Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County’s Area Agency on Aging
was recently selected by the Colorado Health Foundation to participate in the
Colorado Linkage Lab. The Linkage Lab is a program designed to help
community-based organizations improve partnerships with the health care sector
which will promote integration of services for the aging and disability communities
in Colorado.

The Colorado Health Foundation is
replicating a successful California model with a cohort of seven other
community-based organizations from across the state.

“Community-based organizations are
experts at understanding the issues their communities face, but they often need
support forming business relationships with health care providers,” said Erica
Snow, interim portfolio director for the Colorado Health Foundation. “This
program is designed to strengthen the connections between community and health
care sector services so older people and people with disabilities have a
well-organized network of services to meet their health care needs.”

The Boulder County Area Agency on Aging will
participate in a 19-month senior leadership program led by top-notch faculty to
develop business capacities and receive individualized technical assistance.
After completing the program, the AAA will be invited to apply for up to
$100,000 in business infrastructure grant funding to support effective
partnerships with the health care sector.

Sherry Leach, the Agency’s Division
Manager, is anticipating even more opportunities to partner with the health
sector, “Our organization already contributes to improving health outcomes and
medical cost savings by focusing on the social determinants of health. We do
this through an array of services and supports, such as nutrition programs,
falls prevention classes, meals, access to transportation and chronic disease
self-management,” Leach said. “As actors in the health sector begin to
recognize our value in promoting better health outcomes as well as cost
savings, we want to be poised to partner as we deliver our services.”

This work comes at a critical time in
health care, as the Affordable Care Act has created new care financing and
delivery opportunities, including Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs),
Medical/Health Homes, Community-based Care Transition Programs, Dual Eligible
Integration Pilots, and more.

For more information about the Area Agency on
Aging, their programs or role in the Colorado Linkage Lab, contact Jacob
Bielecki at 303-441-1979 or jbielecki@bouldercounty.org.
For more information about the Linkage Lab and the Colorado Health Foundation,
contact Taryn Fort at 303-953-3666 or tfort@coloradohealth.org.