Two Public Health Institutes Achieve Age-Friendly Public Health Systems Recognition

(Washington, DC – August 7, 2024) – Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) in partnership with the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), is excited to share that two public health institutes (PHIs) – Kansas Health Institute (KHI) and the Catherine Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine – have achieved recognition through TFAH’s Age-Friendly Public Health Systems (AFPHS) Recognition Program. The AFPHS Recognition Program is designed to highlight the efforts of departments of health and public health organizations to improve the health and well-being of older people. Both of these institutes have demonstrated their commitment to healthy aging through their existing partnerships and their desire to expand their support for a state-wide age-friendly public health system.

These PHIs are two of the ten that were selected in 2023 to work with TFAH and NNPHI to build their knowledge and expertise in healthy aging. All 10 institutes have committed to working with their state and local departments of health and other partners to build age-friendly public health systems. With TFAH’s guidance, they are developing strategies and partnerships uniquely designed for their states.

KHI is leading the development of Age-Friendly Kansas informed by the AFPHS program including enlisting the support of state agency and organizational leaders across multiple sectors to identify needs of older Kansans and implement policies and programs to address those needs.

The Catherine Cutler Institute works with the Maine Office of Aging and Disability Services to advance the Respite for Maine pilot program that supports caregivers of older adults and will be conducting the 2025-2028 State Plan on Aging Needs Assessment to inform Maine’s State Plan on Aging.

Action steps for recognition are based on the AFPHS 6Cs Framework: creating and leading change; connecting and convening partners; coordinating programs and services; collecting, analyzing and translating data; communicating key information; and complementing the work of partners.

As these two PHIs continue to build age-friendly public health systems in their states, TFAH and NNPHI look forward to supporting their innovation and championing their accomplishments.  

TFAH’s Age-Friendly Public Health Systems initiative is made possible with generous support from The John A. Hartford Foundation. 

Trust for America’s Health is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes optimal health for every person and community and makes the prevention of illness and injury a national priority.  www.tfah.org  

The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. The leader in the field of aging and health, the Foundation has three areas of emphasis: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers and improving serious illness and end-of-life care. https://www.johnahartford.org/