GIH Advocacy for the Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA)
The OAA provides critical services that address the social drivers of health for older adults. Grantmakers In Health (GIH) and Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) are partnering to engage funders in advancing the reauthorization of this important piece of legislation.
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Latest Resources
Thirty-Three Years Later: Oral Health Care Still Not Accessible for Individuals with Disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted on July 26, 1990, stands as one of the most significant civil rights laws in U.S. history. Designed to eliminate discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for Americans with disabilities, the ADA has had a profound impact on advancing health equity in various domains, including oral health. The ADA has been a transformative force in advancing health equity for Americans with disabilities by championing their rights to accessible health care services. Under Title II of the ADA, state and local governments, including public healthcare institutions, are mandated to offer equal access and reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. This ensures that medical facilities, including dental offices, are equipped to cater to diverse patient needs, fostering an environment where disabled individuals can receive oral health services with dignity and equality
CareQuest Institute: August 2023
CareQuest Institute is offering 10 grants of up to $125,000 to fund projects that are working to address systemic barriers to oral health, including access to oral health, for people with disabilities.
Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation: August 2023
The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation is issuing a special request for concepts focused on addressing lung cancer care disparities for Indigenous communities. They are currently seeking concepts for ideas for multiyear grants that pilot/test innovative models of community-based care to increase access to services and improve lung cancer outcomes across the lung cancer care continuum.
Health Philanthropy Impacting the Health and Well-Being of Family Caregivers
More than 53 million Americans—21 percent of the US population—are caregivers for loved ones who are older adults or adults living with chronic, disabling, or serious health conditions. Increasingly, the US health and long-term care systems rely on family caregivers. In 2017, family caregivers in the US provided a staggering 80 percent of long-term care, valued at $470 billion, and in 2021, 38 million family caregivers spent 36 billion hours caring for older adults, amounting to an estimated $600 billion in unpaid caregiving.
The Catalyst for the Long Game is Community
Friday may have marked the close of the 2023 GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy, but it was just the beginning of a renewed commitment to the long game. From deep laughs at the wellness activity to deeper discussions during breakout sessions, the last day left attendees with takeaways to catalyze conversations with colleagues and communities.
An Abundance of Opportunities to Learn, Connect, and Grow
Thursday at the GIH Annual Conference was a day filled with connection, learning, and growth. Wellness sessions featuring yoga, breathwork, and Hula as exercise gave attendees time to recharge in between an engaging lineup of sessions. Read more about today’s award luncheon, keynote address by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, plenary panel focusing on the implications of the Dobbs decision, and the conference offsite reception.
Publications and Reports
2024 Survey Summary: Firearm Violence Prevention Strategies
GIH conducted a survey in September 2024 about funder engagement in firearm violence prevention. This fact sheet summarizes the survey results with a total sample of 81 health funders. This public health crisis and social justice issue is preventable, and health funders have an important role to play in advancing firearm violence prevention efforts.
Progress Report: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Campaign
In October 2023, Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) and Grantmakers In Health (GIH) launched an 18-month initiative to engage funders in the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA). This report highlights key activities and takeaways and previews future programming.
Fact Sheet: Five Ways Congress Can Strengthen the Older Americans Act, and What Philanthropy Can Do
First signed into law in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) provides critical services that address the social drivers of health for older adults such as nutrition, transportation, senior centers, elder rights protections, caregiver support, and health promotion. A popular, bipartisan, and effective law, the OAA is set to expire on September 30, 2024, if it is not reauthorized. Foundations play a critical role at every stage of the OAA, from the time Congress begins reauthorizing the law, to the appropriation of funding, to the implementation of OAA programs. Now is the time to act.
Connect With Funder Peers on Population Health
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