state appropriate funds in keeping with the growth of the older adult population to provide the protections and support that enable them to live with dignity and as much independence as possible.

About the NCSTHL: The North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature was created as a nonpartisan, unicameral body by the North Carolina General Assembly with the passage of Senate Bill 479 in July of 1993. Its purpose is to identify the most pressing issues facing older adults across the state and propose new legislation that will improve their quality of life to the NC General Assembly. The NCSTHL is comprised of delegates and alternates representing each of North Carolina’s 100 counties, supported by the Area Agency on Aging serving the state’s sixteen service areas.

For more information about NCSTHL, visit www.ncseniortarheellegislature.org.

To contact your local NCSTHL member, send an email request to media contact Allison Brown at ncsthlpr@gmail.com, stating the originating county. Or visit the North Carolina Association of Area Agencies on Aging (NC4A) to locate the correct region and county, at https://www.nc4a.org/membership, and request NCSTHL member contact information from the local area agency on aging.

Greetings Everyone!

We have officially wrapped up Phase 2 for the Resilient Leaders Initiative!

Click here to see the Summary Report of what teams have been up to.

Our teams hit the ground running at the start of this phase, as they reflected on their first Little Bet. This reflection was vital to teams ability to tell the story of their Little Bets. Effective storytelling is important to sharing more about team's ideas to increase buy-in for their Little Bets. Teams also learned about opportunities to fund their Little Bets through the Resilient Leaders Initiative Accountability board during Convening Convening #5.

This session also provided teams with context on how to collect data related to their Little Bets by using Key Driver Diagrams, which helps identify SMART goals. Rounding out this phase, in Convening # 6 teams explored tools and methods for testing their little bets. We shared examples for testing like, focus groups and sharing one-pagers so teams could gather and share information about their Little Bets. Team Learning Communities (TLC’s) were introduced in this Phase, which are purposed to offer teams differentiated support pathways as they test Little Bets.

Lots of powerful work happening now, and we couldn't be more excited to see if these bets will turn into pilots during Phase 3.

Save the Date: 2023 Emerging Issues Forum

February 13, 2023

Raleigh, NC

For North Carolina to stay competitive in an increasingly global, mobile and diverse economy, we need more workers, of all backgrounds and skill sets, to get hired and thrive in the workplace. The 2023 Emerging Issues Forum will examine ways to overcome barriers and help workers find employment and stay engaged in the workplace. By putting talent first—increasing our understanding of what employees are looking for and how employers and systems can respond—we can better energize, equip and unleash North Carolina’s full abundance of talent.

Are your elected or appointed board members new or in need of a refresher on legal limits and processes? If so, you’re in luck! This September and October, the School of Government is offering online workshops for local government boards that make development-related decisions.

1. One offering is focused on legislative zoning decisions (rezonings and zoning text amendments) with a target audience of planning boards and governing boards.
2. A separate offering is focused on quasi-judicial decisions (variances, special use permits, certificates of appropriateness) and geared toward boards of adjustment, preservation commissions, and planning or governing boards that make quasi-judicial decisions.
3. A third offering, NEW to our series of board trainings, is focused on the roles and responsibilities of historic preservation commissions, including quasi-judicial decisions for certificates of appropriateness.     

Board of Adjustment Basics (Quasi-Judicial Development Decisions), Thursday, Oct 20, 1:00-3:30 pm OR Thursday, Oct 27, 5:30-8:00 pm

• For a variance, do we have to hold an evidentiary hearing? What is ex parte communication? What evidence do we consider when we are making the decision?
• This remote board training workshop will dig into the procedures and considerations for quasi-judicial zoning decisions. Whether you are new to the board of adjustment or other quasi-judicial board, or you’ve been around for a while and need a refresher, this remote workshop is for you. (AICP credit available)

Preservation Commission Basics (Quasi-Judicial Preservation Decisions), Thursday, December 1, 1:00-3:30 pm

• What is the role of the preservation commission? What is “the special character of the historic district” and how is something “not incongruous” with that? How do we make legally defensible decisions?
• This remote board training workshop will walk through the roles and responsibilities of historic preservation commissions as well as the procedures and considerations for certificates of appropriateness. Whether you are new to the commission, or you’ve been around for a while and need a refresher, this remote workshop is for you. (CLG and AICP credit available)

You can register NOW, and there is a $10 per person discount available for groups of 5-20 people. For more details, check the registration page at

https://www.sog.unc.edu/courses/regional-board-workshops-planning-and-development-regulation. 

Work with Citizen Boards and Committees

Open to professional and

elected officials

October 28, 2022 | Pembroke, NC

9am-4pm | Course Cost: $485

This one-day workshop explores promising practices of non-mandated, local government citizen advisory boards. One of the most common and substantive ways citizen participation in local government occurs is through service on appointed advisory boards (CABs), (also sometimes called committees, commissions, or task forces). While some CABs are statutorily mandated, most are created at the discretion of governing boards in order to provide community input for various local government functions. Are you getting the most out of your CABs?

What You'll Learn:

·    Important nuts-and-bolts, including clarifying roles and expectations; recruiting, appointing, and training volunteers; staffing and managing committee work; and evaluating CAB effectiveness

·    Exercises to address key issues and promising practices from their experience

Note: This course is also offered to elected officials as a LELA 201 course and part of the Strategic Planning and Community Engagements Series.

Develop Personal Resiliency: Calming in Critical Moments

New Course | Open to professional and elected officials

November 4, 2022 | Chapel Hill

9am-4pm | Course Cost: $485

Working in government was difficult before the pandemic started. Then things got really complicated. Remote work, hiring and retention challenges, and ever-growing uncertainty can manifest as chronic stress in the workplace and lead to burnout, turnover, and fatigue.

Yet we know that resilience at work drives more innovation and creativity, optimizes collaboration, and increases focus on opportunities. Join other public sector professionals as you learn how to bounce back after current challenges and focus on expanding our capacity for the future.

What You'll Learn:

·    How to recognize when and how chronic stress impacts us at work and in life

·    Actions to take to counterbalance the natural stress cycles for optimal workplace performance and agility

·    How to review technology's impact on resiliency with your work

Our workshop will include a morning plenary focused on local food systems and an afternoon session with a choice of board development or grant writing. Lunch, snacks, and mileage reimbursements will be provided.  

Eastern NC

November 10, 2022

Easter AHEC Education Center - Classroom A

2600 W Arlington Blvd, Greenville, NC

(252) 744-5221

https://www.easternahec.net/

To Register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skills-for-food-systems-board-development-and-grant-writing-enc-registration-410611458927

Registration ends October 28^th

Registration Open:

ON DEMAND Ethics for Local Elected Officials

Registration for Ethics for Local Elected Officials On-Demand is now open! For more information or to register click HERE. This is an on-demand or pre-recorded training.  

After you register, the course will appear on your Canvas dashboard.