By Geralyn Magan
The LTSS Center will explore workforce and service access—and support Leaders of Color Network events—at the LeadingAge Leadership Summit, April 15-17.
Team members at the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston will present three educational sessions at the 2024 LeadingAge Leadership Summit, which takes place April 15-17 in Washington, DC. The sessions will explore work conducted by the LTSS Center in workforce and service access.
The LTSS Center will also support several events sponsored by the LeadingAge Leaders of Color Network.
Register for any of the following sessions by visiting the Leadership Summit website.
SERVICE ACCESS
Who Benefits from the Rural Aging Action Network? (3-A)
Monday, April 15, 11 a.m.
Older adults living in rural communities often have low incomes and limited access to healthcare, transportation, and other vital services. As a result, many have trouble maintaining their health and independence. This session will focus on the Rural Aging Action Network, a coalition led by Lutheran Services in America, which works with local organizations in four states to connect rural older adults with sustainable community-based services and supports. Join researchers Verena Cimarolli, Robyn Stone, and Molly Wylie from the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston and Ashley Washington from Lutheran Services in America for a close-up look at the older adults served by the network, the essential services they receive, and the benefits they enjoy. Discover what is possible when providers of aging services invest in rural older adults.
WORKFORCE
15 Easy(ish) Ways to Retain Team Members (2-A)
Monday, April 15, 11 a.m.
Faced with incredibly high turnover, many providers of aging services are focusing on staff retention as a primary solution to the workforce crisis. This session will use a “Leaders-in-Residence” model to explore a variety of strategies for retaining team members and building a truly engaged workforce. Jenna Kellerman, director of workforce strategies, will invite you to enjoy a “speed-dating” experience featuring subject matter experts stationed at 15 tables. Select five tables you’ll visit during the session and then start collecting tips in the areas that interest you. You’ll return home ready to implement a variety of innovative retention strategies, such as adopting new staffing models, establishing apprenticeship programs, helping team members set and meet personal and professional goals, and intentionally recognizing excellence in the workplace.
After the Staffing Mandate: The Future of the Nursing Workforce (11-C)
Monday, April 15, 3:45 p.m.
Nursing home operators nationwide worry about how they will comply with the new staffing standard recently proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. If the mandate is approved, providers will have trouble paying an estimated $40.6 billion to hire additional nurses over the next 10 years. The daunting task of finding enough nurses to fill the required slots will be equally challenging. How will the new requirement impact our ongoing workforce crisis? Two LeadingAge workforce experts—Jenna Kellerman, director of workforce strategies, and Nicole Howell, director of workforce policy—will answer that question as they examine how our sector can meet the challenges associated with growing the next generation of nurses in aging services. Take advantage of this opportunity to shape the solutions LeadingAge will bring to lawmakers as we strive for sustainable workforce solutions.
LEADERS OF COLOR NETWORK PROGRAM
The LeadingAge Leaders of Color Network is open to all LeadingAge members, including senior, mid-level, and emerging leaders of color and allies. The network is designed to support and facilitate career advancement in the field of aging services and serve as a forum for members to exchange resources and ideas and hear experts discuss topics reflecting the expressed needs and interests of people of color within our field.
Leadership Summit is a time when LeadingAge members can connect and learn from their peers. Leaders of Color and allies are invited to participate in these events:
Leaders of Color Network Reception
Sunday, April 14, 5:30 p.m.
LeadingAge will host this invitation-only reception featuring Nzinga Shaw, an experienced C-suite executive with extensive hands-on experience and knowledge spanning diversity, equity, and inclusion. Shah will discuss what it means for leaders of color to be change agents. She’ll explore the opportunities and challenges associated with that role.
Lunch and Learn: The Role of Mentorship in Supporting Professional Growth & Development
Monday, April 15, 12:30 p.m.
During this event, Nzinga Shaw will discuss why mentorship matters and offer strategies to build successful mentoring relationships that facilitate meaningful connections between allies and leaders. Shaw is president and CEO of Attack the Glass, LLC, which aims to serve as the umbrella for amplifying cultural contributions across race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and every facet of the human experience.
Leadership Summit Lunch Chat and Networking
Tuesday, April 16, 12:30 p.m.
The Leadership Summit Lunch Chat and Networking event, sponsored by the Leaders of Color Network, allows all members to meet, greet, and connect with their colleagues during lunch.
For more information about the Leaders of Color Network Program, visit the Leadership Summit website.