DFTA · Agency plan

Department for the Aging

Preliminary REP pages 45-48

Plan area: Children, Youth, Older Adults & Families

1 Short-Term 3 Medium-Term 1 Long-Term

Mission & Commitment

The NYC Department for the Aging (NYC Aging) works to eliminate ageism and ensure the dignity and quality of life of approximately 1.8 million diverse older New Yorkers, and to support their caregivers through service, advocacy, and education. Research shows that older New Yorkers live longer and are happier when they age in a city without barriers to services such as healthcare, housing, food, and employment. NYC Aging recognizes its role in addressing these inequities and is proud to have provided services to 4,000 Caregivers, secured employment for 372 older adults, and served 6,452,188 meals at Older Adult Centers (OAC) and 3,827,579 meals through the Home Delivered Meals (HDM) programming totaling 10,279,767 meals in FY 2025. NYC Aging remains steadfast in its role and responsibility to address the effects of structural racism on older adults and ensure that NYC is a city where all can thrive and age in place.

Spotlight wins

NYC Aging has published and continues to build upon its Community Care Plan ('the Plan') which is a guide or blueprint to help eliminate silos and ensure older adults age-in-place in their community. The Plan provides useful data on NYC demographics, partner organizations, and national statistics. The Plan seeks to ensure: more multi-cultural programming; services that better reflect demographic changes in the older adult population (language and cultural competencies); and fairly, but intentionally award OAC contracts in neighborhoods identified by TRIE as needing an infusion of resources.NYC Aging has developed language specifically citing racial and cultural needs to be used in nearly all NYC Aging solicitations.

Short-Term Goals

Short-Term Pay Equity & Internal Workforce Equity

Prioritize training staff on inclusive program delivery that enhances productivity and career advancement; and fosters belonging. Training helps staff to better meet the needs of an exponentially growing diverse older adult community.

Population focus: Older adults; Agency staff / employees

Outcome & strategies

Outcome: By the end of 2026, ensure that 100% of selected staff are trained.

Implement a multi-month Learning Academy, for non-supervisors and new frontline supervisors. The curriculum includes a mixture of communication, technical, and self-improvement skills.
Personnel compliance training

Goal ID: DFTA-G01

Medium-Term Goals

Medium-Term Equity in Agency Programs, Services & Resource Allocation

Prioritize agency resources to address historical inequities in underserved neighborhoods

Population focus: Underserved communities

Geographic focus: Underserved neighborhoods (unspecified)

Outcome & strategies

Outcome: By 2028, ensure that the demographic served by agency-funded Older Adult Centers (OACs) mirrors each community district's racial and ethnic makeup.

Establish new contracts with Providers that require programming that aligns with the cultural interests of the population being served

Goal ID: DFTA-G02

Medium-Term Pay Equity & Internal Workforce Equity

Ensure that diverse communities feel a sense of inclusion and belonging at Older Adult Centers and through home delivered meal (HDM) programs by prioritizing cultural competency standards, especially through meals served

Population focus: Older adults

Outcome & strategies

Outcome: By 2028, OACs and HDM programs verify via surveys that older adults are satisfied with the meals served at OACs and through the HDM program.

Ensure that meals at Older Adult Centers and those that are home delivered are appropriate to the older adult participants' cultural and religious backgrounds
Continue gathering data through a 5-year research grant from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to implement 18 pop-up cafes, which serve culturally appropriate meals to the older adults
Utilize assessment and survey results to inform future meal programming

Goal ID: DFTA-G03

Medium-Term Workforce Diversity & Staff Training

Expand NYC Aging staff workforce to meet the demand of the growing older adult community using equitable recruitment and unconscious-bias free hiring processes

Population focus: Older adults; Agency staff / employees

Outcome & strategies

Outcome: By 2028, ensure that 100% of agency vacancies are accompanied by an equitable recruitment plan and unconscious-bias free hiring process.

Maintain robust recruitment pipelines that identify talent from diverse backgrounds
Continue to utilize structured interviewing in the hiring process

Goal ID: DFTA-G04

Long-Term Goals

Long-Term Older Adults & Aging Services

Increase the participation of underserved older adults in NYC Aging services to build an age inclusive city for all New Yorkers

Population focus: Older adults; Underserved communities

Geographic focus: Underserved neighborhoods (unspecified)

Outcome & strategies

Outcome: By 2035, expand NYC Aging's reach from the current 12% to 15% of the older adult population, ensuring that interested clients from communities of color are proportionally represented.

Implement programming that matches neighborhood demographics and addresses age and racial disparities in service delivery
Prioritize public engagement and ensure that older adults and providers have an accessible and efficient feedback loop with the agency
Continue to identify grant opportunities within our existing network and pursue public-private cross-sector partnerships to reach new and isolated populations

Goal ID: DFTA-G05

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