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MBA staff use this communication to provide news and updates regarding Area Plan and related AAA activities. For questions about Area Plan updates, email the MBA Area Plan inbox or the MBA Finance inbox.
Area Plan updates
CY25-28 Area Plan: Amendment 6 and Year 2 CY2026 Award updates
We revised and replaced the Year 2 CY2026 Full Funding and Redistribution Award table in the AAA-MBA Collaboration Teams website and started the process of drafting the amendment.
The April 20, 2026 Year 2 CY2026 full initial revised awards table includes:
- Updates to Redistribution Award amounts by AAA
- Increases to MAP Operations and Tools Awards approved by MBA.
- Redistribution Awards in grand total summary.
Timeline
- April 24, 2026: AAAs that are receiving Title III funds through redistribution must submit a workplan outlining their plans to spend redistribution funds received by Dec. 31, 2026, uploaded to Foundant.
- May 8, 2026: AAA Budgets for Amendment 6 are due in Foundant.
- Follow-up for the budget will be made available by Friday, April 24, 2026
- Amendments will be processed in the order they are received.
Send any questions to the MBA Area Plan inbox.
Year 1 CY2025 Payment Request workbook updates
AAA finance leads should update their Year 1 CY2025 Area Plan Payment Request workbooks to reflect the decreases in awards per any unobligated and/or obligated unspent as of Dec. 31, 2025. AAA award decreases were confirmed as part of the review of Year 1 CY2025 updated budget submitted by AAAs on or before April 6, 2026.
AAA should align their Year 1 CY2025 Payment Request workbook with these confirmed decreases, which will be part of the next amendment to the 2025-28 Area Plan grant agreements. It is a best practice to update award amounts when decreases are confirmed by AAA and MBA. However, AAAs should wait to increase award amounts in Payment Request workbooks until those increases are added to the AAA Area Plan Grant Agreement per an amendment.
Aging network updates
New Materials Available for Older Americans Month
This year’s Older Americans Month (OAM) theme, "Champion Your Health," highlights prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. It calls on individuals, families, caregivers, and communities to take action — managing health, advocating for themselves and others, accessing preventive care, and making informed decisions that support independence.
Join us in elevating evidence-based approaches, everyday actions, and community partnerships that help people lead healthier, more independent lives.
Visit ACL’s OAM website for ready-to-use materials to support your outreach.
Comprehensive Aging Survey: Update
Vital Research and AASD-MBA staff are finalizing aspects of the Comprehensive Aging Survey as we prepare to launch the survey the first full week in May. We are working on the following aspects:
- Having people test the survey questions to ensure participants understand the questions as they are intended
- Developing multiple outreach materials in different formats to share with partners to increase participation
- Finalizing the formatting of the printed survey for mailings
- Building the online survey
- Training phone interviewers
- Drafting answers to frequently asked questions so phone staff will be prepared if anyone calls to ask about the survey
- Sharing the Comprehensive Aging Survey public website with basic information about the survey. You can select the link or copy and paste the short URL into your browser window: mn.gov/dhs/aging-survey
2026 Age-Friendly University Day is June 8
Forwarded on behalf of the University of Minnesota Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation and Age-Friendly Minnesota:
Retirees, older Minnesotans, and lifelong learners – join us for the fifth annual Age-Friendly University Day on June 8th, 2026! We are excited to welcome acclaimed author of “Living Life Full Throttle”, Dr. Sheryl Ramstad, as our keynote speaker. The day will be filled with opportunities to connect and learn something new. Featured breakout sessions on the future of inclusive home design, a jargon-free look at AI, and strategies for navigating change with equanimity. Come connect, explore new ideas, and celebrate a community of continuous learning.
Join us in-person for $25, inclusive of a full day of learning and networking, along with breakfast and lunch. Opt for the $30 option to support someone who can’t afford the full registration, or choose our free option if you’re unable to pay. In-person registration closes on Friday, May 22nd.
Virtual attendance is free of charge. Live streaming includes the keynote, panel, and one breakout session.
Registration
To register and to learn more, visit: Age-Friendly University Day.
Update on SNAP and Federal Nutrition Funding
The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) shared an update on recent federal changes that could affect key nutrition programs in Minnesota. New funding requirements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have raised concerns about potential impacts to programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Emergency Food Assistance Program.
In response, Keith Ellison and a coalition of attorneys general from across the country have filed a lawsuit challenging these new requirements. While the case moves forward, SNAP and TEFAP benefits are continuing as usual.
More information about the lawsuit is available in a press release from the Minnesota Attorney General's Office.
DCYF's Federal Funding Action Tracker provides the latest information on federal actions and ongoing litigation affecting Minnesota's children, youth, and families.
New report available: Rural Voices Shaping Transformation
Lutheran Services in America recently published a new report, “Rural Voices Shaping Transformation,” that elevates the lived experiences of rural older adults in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, translating their insights into policy recommendations that can strengthen systems of care nationwide. The report, developed in partnership with the SCAN Foundation and Public Policy Lab, includes interviews of older people highlighting their experiences aging in the rural Midwest.
To read the report, and to learn more about the initiative, visit Rural Voices Shaping Transformation.
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AAA News and Updates archive
To view past communications, visit AAA News and Updates archive.
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