Item 10: Draft Commission on Aging Age Friendly Austin Action Plan Framework — original pdf

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Commission on Aging Build, Bridge, and Champion Framework for the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan (2026–2030) The Commission on Aging adopts the following Build, Bridge, and Champion Framework to guide its work in support of the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan (2026–2030). The Commission recognizes the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan as the City’s primary roadmap for advancing the health, independence, engagement, inclusion, mobility, housing security, economic security, and overall quality of life of older adults. Since the creation of the original Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan in 2016, the Commission on Aging has played a central role in identifying priorities, engaging community stakeholders, and advancing Austin’s efforts to become a more age-friendly city. As the Age-Friendly Austin initiative has matured, the Commission’s role has evolved to focus on advancing key strategies within the Action Plan, fostering collaboration among partners, elevating the voices of older adults, and promoting accountability for results. The Commission further recognizes that City Council’s adoption of Resolution No. 20250605-084 marked a significant expansion of the City’s commitment to older adults by directing all City departments to incorporate age-friendly principles into their work, designate departmental points of contact, and participate in implementation of the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan. This increased citywide engagement creates new opportunities for collaboration, coordination, and implementation across City departments and community partners while reinforcing the Action Plan as the City’s guiding framework for advancing the well-being of older adults. Accordingly, the Commission adopts the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan as its primary organizing framework and the principal basis for establishing its priorities, activities, and areas of focus during the 2026–2030 planning period. Through the Build, Bridge, and Champion Framework, the Commission will focus its efforts on advancing selected strategies within the Action Plan, supporting implementation by City departments and community partners, acting as a force multiplier, and helping ensure that the needs and perspectives of older adults remain central to City decision-making. The Commission views its selected Build, Bridge, and Champion strategies not as a comprehensive list of all issues affecting older adults, but as the areas where the Commission believes it can have the greatest impact during the 2026–2030 planning period. Page 1 of 3 Commission on Aging Build, Bridge, and Champion Framework for the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan (2026–2030) The Build, Bridge, and Champion strategies adopted by the Commission for each Age- Friendly Austin Action Plan Focus Area shall collectively constitute the Commission’s Age- Friendly Austin Strategic Work Plan and shall serve as the primary framework for prioritizing Commission activities throughout the duration of the 2026–2030 Action Plan. The Commission intends that these adopted Build, Bridge, and Champion strategieswill guide and inform: Invited presentations and guest speakers; • Commission meeting agendas and work sessions; • • Recommendations to the Austin City Council, City Manager, and City departments; • Community engagement and outreach activities; • Partnerships and collaborative initiatives; and • Other actions undertaken by the Commission in fulfillment of its advisory responsibilities. The Commission recognizes that many important issues affect older adults. However, the Commission’s limited meeting time, resources, and advisory capacity require prioritization. Accordingly, the Commission’s adopted Build, Bridge, and Champion strategies shall serve as the principal basis for determining where the Commission directs its attention, advocacy, and efforts. When considering requests for presentations or identifying potential guest speakers, the Commission shall prioritize organizations, programs, initiatives, and subject matter experts whose work advances one or more of the Commission’s adopted Build, Bridge, and Champion strategies. When appropriate, invited speakers may be asked to address specific questions, implementation opportunities, barriers, best practices, or policy considerations related to Commission strategies rather than provide general organizational presentations. For each selected strategy, the Commission may serve in one or more of the following roles: • Build – Develop, initiate, support, or directly contribute to activities that advance implementation of a strategy. Page 2 of 3 Commission on Aging Build, Bridge, and Champion Framework for the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan (2026–2030) • Bridge – Convene stakeholders, facilitate collaboration, share information, and strengthen partnerships that advance a strategy. • Champion – Advocate for, elevate awareness of, and encourage implementation of a strategy through recommendations, public engagement, policy discussions, and other advisory activities. The Commission shall review this Framework annually to assess progress, evaluate emerging needs, and determine whether modifications are warranted. The Commission intends that its work remain primarily aligned with the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan throughout the 2026–2030 planning period. Any addition, removal, or substantive modification to the Commission’s adopted Build, Bridge, and Champion strategiesor to this Framework shall require approval by a two-thirds vote of the Commission at a publicly posted meeting. Nothing in this Framework precludes the Commission from addressing emerging issues affecting older adults when required by City Council action, City policy changes, public emergencies, legal requirements, or other matters of significant community concern. Whenever practicable, such actions should be considered in relation to the goals, objectives, and strategies of the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan. Page 3 of 3