New MPA Network, MPA Impact Snapshot, Podcast & Events (August 2026)

New Peer MPA Network

Since 2022, the Center for Health Care Strategies' (CHCS) Multisector Plan for Aging (MPA) Learning Collaborative has helped states build the multi-year, cross-sector plans needed to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities in the decade ahead — with 27 state-led teams taking part to date. Now, with support from West Health and The SCAN Foundation, the Center for Health Care Strategies is starting a new technical assistance opportunity: the Multisector Plan for Aging Learning Collaborative Network (MPA Network).

The MPA Network will provide states who previously participated in the learning collaborative additional support to sustain momentum on their MPA efforts, strengthen relationships with peer states, and share key learnings through a mix of virtual meeting formats.

Please contact Torshira Moffett at tmoffett@chcs.org with any questions. 

How Do We Know If MPAs Are Working?

Population-level outcomes can take years to surface — so how do states know their Multisector Plans for Aging are working in the meantime? A new West Health snapshot, Beyond the Plan: How to Measure MPA Impact, looks at the progress reports, implementation trackers, and data dashboards states are using to capture earlier signs of change. It highlights state progress across seven policy domains — economic security, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, caregiving, community and connection, behavioral health, housing, and transportation — plus a roundup of state reporting tools you can browse by state.

Read the snapshot 

New Episode: Brain Health Across the Life Course

The next episode of LeverAGE: Reimagining Aging, Health, and the Future of Care — a podcast series from West Health and the American Society on Aging is here.

What if brain health started decades before a diagnosis? In this episode, we sit down with Kelly O'Brien of West Health, and Phyllis Ferrell to explore brain health across the life course.

Drawing on new data from a West Health-Gallup survey — where fewer than 3 in 10 American adults now rate their mental health as excellent, a 14-point drop from just before the pandemic — Patrice, Kelly, and Phyllis unpack what it takes to move from fragmented, crisis-driven care toward prevention. The conversation covers the key drivers of cognitive health from early development through later life, the role of primary care in early detection, how team-based models improve outcomes for patients and caregivers, and how measurement frameworks and payment models can enable or stall progress.

The episode also spotlights how states and communities can integrate brain health into broader aging strategies, including Multisector Plans for Aging.

Available now wherever you listen to podcasts — tune in and join the conversation🎙here. 

Upcoming Events 

How States Are Advancing Caregiver Support Through Multisector Plans on Aging

Thursday, September 17, 2–3 p.m. ET

As states across the country prepare for a rapidly aging population, multisector plans for aging (MPAs) have emerged as a powerful tool for coordinating policy, programs, and investments across government agencies. Fourteen states are implementing MPAs, and more than half of all states are exploring or developing one. Among the priorities these plans address, caregiver support is a consistent focus, and every state MPA released to date includes strategies to support family caregivers. 

This webinar, cohosted by NASHP and the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, will offer insights from MPA officials in three states: North Carolina, Texas, and Vermont. Speakers will share how their states have translated MPA goals into concrete actions that bolster family caregivers. The 60-minute event will highlight implementation lessons and offer practical insights for states seeking to strengthen support for caregivers. 

The states participated in the Multisector Plan for Aging Learning Collaborative, a learning community that helps states advance their MPAs. The initiative is led by CHCS through support from West Health, The SCAN Foundation, the May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust, and The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation.

Registre here: 

ADvancing States 2026 Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference

August 23–27, 2026 | Baltimore Marriott Waterfront | Baltimore, MD

Save the date for the 2026 Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference, ADvancing States’ premier national event focused on strengthening long-term services and supports (LTSS). The conference convenes policymakers and HCBS leaders to share innovative practices that improve state systems. Registration opens Spring 2026—sign up to receive updates.

Sign up for updates

GSA 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting

November 4 - 7 | National Harbor, MD
Join global leaders in aging and gerontology at the GSA 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting to explore cutting-edge research, connect with peers, and advance resilience in aging science. Don’t miss this opportunity to collaborate, share insights, and shape the future of healthy aging at one of the field’s premier events. Registration opens March 1.
Register here

Contact us

For questions, comments, or suggestions related to MPAs or the newsletter, please do not hesitate to contact us at MPA@westhealth.org.