Thank You for Helping Protect Aging in Greater Minnesota!

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE INTRASTATE FUNDING FORMULA IS NOW CLOSED

Thank you!

On behalf of the Greater Minnesota Area Agency on Aging directors, I want to thank everyone for advocating for people 60 and older living in Greater Minnesota.  We will keep you apprised of the changes made to the funding formula as we learn more information.  It’s important to note that your voice was heard and your stories around the barriers of aging in Greater Minnesota have also been heard.  I am hopeful that the Minnesota Board on Aging board members will use this information to make decisions that improve access for all Minnesotan’s as they make the aging journey.  Thank you for telling your stories!

Kristi Kane
Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging Director

Call to Action

Submit your public comment urging decision-makers to revise the formula in a way that benefits all aging and older Minnesotans.

Include in Your Comments

Please communicate with MBA that you want an Intrastate Funding Formula weighted as follows - 20% for population 60+, 20% for 60+ low income, 15% for 60+ minority, 25% for 60+ rural, 5% for 60+ population density, 5% for 60+ living with disability, 10% for 60+ living alone - to benefit all of Minnesota.

Also Mention

… that weighting the IFF this way ensures equitable allocations and service provisions in Greater Minnesota for the decade to come.

Why this is important

For the first time in over a decade, the Intrastate Funding Formula (IFF) is being revised. It is the allocation formula used to equitably guide the distribution of Older American Act (OAA) funding. This supports thriving older adults. The Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA) is collecting public comment on the IFF along with the State Plan on Aging.

Why now?

This change is now being triggered by the Census. Greater Minnesota, including the Arrowhead Region, stands to lose large amounts of funding to the 7-county metro region due to shifts in population.

Comment Period Now Closed

Comments were collected and reviewed for continued development of the State Plan on Aging. The State Plan on Aging and Intrastate Funding Formula can be viewed at the Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA) website.

Your comments informed the Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA). Learn more to help MBA create an equitable Intrastate Funding Formula for Greater Minnesota from the Directors of Minnesota’s Area Agencies on Aging.

Lori Vrolson, Director, of Central Minnesota Council on Aging asked you to provide your comments during the Minnesota Board on Aging’s (MBA) public comment period. “The current formula factors and weights already puts older adults in Greater MN at a disadvantage and the proposed changes may exacerbate this disadvantage.” says Lori.
Learn more from Lori in this video.

Heather Pender, Director, of Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging asked you to provide your comments during the Minnesota Board on Aging’s (MBA) public comment period. Heather said, “The loss of these funds to the rural Area Agencies on Aging is serious. It will impact the amount of services to seniors that each AAA can fund.”
Learn more from Heather in this video.

Laurie Brownell, Director, of Southeastern Minnesota Area Agency on Aging asked you to provide your comments during the Minnesota Board on Aging’s (MBA) public comment period. “The reality is that some programs may not be able to continue to operate with the reduced level of OAA funding I just mentioned,” states Laurie.
Learn more from Laurie in this video.

As part of the State Plan on Aging FFY 2024 - 2027, the Minnesota Board on Aging is drafting a revised Intrastate Funding Formula (IFF). The IFF describes how the MBA allocates Older Americans Act funds to the Area Agencies on Aging based on geographic distribution of older adults in the state and older adults with greatest economic and social need. The IFF must be in accordance with the Older Americans Act Sec. 305(a)(2)(C) and Sec. 305(d).

Learn More, visit the MBA website for the State Plan Public Comment.

To request a paper copy of the document, please submit a request to mba.dhs@state.mn.us, call 651-431-2500, toll free at 1-800-882-6262 or submit a written request to:

             Minnesota Board on Aging
             State Plan – Public Comment
             P.O. Box 64976
             St. Paul, MN 55164-0976

Jason Swanson, Director, of Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging asked you to provide your comments during the Minnesota Board on Aging’s (MBA) public comment period. “We were not expecting to have such a drastic cut as we feel that the Minnesota Board on Aging is not fully accounting for the rural populations,” states Jason.
Learn more from Jason in this video.