LiveOn NY Senior Center TRAINING Initiative RESOURCES
Empowering New York City Senior Centers to Meet Emerging Needs with Best Practices
Over the last year, LiveOn NY offered a series of workshops on innovative approaches for senior center operations and the aging services field at large. Through this effort, we heard from a diverse lineup of distinguished experts on a variety of topics and best practices.
With the recent release of the NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA)’s Request for Proposals for Older Adult Centers and NORCs, LiveOn NY is making the slides and resources available for the aging services network to help providers think innovatively as they craft their proposals.
This virtual workshop series was made possible by the generous support of the New York Community Trust and New York City Council Member Margaret Chin.
TRAINING TOPICS AND RESOURCES
Introductory Workshop: An Introduction to NYC Senior Centers
Date offered: September 25th, 2020
Speaker: Stephanie Ruiz-Barcelo, Manager of Educational and Professional Development | LiveOn NY; Katelyn Andrews, Director of Public Policy | LiveOn NY
Description: Explore fundamental information on agencies, policies, and processes in the aging network. Learn how the Older Americans Act influences aging service delivery, explore NYC Department for the Aging’s role and organizational structure, and obtain general overview of the NYC Procurement, RFP, and Contracting Processes.
Reframing Aging: New York City
Date offered: October 14th, 2020
Speaker: Patricia D’Antonio, Project Director of the Reframing Aging Initiative and Vice President | The Gerontological Society of America; Linda Schotthoefer, Senior Director of Community Initiatives | United Way of Miami-Dade
Description: Join the movement to fundamentally change how we talk about and perceive aging, with the ultimate impact of improving aging services and policies. Learn about the thought-provoking tools and resources that can be used by key stakeholders and communications and program staff to tell a new story about aging.
People Power: Building a Motivated and Impactful Aging Service Workforce
Date offered: October 23rd, 2020
Speaker: Elise Feuerstein Karras, LMSW, Gerontological Social Worker | Swiss Benevolent Society of NY
Description: This powerful session is focused on understanding a nonprofit's culture and work environment to build strong, empowered teams in the field of aging by positively leading staff in mindfulness, self-care, accountability, time-management, conflict resolution and supervision.
We Are All Aging: A Focus on Older Adults
Date offered: October 28th, 2020
Speaker: Dr. Katherine Ramos, Assistant Professor | Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Assistant Professor | Department of Medicine Geriatrics Senior Fellow, Duke University Aging Center, Duke University Medical Center
Description: This session will provide a fundamental overview of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging while addressing the intersectionality among older adults and how ageism plays out in these areas. Participants will also learn how COVID-19 is impacting older adults in New York.
It’s More than Just Tech: Combating Social Isolation through Virtually Programming Solutions
Date offered: November 12th, 2020
Speaker: Alex Glazebrook, Ph.D, Director of Operations | Older Adults Technology Services (OATS); Maureen Feldman, Director of Social Isolation Impact Project | Motion Picture and Television Fund
Description: Beyond learning tips and tricks for strong virtual programming during these uncertain times, participants will further learn about adult learning, social isolation, and how to effectively communicate in order to create meaningful social connection.
Intergenerational Programming: A Transformative Approach to Building Vibrant, Cohesive Communities
Date offered: November 18th, 2020
Speaker: Nancy Henkin, Ph.D, Senior Fellow | Generations United
Description: Intergenerational programming has been found to be an effective strategy for dispelling age-related stereotypes, reducing social isolation, and increasing self-worth for participants of all ages. Whether you are interested in starting or enhancing a program, join us to learn about promising practices in partnership development, program planning, participant engagement , and evaluation. Learn about exciting intergenerational program models and begin to re-imagine how generations can work together to combat the loneliness epidemic and strengthen communities.
Marketing Our Value: Developing Community Buy-In to Strengthen Your Organization
Date offered: December 3rd, 2020
Speaker: Sarah Olivieri, Nonprofit Business Strategist | Pivot Ground
Description: Learn how to adapt basic non-profit marketing principles to expand your reach to underserved aging population areas, your community at large, elected officials, media, and other stakeholders to communicate your incredible worth.
Emergency Preparedness: Disaster Readiness & Resilience for Nonprofits
Date offered: December 10th, 2020
Speakers: Jason Wu, Director of Operations | Human Services Council of New York; Jennifer Diamond, Communications & Membership Coordinator | Human Services Council of New York; Wayne Ho, President & CEO | Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc.
Description: Analyze community resilience models of care that focus on forming partnerships within your community to prepare for and respond to disasters by creating an emergency preparedness plan. Participants will also hear about lessons learned from other nonprofits who experienced unexpected crises.
Creating a Culture of Volunteerism in Your Organization
Date offered: February 10th, 2021
Speaker: Iris Zalun, MPA, Program Manager of Vulnerable Populations | New York Cares
Description: Volunteers are often vital to nonprofit organizations’ operations and mission fulfillment. Whether you already have a dynamic volunteer program within your center, or are looking to start a new program, learn about innovative strategies and resources to create an onboarding plan covering policies and procedures for volunteers, tap into the momentum volunteers can bring to your center and ways to promote the unexpected benefits of volunteering.
Infusing Hospitality Principles to Improve Service Delivery
Date offered: April 13th, 2021
Speaker: Judith Lee Brownell, Professor of Organizational Communication | School of Hotel Administration, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University
Description: Become a “service champion” in your organization by learning proven principles that will create positive and memorable service experiences whether virtual or in person. By incorporating hospitality practices and demonstrating specific service behaviors you can delight your customers. Focusing on “service within” will contribute to the development of a culture with strong service values. You will have an opportunity to address service challenges by thinking more creatively about how service can be delivered in aging services and senior center environments.
Measuring, Quantifying, & Communicating Our Impact
Date offered: May 12th, 2021
Speaker: Carolyn Berry, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Population Health | New York University School of Medicine
Description: It can be challenging to measure and communicate the impact we as human service providers are making on our respective communities. In this session, Carolyn Berry (PhD, Associate Professor at NYU School of Medicine) taught us how to conduct meaningful, yet feasible, evaluation activities. Dr. Berry covered:
How to determine the purposes and audiences for evaluation
How to choose the most relevant type of evaluation
How to use a logic model to guide evaluation
How to assess available data for use in evaluation and potential means for gathering additional data, and
How to strengthen outcome evaluation when a comparison group is not possible.
Questions? Contact Stephanie Ruiz-Barcelo at sruiz@liveon-ny.org