Rural Multisector Plan for Aging
- Organization: Family Caregiving Institute – Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, UC Davis
- Project Title: Rural Multisector Plan for Aging Initiative
- Program Representative Interviewed: Dr. Pauline DeLange Martinez
- Location: Seven counties representing the Northern California, Central Valley, and Inland Empire regions of California
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Program Overview: The Rural Multisector Plan for Aging (MPA) Initiative was created to
strengthen infrastructure for older adults across seven counties in Northern California, the Central
Valley, and the Inland Empire. Recognizing that more than one in eight Californians aged 65 and older
lives in rural areas — over 804,000 people — the initiative addresses common
challenges including financial insecurity, limited healthcare access, housing shortages, transportation
barriers, and the impacts of natural disasters.
With funding from the SCAN Foundation, the Rural MPA Initiative fosters cross-sector collaboration by bringing together social service providers, long-term services and support (LTSS) organizations, healthcare systems, community-based organizations, academic institutions, tribal nations, and elected officials. Through these partnerships, local coalitions representing three rural regions — Diversability Advocacy Network, Central Valley Long Term Services and Supports Coalition, and Inland Coalition on Aging — are building the capacity to deliver tailored services that meet the needs of older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers in their communities.
Each region established an advisory committee composed of local representatives to oversee the development of Local MPAs. The committees conducted extensive needs assessments, incorporating input from older adults, caregivers, and other community members through focus groups and consultations.
The resulting Local MPAs provide region-specific goals, activities, timelines, and resource allocations to address the most pressing issues. Each plan remains dynamic, evolving with community needs. The SCAN Foundation and UC Davis created a rural MPA toolkit to support other rural counties and states in developing their own plans. This comprehensive resource includes case studies, templates, and actionable tools for leaders nationwide. They are also developing policy briefs for state legislators with data-informed recommendations for policy development to address the needs of rural older adults.