April 26, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: AoA Press Office (202) 619-0724

Assistant Secretary Josefina G. Carbonell is hosting a third Tribal Listening Session in Rapid City, South Dakota on April 28, 2004. The purpose of these Sessions is to provide opportunities for Tribal leaders and the Administration on Aging (AoA) to engage in discussions on issues and actions in carrying out the objectives of the Older Americans Act (OAA), in particular the Title VI program. AoA has conducted 2 Listening Sessions thus far, held in Reno, Nevada and Phoenix, Arizona, in an effort to hear from Tribal and Native Hawaiian representatives, Title IV Directors, Elders and their families and caregivers.

The following critical issues affecting Native American Elders will be discussed:

• What can the Aging Services Network do to empower older people and their families to make informed decisions about their care options?
  
  
• How can we build upon the initial success of the National Family Caregiver Support Program and expand access to information, make services more consumer-friendly, and allow caregivers more choices?
  
  
• What innovations are occurring at the state and local level related to access and service delivery that could serve as models for other states and communities across the country?

When: Wednesday, April 28, 2004
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. MST*
*Media availability directly following the Tribal Listening Session.

Where: Ramada Inn - 1721 N. LaCrosse Street - Rapid City, South Dakota

Contact: Anyone interested in testifying must register on a first come first serve basis. Please contact Barbara Aragon at (509) 747-4994 for additional information or to register by telephone.

Web registration is available at: https://olderindians.org/index.cfm?page=RapidCityConference.cfm
NOTE: Participants are asked to prepare no more than 10 minutes of testimony.

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The AoA is a Federal agency dedicated to policy development, planning and the delivery of supportive home and community-based services to older persons and their caregivers through the national aging network of state and local agencies on aging, tribal organizations, service providers and volunteers.