Aging Texas Well, opportunities for Texans across the lifespan
About Aging Texas Well
ATW Executive Order
Texas Gov. Rick Perry issued an executive order creating the Aging Texas Well Advisory Committee and Action Plan. The order, which was issued in April 2005, formalizes the Aging Texas Well Initiative and asks the department to continue its work to identify and discuss aging policy issues, guide state government readiness, and promote increased community preparedness for an aging Texas population.
Under the executive order, DADS is directed to form an advisory committee to advise the department and to make recommendations to state leadership on implementation of the Aging Texas Well Initiative. DADS creates and disseminates a comprehensive and effective working plan to identify and discuss aging policy issues, guides state government readiness and promotes increased community preparedness for an aging Texas.
DADS also leads a planning effort to ensure the readiness of all Texas state agencies to serve an aging population by identifying issues, current initiatives, and future needs.
Older Americans Act
Congress passed the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1965 in response to concern by policymakers about a lack of community social services for older persons. The original legislation established authority for grants to states for community planning and social services, research and development projects, and personnel training in the field of aging. The law also established the Administration on Aging (AoA) to administer the newly created grant programs and to serve as the federal focal point on matters concerning older persons.
Although older individuals may receive services under many other federal programs, today the OAA is considered to be the major vehicle for the organization and delivery of social and nutrition services to this group and their caregivers. It authorizes an array of service programs through a national network of
- 56 state agencies on aging,
- 629 area agencies on aging,
- nearly 20,000 service providers,
- 244 tribal organizations and
- two Native Hawaiian organizations representing 400 tribes.
The OAA also includes community service employment for low-income older Americans; training, research, and demonstration activities in the field of aging; and vulnerable elder rights protection activities. To learn more about the OAA, click on one of the links below.
Updated: May 25, 2011