The Catalyst

Senior Services News
Tuesday, January 11, 2022

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News

Resources

CMS Updates

Funding Opportunity

  • NCAPPS Self-Direction Learning Collaborative
    NCAPPS Learning Collaboratives bring together “teams” from States, Territories, and Tribal human services agencies to engage in peer-to-peer learning. They provide a framework for teams to learn about, test, and implement specific systems change efforts focused on a global aim. They are guided by best practices and structured to promote and accelerate local efforts.
    Application Deadline: January 27, 2022 5:00pm ET
    Sponsor: NCAPPS – National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems 
  • American Rescue Plan Funding Opportunities
    AmeriCorps Seniors are encouraging eligible community organizations to apply for American Rescue Plan funding, and are seeking applicants who can engage adults age 55 and over in impactful national service to address one or more of the identified priorities.
    Application Deadline: February 3, 2022 5:00pm ET
    Sponsor: Americorps Seniors
  • Wells Fargo Community Giving Grants  
    Funding for nonprofit organizations in the areas of housing affordability, financial health, small business growth, and the environment.
    Application Deadline:  On-going opportunity
    Sponsor: Wells Fargo 

Webinars

Advocacy Update

Election Reform Takes Center Stage with Build Back Better Negotiations Delayed

Following Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV), announcement last month that he would not vote for the Build Back Better Act in its current form, Democratic leaders and the White House began planning the best path forward for the legislation.  While Manchin has since said he is willing to resume negotiations, it is still unclear exactly what the next version of the legislation will look like.  Congressional aides say the legislation may not be ready for floor action until the end of January at the earliest.

 With Build Back Better pushed back, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced the Senate will focus on voting rights legislation and filibuster reform in January. Both issues face strong opposition in the narrowly divided Senate but are seen as priorities for Democrats as negotiations around Build Back Better shift to a potentially narrower package. Lutheran Services in America will continue to advocate for the inclusion of at least $150 billion for home and community-based services in the next legislative package, as well as key provisions that would help address the acute direct care workforce shortage including:

  • $1 billion for a grant program funding strategies to recruit and retain direct care workers; and
  • the provisions of the WORK NOW Act to create a $50 billion grant program supporting nonprofits in paying wages and benefits.

We also continue to urge Senators to remove provisions which would worsen workforce shortages:

  • An unfunded mandate increasing the amount of time a Registered Nurse must be on duty at a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) from 8 hours per day to 24 hours.

A requirement that the Department of Health and Human Services conduct a study on establishing certain minimum staff to resident ratios in SNFs and to mandate the implementation of the study’s recommendations without providing additional funding for providers.

 

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The purpose of this digest is to provide current news and resources to Lutheran Senior Services organizations. The Catalyst is disseminated every other week and includes relevant reports, educational opportunities, policy updates and other announcements. Ashley Washington is currently out on maternity leave, and will return in early 2022. Until then, the Catalyst will be distributed by Alesia Frerichs. To add colleagues to the distribution list or to unsubscribe from the Catalyst, send an email to afrerichs@lutheranservices.org.