Administration for Community Living

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What is your role with the Administration for Community Living and the Department of Health & Human Services and how long have you been with the agencies? 

I am a Deputy Administrator of ACL and Director of the Center for Innovation and Partnership. I oversee grant programs to support Medicare beneficiaries’ access to low-income subsidies and health insurance, as well as State No Wrong Door systems that enable access to long-term services and State grants that support individuals’ access to assistive technologies. I also lead efforts to align health and social care through Community Care Hubs and networks of community-based organizations, as well as inter-agency efforts to address the direct care workforce crisis and improve access to housing and services. I’ve been with ACL for about five years and with HHS for 22 years.

What are your current funding priorities and where do you fund?

ACL funds aging and disability organizations across the country through programs under the Older Americans Act, the Rehab Act, and other authorizing laws. We also fund disability research, and technical assistance and collaborate with many other federal agencies on cross-cutting priorities such as direct care workforce, family caregiving, addressing health-related social needs, health equity, and healthy aging.

We’re all aging personally, but how did you get involved in aging professionally?

I was a caregiver to my late father who had Parkinson’s and my late aunt who had ALS. I realized that even with strong family support how challenging it can be to care for those who matter the most to us. I’ve been involved in Medicare policy for many years, but my personal experience made me want to focus more on long-term services and supports and innovative approaches to improving the lives of older adults and people with disabilities.

For some fun insight, can you share with us what are you currently reading, binge-watching, or listening to on repeat? 

I recently had COVID for the first time and had the opportunity to binge-watch “Secrets of the Blue Zones” on Netflix. It was fascinating how they looked at culture, daily habits, food intake, and purpose in life in analyzing the factors that contributed to long, healthy lives.

Can you share with us what you enjoy doing most when you’re not working?

When I’m not working, I’m trying to keep up with the rest of my life which includes my busy teenage daughters who are into crew and dance.