Late summer 2023 is an exciting time if you live in Lycoming County or Clinton County. The Little League World Series is in full swing, students are getting ready to return to school, and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging is working on their Master Plan for Aging. On May 25, 2023, Governor Shapiro signed Executive Order 2023-09, the Pennsylvania Master Plan for Older Adults. This executive order directed the Pennsylvania Department of Aging to evaluate issues facing older Pennsylvanians and support the development of a statewide Master Plan for Older Adults.
The Master Plan is a 10-year strategic planning resource that can help Pennsylvania transform the infrastructure of the state and coordinate services for their older adults. This plan will include goals, objectives, and initiatives that promote the health, wellbeing, and the quality of life of Pennsylvania’s older adults. Instead of being a fixed document, the plan will be fluid and change as the needs of Pennsylvanians change. The goals, objectives, and initiatives contained in the Master Plan will need to be adapted over the span of 10 years, as we work towards a better Commonwealth for our aging population.
STEP Office of Aging is engaging in the planning process by asking local stakeholders to help define what will be included in the plan. This stakeholder engagement and data collection process will involve both in person listening sessions and information on how to access an extensive online survey. These efforts will gather the ideas and comments of community stakeholders and allow their voices to be heard.
STEP Office of Aging knows that people want to ‘age in place’. People want to continue to live in their communities and remain vibrant members of those communities. These listening sessions will be held locally and will be opportunities for us to record what you see is needed to age in the community you have worked so hard to build.
The Master Plan will be published on or before February 1, 2024. It will identify “quick wins,” aspirational goals, accountability and measurement, and resources for implementation. The Master Plan will include a process for ongoing monitoring of initiatives, and ways to measure their effectiveness in supporting its goals and objectives. A public facing, accessible, and transparent reporting platform is an important part of the process, so we can demonstrate how well the Commonwealth is performing against the Master Plan’s goals and objectives.
Access to the online survey developed by the University of Pittsburgh, along with information about the listening sessions, can be found in the STEP Office of Aging ad in this publication, on our website, and on our Facebook page. Your comments and ideas are the foundation of the Master Plan. We need to build a better Pennsylvania – one that is a good place to grow old!
About STEP, Inc.
STEP Office of Aging is part of the Independent Living Pathway to Success.
STEP, Inc. is one of 1,100 Community Action Agencies nationwide, and a member of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1966 and formally known as the Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action (STEP), Inc., the agency recently marked 57 years of partnerships and service to the community. The mission of STEP, Inc. is to engage diverse individuals, families, and communities in the pursuit of social and economic success. STEP, Inc.’s mission is accomplished through five Pathways to Success: Early Learning, Housing Options, Workforce Development, Community Collaboration, and Independent Living.
