City of Porter Awarded Age-Friendly Community Grant

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Mankato, MN, July 7, 2017 – The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MNRAAA) will be working with the City of Porter to identify their age-friendly assets and desired assets through community-wide surveys and focus groups.  Data from the surveys and focus groups will be used to develop and implement initiatives that will result in new and/or enhanced assets that have a positive impact on the age-friendliness of Porter and its livability for all ages.  Porter will receive $10,000 to implement one of the identified initiatives.

A kick-off meeting will be held at the Porter Community Hall (113 Park Ave N, Porter, MN) on July 26 at 6:30 p.m.

This project is made possible through a grant from the Southwest Initiative Foundation and staff support from the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging.

(Left to Right)
Josh Sumption, City of Porter
Becky Noyes, Porter Café
McKenzie Kack, Community Member
Jamie Enger-Lanners, Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging Program Developer

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MNRAAA Annual Staff Retreat

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Every President’s day MNRAAA staff come together to recharge, reconnect and participate in staff training. This year our all-staff training was held at Key Largo on February 20, 2017 in Slayton, MN. In the morning, we spent time discussing some recent “Theory of Change” work we are doing with Aurora Consulting as well as our upcoming plans to do strategic planning. We completed a “Continuity of Operations Plan” exercise, took staff photos and enjoyed a wonderful lunch provided by Key Largo.

Thad Shunkwiler, Assistant Professor at Minnesota State University in Mankato, was our afternoon speaker. He presented information on how mental health issues impact the lives of those we serve. He also provided information and useful tips on helping consumers resolve complex issues over the phone. Staff found his presentation insightful and interesting. We wrapped up the day by giving out some humorous staff awards and sharing a laugh with each other. We are already starting to plan for next year’s retreat.

Robin Thompson, Information & Assistance Director

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Spring Senior LinkAge Line® Outreach

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Robin Thompson, Information & Assistance Director

Spring is the time of year that we can say good bye to cold dark winter and hello to those warm sunny spring days. This is also the time of year that our Senior LinkAge Line® staff and volunteers like to focus on community outreach. People look forward to getting out and enjoying various community events. I have heard some describe the free services provided by the Senior LinkAge Line® as the best kept secret in the state of Minnesota. These events give us an opportunity to share how we can help older adults and their families. Below is a sampling of events we will be hosting or attending this spring:

  • 50+ Lifestyle Expo in Mankato
  • Living Your Best Life event in Worthington
  • Lower Sioux Wellness Fair and 5K in Morton
  • 2017 Spring Dementia Event in Redwood Falls
  • Bluestone Spring Staff Appreciation event
  • Senior Surf Day classes in Luverne, Springfield, St. Peter, Granite Falls, Canby, Clarkfield and Gaylord
  • Live Well at Home While You Age presentation in Montgomery
  • Welcome to Medicare classes in Mankato, Slayton, Willmar and Hutchinson
  • Medicare 101 Presentation in Blue Earth
  • Older American’s Banquet in Granite Falls
  • Essentia Health Fair in Graceville

Call the Senior LinkAge Line® at 1-800-333-2433 to learn more about these events. The Senior LinkAge Line® is a free service of the Minnesota Board on Aging and the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging®.

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MNRAAA Theory of Change

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Linda Giersdorf, Executive Director

Are you familiar with Theory of Change? Has your agency or organization developed one? Through a grant from the Southwest Initiative Foundation, MNRAAA engaged Aurora Consulting to lead MNRAAA through the development of its Theory of Change. Aurora Consulting defined Theory of Change as “an organization’s story of how and why the world will be different because of what it does. It’s a map that shows how your organization creates change”.

Through the leadership of Aurora Consulting, MNRAAA clarified its purpose, defined its organizational outcomes and connections between them, created a foundation for strategic planning and evaluation, and developed a tool to more effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders.

MNRAAA THEORY OF CHANGE
Our theory of change shows the change we hope to make in Southwest Minnesota.

At MNRAAA, our work helps older adults thrive in Southwest Minnesota. We believe that older adults thrive when they are able to maintain the lifestyle of their choice.

We want adults to have choices as they age. Older adults who are prepared for long-term care costs; who are safe from exploitation; and who have caregivers in their lives have more choices for how they wish to live.

MNRAAA is the gateway to resources for older adults, caregivers and service providers in the twenty-seven counties of southwest Minnesota. We strive to ensure that services are available for older adults and caregivers by helping our communities and providers access resources. We also provide information and assistance to help adults find and use those services.

Thanks to the Southwest Initiative Foundation and Aurora Consulting for supporting our efforts to develop a Theory of Change and for laying a foundation for our Strategic Planning work that will begin in May.

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