With its Five Bold Goals and 23 Strategies, the MPA has inspired unprecedented levels of coordinated action across California’s growing network of aging and disability providers, policy makers, advocates, and experts. On January 21, 2022, several MPA stakeholders and partners came together for a public virtual event to celebrate what we have been able to accomplish together in this first year and share what’s planned for the year ahead.

Governor Gavin Newsom provided opening remarks, followed by presentations from:

• Cheryl Brown, Former CA State Assemblymember, District 47
• Dr. Wynnelena Canlas Canio, Kaiser Permanente
• Lourdes Castro-Ramirez; Business, Consumer Services, Housing Agency
• Susan DeMarois, CA Department of Aging
• Richard Figueroa, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
• Mark Ghaly, CA Health & Human Services
• Kim McCoy Wade, Office of Governor Gavin Newson
• Sarita Mohanty, The SCAN Foundation
• Christina Mills, CA Foundation for Independent Living Centers
• Carolyn Nava, Disability Action Center
• Adrin Nazarian, CA State Assemblymember, District 46
• Natalie Palugyai, Labor & Workforce Development Agency
• Kevin Prindiville, Justice in Aging​

We highly recommend watching the event recording below; you can access a copy of the slide deck here. 

Related reports include:

• MPA First Annual Progress Report
• MPA Progress - Overview of Initiatives
• 2021 Legislative Highlights

View the recording from the MPA First Anniversary Event.

A terrific turnout of 380 representatives attended our Inland Empire Master Plan for Aging (MPA) Convening, held on Zoom on August 2nd, 2021.

We began with warm welcoming remarks from Gary Robbins, Deputy Director of Programs and Operations with the Riverside County Office on Aging; Sharon Nevins, Director and Public Guardian  from the Department of Aging and Adult Services with the County of San Bernardino; and Jarrod McNaughton, CEO with Inland Empire Health Plan. 

Claire Ramsey, Senior Staff Attorney from Justice in Aging, delivered an inspiring keynote, reaffirming our commitment to ensuring adults in the Inland Empire can age with dignity, respect and independence.

Next, Amanda Lawrence, Project Director, California Department on Aging, provided a brief overview of the MPA. This was followed by a summary of local legislative efforts related to the MPA, led by: Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes; Senator Rosalicie Bogh-Ochoa; San Bernardino County Board of Supervisor Dawn Rowe; and Riverside County Board of Supervisor Jeff Hewitt.

The discussion continued, with Gary Robbins engaging a panel of experts to dive deeper into the five bold goals of the MPA, including:

• Housing for All Stages & Ages – Heidi Marshall, Director, Riverside County Department of Housing and Workforce Solutions
• Health Reimagined – Dr. Wada, MD, MPH, Vice President, Population Health, Inland Empire Health Plan           
• Caregiving that Works – Carmen Estrada, MPA, Inland Caregiver Resource Center
• Affording Aging – Claudia Harris, District Manager, Senior Community Service Employment Program, San Bernardino County Department of Aging and Adult Services
• Inclusion & Equity, Not Isolation – Jennifer Pabustan-Claar, Assistant Director Riverside County Department of Public Social Services, Curtailing Abuse Related to the Elderly & Dependent Adults (CARE) Team

Ben Jáuregui, CCM Manger, Behavioral Health & Care Management Support Services, Inland Empire Health Plan and Commissioner, San Bernardino County Senior Affairs Commission, concluded the event by providing a short recap of key issues discussed, and proposing next steps. 

Thank you to all of our partners and stakeholders for participating to make this event a key success! We look forward to continuing to develop a Local Master Plan for Aging in 2022. 

After many years of serving as the Executive Director of the Community Access Center (CAC) and the Lead for the Inland Empire Long Term Services and Supports (IE LTSS) Coalition, Paul Van Doren retired in December 2020. 

Throughout his tenure, Paul was a tireless advocate for persons with disabilities and a highly-esteemed convener of key stakeholders through the Coalition.  Upon his retirement, he left the IE LTSS Coalition in competent hands with Anna Swartz.

Anna Swartz serves as the Transitions Advocate at the Community Access Center, focusing on long term services and supports (LTSS). Ms. Swartz has been working for the Community Access Center since 2014, first as an Administrative Assistant, and later focusing on Advocacy (with an emphasis on vision impaired older adults). Ms. Swartz brings a background in Business Administration, Human Resources (HR), and county government, and a Masters degree in Finance. 

The IE LTSS Coalition thanks Paul Van Doren for his many years of commitment and we are thrilled to continue on under the capable leadership of Anna Swartz.