§3032f Demonstration, support, and research projects for multigenerational and civic engagement activities

Summary

The Assistant Secretary must award grants and sign contracts with eligible groups to run projects that bring older and younger people together and support civic participation. These projects should give older people meaningful roles, help build two-way relationships, reduce loneliness, improve older people’s finances, encourage lifelong learning, or support family caregivers (for example, older relatives raising children or older volunteers helping families with a child who has a disability). Projects can include shared meal and nutrition programs, mentoring by older people, and other ways to coordinate, promote, and make it easy for people of different ages to take part. Each grant or contract must last at least 36 months. Funds must be used for the projects described. The Assistant Secretary will prefer groups with a proven record or plans to work with local partners, projects that serve areas with the greatest need (including low-income minority communities, older people with limited English, and rural areas), projects that create real roles for older people, and projects that use shared sites like combined child care and long-term care locations. Eligible applicants include States, area agencies on aging, or organizations that serve older people and can use multigenerational coordinators. Within 3 years after March 25, 2020, the Assistant Secretary must evaluate the funded projects using data from the groups running them to see how effective they are and how they affect communities and participating older people. Within 6 months after that evaluation, the Assistant Secretary must report to the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate with details about the projects, the organizations, how older people were recruited and kept as workers or volunteers, turnover rates, how findings will be shared, and any policy recommendations. Definitions: a multigenerational activity connects people of different ages (examples include child care, school, library, or family support programs). A multigenerational coordinator builds partnerships, creates meaningful roles for older people, and supports relationships between older and younger participants.