Virginia Aging Services Work Group

As required by Chapter 552 of the 2021 Acts of Assembly (Item 291 F), the Secretary of Health and Human Services has convened a workgroup to examine elevating aging services within state government, with a focus on organizational structure.

Work Group Charge

Chapter 552, 2021 Acts of Assembly, Item 291 (F):

  1. It is the intent of the General Assembly that aging services be elevated in importance within state government, to include consideration of reestablishing a separate agency on aging under the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources beginning July 1. Such an agency would oversee policies and programs impacting older Virginians and provide a leadership role across state government in evaluating the impact the aging population has on state services. 

  2. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources, or his designee, shall convene a workgroup that includes representatives from the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Area Agencies on Aging, the Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging, the Department of Planning and Budget, the Division of Legislative Services, appropriate staff from the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, and other appropriate stakeholders. The workgroup shall: (i) review other state aging departments and best practices for offices of aging services that are fully capable of leading across state government with regard to the impacts of an aging population; (ii) review and develop an optimal organizational structure; (iii) develop a transition plan for transferring staff, funding and making other operational changes as needed; (iv) draft legislation for consideration by the 2022 General Assembly; (v) determine potential costs; and (vi) develop draft changes to the Appropriation Act. The workgroup shall, at a minimum, evaluate the most appropriate place that aging services, adult services, adult protective services and auxiliary grant programs should reside within state government. In addition, the workgroup shall examine any other aging-related programs in the Health and Human Resources Secretariat and make recommendations as appropriate to ensure coordination across such programs. 

  3. The workgroup shall provide all deliverables and report on its findings by December 1, 2021, to the Governor, the Department of Planning and Budget, and the Chairs of House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees.

Meetings Minutes and Materials

 

Upcoming Meetings

Membership

  • Daniel Carey, MD, MHCM, Secretary of Health and Human Resources
    • Catie Finley, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources
    • Corey Pleasants, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Resources
  • Ron Boyd, President, Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging
  • Kathryn Hayfield, Commissioner, Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services
  • Susan Massart, Legislative Fiscal Analyst, House Appropriations Committee
  • Bill Massey, President, Peninsula Area on Aging
  • Kenneth McCabe, Department of Planning and Budget
  • Harold Sayles, Vice President, Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging
  • Sarah Stanton, Division of Legislative Services
    • David May, Division of Legislative Services
  • Mike Tweedy, Legislative Fiscal Analyst, Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee
  • Martha Roherty (Co-Facilitator), Executive Director, ADVancing States