HHS and National Service Team Up to Increase Volunteering Among Baby Boomers

June 16, 2008



Recognizing the extraordinary potential for social good among baby boomers and older Americans, the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration on Aging (AoA) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 unveiled a multi-year partnership to engage baby boomers and older adults in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations through volunteer service

HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Josefina G. Carbonell joined Corporation for National and Community Service CEO David Eisner in announcing the landmark partnership before an audience of 1,500 Senior Corps project directors and sponsors attending the National Conference on Volunteering and Service http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/index.htm in Atlanta.

“Volunteers, many from AoA’s national aging services network of state, tribal and community organizations, play a critical role in helping older Americans remain at home and in the community, which is what they prefer,” Carbonell said. “This partnership supports the Bush Administration’s efforts to modernize long-term care in our country, and it will set the stage for a major expansion of public and private initiatives that engage older volunteers and baby boomers in strengthening local community programs, particularly those serving older persons.”

The partnership is a result of the 2006 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, which called for the Administration on Aging and the Corporation to collaborate on strategies to increase volunteering and civic engagement among older adults. The new initiative builds on previous efforts between the two federal agencies, including the 2005 White House Conference on Aging, when delegates adopted a resolution in support of a national strategy for promoting civic engagement and volunteering for current and future seniors.

The core of the partnership is a grant from the Administration on Aging to the National Council on Aging http://www.ncoa.org (NCOA) of $1 million per year for up to three years. NCOA will provide sub-grants and technical assistance to 24 model programs for engaging adults over the age of 55 in increasing the capacity of nonprofits to serve vulnerable populations. Grantees will engage older adults in service and civic engagement projects aimed at increasing the number and types of services to frail elders, families of children with special needs, grandparents raising grandchildren and other vulnerable populations.

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Click here to view the full Remarks of the Assistant Secretary for Aging



Posted: June 3, 2008