GRAC Health Series

Thursdays at 12 PM CT | August 15 | August 29 | September 5 | REGISTER BELOW

According to 2020 Census data, Illinois 65+ population is now over 16% and growing, and this percentage is much higher in many rural areas of the State. Overwhelmingly, older adults want to “age in place” in their home and community rather than moving to a nursing facility. Join the Illinois Department on Aging to learn about home- and community-based programs and services available to older adults and their caregivers across Illinois including information on how to link to local organizations in your area.  
Recording: https://youtu.be/mKyROjdGhwc 

Slides: https://uofi.box.com/s/816esevnoswmqzo49gbpywwq4f8yq98l 

Liz Vogt is the Senior Policy Advisor at the Illinois Department on Aging. Prior to joining IDoA in early 2023, Liz worked for FrontlineCo, an association management company headquartered in Springfield, leading the government and regulatory work of two home care trade associations, the Illinois HomeCare & Hospice Council and the Illinois Association of Community Care Program Homecare Providers. Prior to joining FrontlineCo in 2018, Liz led the policy and advocacy efforts of an international surgical spine society. She began her career as a Dunn Fellow in the Governor’s Office and worked on legislative issues in the Governor’s Office and for two state agencies, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), from 2008-2015. Liz earned a BA from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and an MA in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Springfield.

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Thursday, August 29 at 12PM CT

Join us for an overview and update on DHS programs across Illinois, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and Medicaid programs.
Recording: https://youtu.be/TAFdOOH_nCc

Slides: https://uofi.box.com/s/wjjwvuq82xabnn9pfail526qj10hxa6m

Diane Campbell is a Regional Administrator with the Department of Human Services, Family Community Services.  She is responsible for 11 Family Community Resources that cover 28 counties (Region 4) in west central Illinois and 368 employees.  Diane is in her 39th year with the Department of Human Services.

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Thursday, September 5 at 12 PM CT

The Older American Act requires states to complete a comprehensive State Plan on Aging. Illinois is starting the state planning process which involves listening to stakeholders across the state as well as leveraging the goals of the area agency on aging regional plans. The Department on Aging looks forward to hearing from Extension professionals about suggestions for the new State Plan on Aging on how to best support and connect with older Illinoisans and family caregivers through the matrix of Older American Act programs. 

Sandy Pastore is the Division Manager for Home and Community Services. Prior to joining Illinois Department of Aging in June of 2022, Sandy worked for Health & Medicine Policy Research Group as the Health and Aging Policy Organizer, leading grass-roots efforts to develop a multi-sector plan on aging. Prior to HMPRG, Sandy worked as a consultant on a white paper focusing on the aging of Generation-X and worked on finding pathways to integrate gerontological learning into high school classes. For more than a decade, Sandy worked with others to develop Oswego Senior Center and served as the Executive Director. Sandy has also worked as a case manager, job coach, care coordinator, elder abuse investigator, nutrition services program manager, red tape cutter, and more over the course of her 25-year career in social services.