Monday, April 30, 2012
Introducing the Administration for Community Living
All Americans - including people with disabilities and seniors - should be able to live at home with the supports they need, participating in communities that value their contributions. To help meet these needs, HHS is creating a new organization, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) with the goal of increasing access to community supports and full participation, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities.
The ACL will include the efforts and achievements of the Administration on Aging, the Office on Disability and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in a single agency, with enhanced policy and program support for both cross-cutting initiatives and efforts focused on the unique needs of individual groups such as children with developmental disabilities, adults with physical disabilities, or seniors, including seniors with Alzheimer's.
To read the Secretary's Statement on ACL, visit The New ACL.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Toronto Declaration on Bridging Knowledge, Policy and Practice in Aging and Disability
The Toronto Declaration on Bridging Knowledge, Policy and Practice in Aging and Disability was released on March 30, 2012, by Dr. Luis Salvador-Carulla at an event at the Administration on Aging. The Declaration was authored by an international work group on aging with disability, which included Tamar Heller, PhD, of the Institute on Disability and Human Development (IL UCEDD), and Barbara LeRoy, PhD, Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI UCEDD).
The goal of the Declaration is to raise awareness of bridging issues between aging and disability and promote the recommendations it contains.
For more information, visit Toronto Declaration.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Sibling Leadership Network Announces Katie Arnold as Executive Director
The Sibling Leadership Network is pleased to announce Katie Arnold as the organization’s first Executive Director. Founded in 2007, the Sibling Leadership Network (SLN) is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing siblings of individuals with disabilities the information, support, and tools to advocate with their brothers and sisters and to promote the issues important to them and their entire families. As Executive Director, Katie will help the organization grow its network of members and launch a fundraising effort to support the organization. Katie has been a committed volunteer for the SLN since its initial inception and she became the first Board Chair in 2010 when the organization incorporated as a nonprofit.
Katie’s sibling experience has shaped her worldview and influenced her career path, as she has been working in the disability field since 2001. Katie works as the Director of Community Education with the Institute on Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago, which serves as the host and national headquarters for the SLN. Katie grew up in New Jersey as the second oldest of four siblings with disabilities, including her sister, Patrice, who has developmental disabilities. Throughout the years, Katie has played a key role in planning six SLN meetings and conferences and has presented in numerous venues throughout the country on the importance of siblings and the SLN. Speaking about her new role, Katie said, “I am excited to play a leadership role in the sibling movement and impact the lives of siblings and their families.”
Katie is committed to supporting siblings of people with disabilities at both the state and national level. The SLN currently has 12 state chapters (AL, DC, GA, IL, MA, MI, NH, NY, OK, OH, TN, UT & WI) and continues to nurture additional chapters throughout the country. Katie has been involved in the leadership of SIBS-Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters, the Illinois state chapter of the SLN. Chapters are the grassroots of the organization and maintain more personal and consistent contact with people, ensuring that they obtain the information and support they need.
Early supporters of the SLN were essential to the organization’s launch, including the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities, the Nisonger Center at The Ohio State University, the Sibling Support Project, and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Also, A National Gateway to Self-Determination has played an important role in supporting the development of the SLN. A new and exciting partnership with The Arc has strengthened the national awareness of the importance of including siblings. And, the SLN is part of the National Partners Council of the Autism NOW Center, a national initiative of The Arc. The Sibling Leadership Network contains leaders of sibling groups and organizations, advocates, and professionals.
We are very excited and fortunate to have Katie in this new role.
John Kramer
Chair
Sibling Leadership Network
For more information about the SLN, visit Sibling Leadership Network.
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Katie’s sibling experience has shaped her worldview and influenced her career path, as she has been working in the disability field since 2001. Katie works as the Director of Community Education with the Institute on Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago, which serves as the host and national headquarters for the SLN. Katie grew up in New Jersey as the second oldest of four siblings with disabilities, including her sister, Patrice, who has developmental disabilities. Throughout the years, Katie has played a key role in planning six SLN meetings and conferences and has presented in numerous venues throughout the country on the importance of siblings and the SLN. Speaking about her new role, Katie said, “I am excited to play a leadership role in the sibling movement and impact the lives of siblings and their families.”
Katie is committed to supporting siblings of people with disabilities at both the state and national level. The SLN currently has 12 state chapters (AL, DC, GA, IL, MA, MI, NH, NY, OK, OH, TN, UT & WI) and continues to nurture additional chapters throughout the country. Katie has been involved in the leadership of SIBS-Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters, the Illinois state chapter of the SLN. Chapters are the grassroots of the organization and maintain more personal and consistent contact with people, ensuring that they obtain the information and support they need.
Early supporters of the SLN were essential to the organization’s launch, including the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities, the Nisonger Center at The Ohio State University, the Sibling Support Project, and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Also, A National Gateway to Self-Determination has played an important role in supporting the development of the SLN. A new and exciting partnership with The Arc has strengthened the national awareness of the importance of including siblings. And, the SLN is part of the National Partners Council of the Autism NOW Center, a national initiative of The Arc. The Sibling Leadership Network contains leaders of sibling groups and organizations, advocates, and professionals.
We are very excited and fortunate to have Katie in this new role.
John Kramer
Chair
Sibling Leadership Network
For more information about the SLN, visit Sibling Leadership Network.
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Wendy Spencer Takes Helm as CEO of Corporation for National and Community Service Priorities include communication, collaboration, accountability, and impact
Washington, D.C. – Setting a tone of confidence and excitement about the future of national service, Wendy Spencer began her tenure as CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service yesterday by outlining her goal of strengthening the impact of national service and volunteering in meeting critical community needs.
At an all hands meeting of agency staff, Spencer said her strategies for strengthening national service and volunteering include empowering others, encouraging creativity, recognizing excellence, strengthening collaboration, ensuring accountability, and demonstrating impact. Throughout the day, Spencer emphasized her interest in dialogue and listening to what staff, communities, and service groups say their needs are.
In a video to the national service community, Spencer recounted some of the service experiences that shaped her life and asked community and nonprofit leaders to share their ideas on how to make service more effective in addressing local problems.
“I want to create an environment that encourages innovation, creativity, empowers people and organizations to share and demonstrate the results that they've seen in their work. I want to know what communities needs are. I want to know how CNCS can help local communities address those local needs,” Spencer said. “What kind of resources can we bring to the table? How can we partner better? This is what excites me about the future of national service. And I'm just honored to get started and work with you, and helping people across America.”
Spencer, who was confirmed by the Senate on March 29, met with senior staff and the Inspector General, made calls to key stakeholders, spoke at an all hands meeting, and walked the halls meeting employees.
Spencer takes the helm as CNCS is poised for greater impact and success, with well-run programs, an impact-focused Strategic Plan, a strong network of state service commissions, thousands of results-driven grantees that include some of America's most entrepreneurial organizations, key partnerships in the nonprofit and corporate sector, a high-performing workforce, and a widespread culture of impact and accountability.
As the agency’s first CEO to come directly from the national service field, Spencer brings in-depth knowledge and extensive on-the-ground experience to her post. Since 2004 she has served as CEO of Volunteer Florida, where she led the state service commission’s work to manage federal, state, and local grants, set policy and program priorities, provide training and monitoring, and broadly promote service and volunteering across the state. Previously Spencer served as Director of the Florida Park Service, a 1,700 employee agency, and she has held other management positions in the nonprofit and private sector.
In her talk with employees, Spencer shared insights from her decades of experience in managing volunteers, from organizing festivals for the Macon County Chamber of Commerce to leading fundraising efforts for the United Way of Big Bend to overseeing volunteers and donations after the 2004-2005 Florida hurricanes, which spurred more than 250,000 volunteers and $85 million in donations. “I think I was born to be a volunteer manager. From an early age, I liked to take the lead and get things done.”
Spencer also highlighted the bipartisan history of national service, most recently expressed by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act that passed with strong bipartisan support in 2009.
“I really believe in the impact that individuals can make, one person at a time, or collectively working with a group, and serving communities. I want to make sure that I'm in a position to share that story, and bring those solutions to our nation's leaders so they will join with us in making sure that we're being as effective as we possibly can. I want to be in a position to help drive with everyone's support around the country and drive the Serve America Act to its fullest potential,” Spencer said.
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The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit Corporation.
At an all hands meeting of agency staff, Spencer said her strategies for strengthening national service and volunteering include empowering others, encouraging creativity, recognizing excellence, strengthening collaboration, ensuring accountability, and demonstrating impact. Throughout the day, Spencer emphasized her interest in dialogue and listening to what staff, communities, and service groups say their needs are.
In a video to the national service community, Spencer recounted some of the service experiences that shaped her life and asked community and nonprofit leaders to share their ideas on how to make service more effective in addressing local problems.
“I want to create an environment that encourages innovation, creativity, empowers people and organizations to share and demonstrate the results that they've seen in their work. I want to know what communities needs are. I want to know how CNCS can help local communities address those local needs,” Spencer said. “What kind of resources can we bring to the table? How can we partner better? This is what excites me about the future of national service. And I'm just honored to get started and work with you, and helping people across America.”
Spencer, who was confirmed by the Senate on March 29, met with senior staff and the Inspector General, made calls to key stakeholders, spoke at an all hands meeting, and walked the halls meeting employees.
Spencer takes the helm as CNCS is poised for greater impact and success, with well-run programs, an impact-focused Strategic Plan, a strong network of state service commissions, thousands of results-driven grantees that include some of America's most entrepreneurial organizations, key partnerships in the nonprofit and corporate sector, a high-performing workforce, and a widespread culture of impact and accountability.
As the agency’s first CEO to come directly from the national service field, Spencer brings in-depth knowledge and extensive on-the-ground experience to her post. Since 2004 she has served as CEO of Volunteer Florida, where she led the state service commission’s work to manage federal, state, and local grants, set policy and program priorities, provide training and monitoring, and broadly promote service and volunteering across the state. Previously Spencer served as Director of the Florida Park Service, a 1,700 employee agency, and she has held other management positions in the nonprofit and private sector.
In her talk with employees, Spencer shared insights from her decades of experience in managing volunteers, from organizing festivals for the Macon County Chamber of Commerce to leading fundraising efforts for the United Way of Big Bend to overseeing volunteers and donations after the 2004-2005 Florida hurricanes, which spurred more than 250,000 volunteers and $85 million in donations. “I think I was born to be a volunteer manager. From an early age, I liked to take the lead and get things done.”
Spencer also highlighted the bipartisan history of national service, most recently expressed by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act that passed with strong bipartisan support in 2009.
“I really believe in the impact that individuals can make, one person at a time, or collectively working with a group, and serving communities. I want to make sure that I'm in a position to share that story, and bring those solutions to our nation's leaders so they will join with us in making sure that we're being as effective as we possibly can. I want to be in a position to help drive with everyone's support around the country and drive the Serve America Act to its fullest potential,” Spencer said.
###
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit Corporation.
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