Policy & Practice | Spring 2026

responsive and connected systems of support: Key areas of focus include: n Leadership and community capacity building across sectors n Advancing social and economic well being across the life course n Leveraging technology, data, and innovation to reduce barriers and improve access n Strengthening community lead ership, engagement, trust and lived-experience partnerships to co develop local solutions n Promoting safety, health, and well-being to support dignity, stability, and connection Together, these priorities support a shift from reactive systems to more proactive, inte grated, and person-centered approaches that help individuals and communities thrive. We hope this conversation con tinues beyond these pages. Join us at this year's APHSA National Human Services Summit for our session, “Bridging Human Services and Aging Networks: A Community-Centered Model for Benefits Access and Well-Being Across the Lifespan,” on June 15 from 4–5 p.m., as we explore how cross-sector partnerships can strengthen benefits access, reduce enrollment gaps, and build more community-centered pathways to well-being across the lifespan. Natalie Zarrillo is the Executive Director for the Union County Division on Aging at the New Jersey Department of Human Services. Jessica Johnston is the Senior Strategist of Economic Well-Being at the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Natalie Williams is the Vice President of Community and Social Impact at APHSA. Karen Walker is the Senior Strategic Community Engagement Manager at APHSA.

Association (APHSA) are working alongside state and local leaders, community-based organizations, and individuals with lived experience to strengthen connected, people-centered systems through APHSA’s Community and Social Impact approach. Together, NCOA and APHSA are helping advance shared learning, cross-sector collaboration, and com munity-driven strategies that support health, well-being, economic mobility, and social connection across the life course. This collaboration reflects a

support older adults through a compre hensive continuum of programs and initiatives that promote health, inde pendence, dignity, and quality of life. As one of New Jersey’s 21 designated Area Agencies on Aging, the Division serves as a central access point for older adults, caregivers, and commu nity partners, coordinating services such as nutrition programs, care man agement, transportation assistance, caregiver support, wellness activities, information and referral, and access to critical benefits. Through partnerships with municipalities, nonprofit orga nizations, health care providers, and community groups, the Division works to identify emerging needs, reduce barriers to access, and ensure older adults are connected to the resources they need to age safely and suc cessfully in their communities. Building on this work, the Union County Division on Aging—rec ognized as the first in the state to do so—has launched an AI (arti ficial intelligence) assistant, EVA, to enhance access to informa tion and support. EVA provides immediate, user-friendly assis tance through an interactive platform while also connecting individuals to Information and Assistance Specialists when more personalized guidance is needed, improving accessibility, efficiency, and timely service delivery. This effort reflects a growing recognition that technology can play an important role in reducing administrative burden, improving access to trusted information, and strengthening connections between residents, service providers, and the resources that support well-being, independence, and quality of life. By leveraging innovation in coordinated and human-centered ways, UCDHS is demonstrating how local communities can modernize systems to better meet the needs of older adults. At the national level, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the American Public Human Services

shared belief that sustainable com munity impact happens when systems, organizations, and communities work together to co-create solutions that center dignity, choice, opportunity, and access. Through this partnership, APHSA and NCOA are helping communi ties identify opportunities to reduce barriers, improve coordination across systems, and strengthen upstream approaches that better support older adults and people with disabilities nationwide. Emerging from this work are several shared areas of focus that can help communities build more

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Spring 2026 Policy & Practice