Targeting resources to those in the greatest social and economic need, with a special emphasis on service to minorities, as mandated by the OAA, is the responsibility of the states and area agencies on aging. States and their area agencies, by OAA law, are required to submit formal two- three- or four-year plans (1) to demonstrate how they will go about targeting those in the greatest social and economic need, and how they intend to distribute their funds in accordance with the dictates of the OAA and AoA objectives. The 655 area agencies must submit their plans to their respective states and the states (and territories and tribal units) must, in turn, submit their plans to the U.S. Administration on Aging.
Of the roughly $1.37 billion in AoA funding shared among the 50 states in 2005 (2), the District of Columbia, territories and 243 Native American tribal units, about 52 percent went to nutrition programs, and another 25 percent was allocated for other home- and community-based services, such as transportation and personal care, according to the AoA 2005 Annual Report. Eleven percent went to caregiver support programs initiated in the act’s 2000 amendments; five percent was earmarked for grants to demonstration projects and other innovative programs and services (and network support); three percent was set aside for preventive services; two percent was reserved for Native American programs; and another two percent was reserved for administration. (Note : On top of the $1.37 billion in OAA funding from the U.S. Administration, and outside of the percentages specified for the above services, some $483 million more was allocated for Title V Senior Employment from the U.S. Dept. of Labor. This boosted total 2005 OAA funds to about $1.85 billion, approximately what they are in 2007.
States, territories, tribal organizations and area agencies are given great leeway as to how they go about spending their OAA allotments, and most are very adept at leveraging state, local and, sometimes, private funds. For every Older Americans Act dollar, the average area agency on aging leverages about $2 to $3 more from other sources. In other words, all told, the $1.85 billion in OAA funds results in close to $5 billion in programs and services for older Americans.
(1) AoA; Strategic Plan: www.aoa.gov/about/strategic/strategic.asp;
and Grants for State and Community Programs on Aging (Sec. 3026: Area Plans): www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title42/chapter35_subchapteriii_parta_.html
(2) AoA: Annual Report 2005: ministration. (www.aoa.gov/about/annual_report/2005_Final_Annual_Report.pdf