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1 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 8, 2014 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 4 -a <br />SUBJECT: Recognition of Project EngAGE Graduates <br />DEPARTMENT: Aging PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />List of Project EngAGE Graduates Janice Tyler, Director, 245 -4255 <br />PURPOSE: To recognize the inaugural class of Project EngAGE, a senior leadership program <br />sponsored by the Department on Aging. <br />BACKGROUND: In preparing the 2012 -17 Master Aging Plan, it became evident there was a <br />need for improved communication and information dissemination to the community about aging <br />resources. Department on Aging staff along with the Advisory Board on Aging began exploring <br />ideas regarding how to implement MAP Objective 1.1 — Increase the accessibility of information <br />about resources, programs and services for older adults in Orange County. One way to address <br />the issue was through a grassroots community based senior leadership development program. <br />In 2013 the Department on Aging, in partnership with the UNC's School of Public Health, began <br />work on developing a senior leadership program. A model senior leadership program in <br />Haywood County was identified and Project EngAGE was adapted from that model. Project <br />EngAGE's mission is to engage and enable older adults in Orange County to serve as resource <br />leaders to make their community an ideal place to age well. The program is comprised of two <br />major components: 1) a senior leadership training course and 2) the development of senior <br />resource teams comprised of course graduates. Project EngAGE is designed to train older <br />adult resource leaders who will disseminate information to their communities and link their <br />communities to aging- related resources. <br />The graduates have completed a 12 week training course designed to empower and enable <br />them to be leaders in their communities. The participants explored topics such as Body and <br />Mind Wellness, Aging in the Community, transportation, healthcare, dementia, caregiving and <br />"understanding the system ". The group met with the County Manager's staff, department <br />directors, and County Commissioners to learn about County government, and also spent time <br />touring the County and visiting every township. Many hours were also spent discussing service <br />gaps and developing strategies for resolving those gaps. The graduates have now formed <br />