Hereâs what we found...
Local Government Support
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Early Care Siting for Health, Equity and Economic Vitality
Early care and early childhood education programs play a fundamental role in fostering healthy communities and vibrant local economies. While the importance of these crucial services can often be
overlooked or forgotten when times are ânormal,â the COVID-19 pandemic quickly reminded us that these programs are essential to ensuring economies and communities not only thrive, but function in the first place. Additionally, as many communities across the state of North Carolina experience record levels of population growth, demand for early care programs is at an all time high.
FY22 Workplan: Centralina Regional Planning
In FY21 Centralina Regional Planning assisted communities throughout the region with technical assistance projects related to land use and zoning, walkability, community engagement, GIS, meeting facilitation, healthy communities and electric vehicle readiness while leading regional initiatives focused on natural resource protection, mobility and future transportation technologies. However, our two largest initiatives included leading a two-state, 12 county regional transit project, CONNECT Beyond, and helping local governments update their land development codes to align with North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 160D.
Protecting Older Adults from COVID-19 and Isolation Over the Holidays
The Centers for Disease Control stated that older adults are among those that should not travel at all over the holidays due to the risk of COVID-19 exposure. This also includes having family members travel to the older adult as well.
Strategic Plan and Workplan
Over the last year, we developed a three-year strategic plan that will serve as a roadmap for organizational growth and fiscal stability in service of our mission. The plan was informed by robust engagement with our staff, Board and regional stakeholders, including the 2021 Regional Dialogue Series that aimed to understand changes in Centralina communities since the pandemic and explore opportunities for regional collaboration.
World Elder Abuse Day: How You Can Get Involved
Launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) provides an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of the mistreatment of older persons.
Rufty-Holmes Senior Center: Celebrating 35 Years of Excellence
Senior Centers provide older adults a space to make friends, remain active and improve their wellbeing through a variety of programs and services. While many senior center programs focus on fun, senior centers also offer a critically important service to older adults who may struggle to stay socially engaged and remain connected to their community. Rufty-Holmes Senior Center in Salisbury recently invited staff from Centralina Area Agency on Aging to celebrate 35 years of excellent service and showcase their recent national reaccreditation.
Celebrating Senior Center Month
Todayâs senior centers are delivering vital connections to help older adults age well. Senior centers offer a vibrant, action-packed combination of social activities, fitness and health and wellness classes, volunteering opportunities and community events. Senior centers also provide local formal and informal support systems for the older and disabled adults, which can help them stay as active as possible in their community. During the pandemic, senior centers pivoted to provide virtual services such as online fitness, fun activities, support groups and occasionally grab-and-go meals.
Meeting Your Transportation Needs No Matter Where You Live
In the latest CONNECT Beyond advisory committee meeting, held on April 28, seasoned community builders and transportation professionals shared their vision for how a holistic and integrated transportation system can improve the lives of everyone in the Centralina region.
Regional Resilience in 2020 and Optimism for 2021
A letter from the Executive Director reflects on 2020 and lists what’s in store for 2021: This time last year many were anticipating that 2020 would be a year to plan for a new decade and gain â20/20â vision or clarity on future priorities. Instead, we quickly found ourselves confronting the present, a global pandemic with severe local consequences that brought daily challenges and unprecedented levels of uncertainty.