From The Field M A Y 2 0 1 6 Age-Friendly Communities: Cross-sector Collaboration at Work ANNE MARIE BOURSIQUOT KING Managing Director, Tufts Health Plan Foundation W e live in a time of great change. Disruption has took a closer look at what we were doing and why. We saw an become the norm. New technologies and methods opportunity to take a broader view, to honor community work of communication seem to pop up every day. And and build on work already being done, and to engage others— new business models challenge established practices. unusual collaborators—to get a cross-sector perspective. As So, too, for our philanthropic models. In recent years, foun- we shifted our approach, we recognized connections and dations and funders have begun shifting from the traditional possibilities that had not been apparent. We were able to bring approach of investing in programs or projects to a model that seemingly disparate groups together to tackle issues on multiple operates on principles of engagement. This new approach fronts. We saw synergies developing among collaborators who stresses investment in communities rather than “grantmaking” were working on regional issues. We saw communities reach- to foster collaboration. It invites perspectives from individuals ing out to other communities to pool resources, sharing assets and groups not in our field of work, and often looks at and “intelligence” on the best ways to address community tackling social problems from the community’s point of view. concerns. We began to understand that lasting change can happen when more voices—with their unique, yet similar MOVING TOWARD AGE-FRIENDLY harmonies—are brought into the mix. COMMUNITIES We started to explore various frameworks. One example was the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network of When Tufts Health Plan Foundation was founded in 2008, Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. This model focuses on we followed a traditional philanthropic approach. Based on local action that fosters the full participation of older people in research and a planning process, we focused our giving around community life. We quickly identified community allies who health issues confronting older adults. Research from the were working within some aspect of the WHO “domains,” Home Safety Council indicated that falls were the number-one which include social participation, housing needs, transporta- cause of unintentional home injury deaths, so early on we tion, outdoor spaces and buildings, access to community focused on fall prevention. We funded community-based supports and services, communication and information, civic organizations to conduct home assessments, provide information, engagement, and respect and inclusion. Our “ah-ha” moment and teach classes to help people understand and prevent falls came when we began to understand that for our communities and injuries. Experts from the Robert Wood Johnson to thrive and work for residents of all ages, we needed to Foundation were reporting that as many as three of four promote and support inclusive processes for engagement— Americans 65 and older had multiple chronic conditions. processes that focused on improving communities for everyone This led us to invest in evidence-based programs to help older as they aged. This was a better path forward as we looked to adults learn how to modify their behavior and manage their improve our impact. conditions. Soon we grew beyond these initial efforts. We invited state RECOGNIZING THAT CHANGE IS NOT EASY and local government leaders, experts from agencies working with older adults, and older adults themselves to be thought We recognized that we’d have to think differently—and fund partners with us as we considered issues facing older adults in differently—in order to achieve the kind of change we hope to Massachusetts. These conversations led to the formation of the see. After conversations with stakeholders, communities, and Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative. As we learned organizations doing this work, we formalized our goal of together, we saw an opportunity to share what we were advancing age-friendly communities by working collaboratively learning. Over the next few years, we hosted statewide toward systems change, policy, and advocacy efforts—and met conferences that brought together like-minded colleagues. with current and prospective grantees to explain what that You get the picture: we were gaining some traction. meant. We transitioned our existing grantees by extending Under new leadership, we leveraged the work that we their current grants, giving them time to assess where they fit started with a renewed commitment to impact. In 2014 we in the new strategy. And while we believed that funding individual programs was a great place to start as a foundation, During a meeting with local nonprofits focused on caregiving we understood that it would not move the needle on issues and social isolation, one participant put our work in perspective facing older adults in the way we wanted. These conversations by noting that age-friendly work is really about making weren’t always easy. Some grantees were receptive and excited communities work for all ages: the young mother pushing a about the possibilities. Others struggled with what it meant baby carriage through a neighborhood needs the same things for their organization, understanding this new framework as the 90-year-old taking an afternoon walk: even, walkable would not necessarily bring them direct funding. sidewalks, benches to sit on when they are tired, access to After a year under these new strategies, the outlook is public restrooms, and an overall safe environment. Who promising. We’ve found communities already working on wouldn’t want that for their community? age-friendly initiatives. Age Friendly Vision 2020 Task Force, for example, is focusing on a rural area of Massachusetts that is aging rapidly. They are one of our first grantees under our AGE-FRIENDLY RESOURCES new focus. In partnership with AARP and using the WHO model, the task force is mobilizing and aligning Berkshire MAHealthyAgingCollaborative.org County’s 32 cities and towns around a common vision. So far, the group has completed a survey of those over age 50 to • Age-Friendly Tool Kit learn about their priorities and has begun crafting an action plan (http://www.iberkshires.com/story/49293/Berkshire- GIAging.org (Grantmakers in Aging) Task-Force-Plans-For-Aging-Demographics.html). They are • Age-Friendly America Database working collaboratively to bring about the policy and systems Searchable database of more than 200 programs, to find changes necessary to accommodate the needs of a rapidly out what’s going on in your area and nationwide aging population, which by 2020 will be more than 60 per- cent over the age of 60. • GIA’s Community AGEnda But not all communities were at the point where the Resources to help funders, nonprofits, governments, Berkshires were, and so we also grappled with how to support planners and citizens capacity building and training. For this we turned to FSG, a • Guiding Principles for the Sustainability of mission-driven consulting firm that promotes collective Age-Friendly Community Efforts impact and helps collaborations assess where they are in their • The Case for Age-Friendly Communities (2016) work. Through a collective-impact approach, collaborations Report and Executive Summary available bring different actors together to solve social issues by using a common agenda, aligning their efforts, and developing shared AARP.org measures of success. Initially, the foundation funded three age-friendly efforts in Massachusetts. FSG developed work- • AARP Livable Communities shops and trained the core teams from each initiative to set Resources for local leaders and influencers them on the path to reach their goals through self-assessment, • 2015 Age-Friendly Report: Inspiring Communities visioning, concrete collective action, and, most important, 16 case studies from the U.S. and around the world communication. WHO.org (World Health Organization) KEEPING EYES ON THE BIG PICTURE • WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and This work is not easy. As one of our board members stated Communities when discussing our new focus, “This will require a deeper commitment to engagement by the staff, a more profound • Global Age-Friendly Cities: A Guide (2007) understanding of community and where they are.” Too, we’ve learned that it’s not always easy for organizations to N4a.org (National Association of Area Agencies on come to agreement, that collaboration takes time, and that we Aging) must begin by honoring our communities and their vision. • Making Your Community Livable for All Ages: System change is hard, but we believe it’s essential to What’s Working (2015) achieving long-term impact. We are committed to investing in initiatives that make communities work for everyone as they age. For us this means supporting collaborations and partnerships that include the usual and unusual suspects, investing in a range of efforts, and making multiyear commitments to our community partners. We find ourselves working on a range of issues, from social isolation to walkable sidewalks to technology—and working Views from the Field is offered by GIH as a forum with a range of partners, from government officials to social for health grantmakers to share insights and experiences. If you are service agencies to private entities. interested in participating, please contact Osula Rushing at 202.452.8331 or orushing@gih.org.