civic engagement: engaging older adults in volunteering and employment december 7, 2007 tiffany...
TRANSCRIPT
Civic Engagement: Engaging Civic Engagement: Engaging Older Adults in Volunteering Older Adults in Volunteering and Employmentand Employment
December 7, 2007 December 7, 2007
Tiffany BoimanTiffany BoimanNational Governors AssociationNational Governors AssociationCenter for Best PracticesCenter for Best Practices
U.S. Demographic Changes U.S. Demographic Changes
18.4 million workers age 55 and older in 2000; by 2015, there is projected to be 31.9 million
At the same time, there will be a proportional decrease in the population of workers age 25 to 44
Employers face challenges as population ages - potential skill and labor shortages
Why Do Older Adults Want to Work?Why Do Older Adults Want to Work?
Decline in employer-funded retirement benefits
Rising cost of health care
Need to supplement traditional sources of retirement income
Barriers to Employment for Older Barriers to Employment for Older AdultsAdults
Health care policiesHealth care policies
MisperceptionsMisperceptions
Social Security disincentivesSocial Security disincentives
Defined benefit pension plansDefined benefit pension plans
Lack of connections to jobs Lack of connections to jobs
Why is Civic Engagement Important?Why is Civic Engagement Important?
Benefits for:Benefits for:
IndividualsIndividuals
Communities and statesCommunities and states
BusinessesBusinesses
The NGA Civic Engagement Policy The NGA Civic Engagement Policy
AcademyAcademy
Purpose: To help states improve the health
and lives of older adults by substantially
increasing the proportion of individuals
engaged in employment and meaningful
volunteer activities.
The NGA Civic Engagement Policy The NGA Civic Engagement Policy AcademyAcademy
Funder: Atlantic PhilanthropiesFunder: Atlantic Philanthropies
Major Activities:Major Activities:On-site strategic planning meetingsOn-site strategic planning meetingsPolicy Academy meetingPolicy Academy meetingCustomized technical assistanceCustomized technical assistanceReaching out to new statesReaching out to new states
Goals of the NGA Civic Engagement Goals of the NGA Civic Engagement Policy AcademyPolicy Academy
Conduct comprehensive reviews of state policies
Initiate policy changes based on labor market needs
Develop new tools and improve systems that connect older adults
Enhance training and educational opportunities
Position states as models to promote civic engagement
Policy Academy StatesPolicy Academy States
AlabamaAlabamaArkansasArkansasColoradoColoradoFloridaFlorida
MaineMaineNew MexicoNew MexicoOhioOhioWyomingWyoming
State Goals to Increase Civic State Goals to Increase Civic EngagementEngagement
Make the state a model employerMake the state a model employer
Encourage businesses to become more “older worker Encourage businesses to become more “older worker friendly”friendly”
Create public awareness campaigns targeted to both Create public awareness campaigns targeted to both employers and individualsemployers and individuals
Expand volunteering opportunitiesExpand volunteering opportunities
State Strategies and ActivitiesState Strategies and Activities Working across agencies or boards to coordinate Working across agencies or boards to coordinate
strategiesstrategies
Seeking new funding sourcesSeeking new funding sources
Engaging the governor, legislatures, and other key Engaging the governor, legislatures, and other key state policymakers in the design of projectstate policymakers in the design of project
Hosting statewide conferences or symposiums to Hosting statewide conferences or symposiums to promote the issuepromote the issue
Reaching out to businesses to work cooperativelyReaching out to businesses to work cooperatively
Outcomes to DateOutcomes to Date Executive Orders promoting civic engagement and Executive Orders promoting civic engagement and
solidifying civic engagement effortssolidifying civic engagement efforts
Statewide conferences on civic engagement and Statewide conferences on civic engagement and aging issuesaging issues
White paper outlining the need to promote White paper outlining the need to promote volunteerism and employment among older adultsvolunteerism and employment among older adults
Grants to develop and implement website to connect Grants to develop and implement website to connect older adults to employment opportunitiesolder adults to employment opportunities
NGA Center for Best Practices NGA Center for Best Practices Contact InformationContact Information
Tiffany BoimanSenior Policy AnalystSocial, Economic and Workforce Programs [email protected] ; (202) 624-7815
Linda Hoffman, Ph.D.Policy AnalystSocial, Economic and Workforce Programs [email protected]; (202) 624-5374
Martin SimonMartin SimonProgram Director, Workforce DevelopmentProgram Director, Workforce DevelopmentSocial, Economic and Workforce Programs DivisionSocial, Economic and Workforce Programs [email protected]; (202) 624-5345; (202) 624-5345