Key Points

Trellis provides Older Americans Act grants to nonprofits that help older adults thrive in their home and create livable communities with services like delivering meals, legal services, caregiver support, transportation and help with household chores. However, the way older adults experience these services varies greatly; large inequities are experienced from birth to old age that place constraints on people of color and Native Americans’ ability to age in homes and communities.

SDK was engaged by Trellis to conduct an evaluation of Trellis’ funded services and equity among Black, Native American and Hispanic older adults in the Twin Cities. Through data analysis, community engagement and in-depth interviews, SDK completed a comprehensive assessment and recommendations that served as the foundation for a new leadership and approach to advanced equity.

Client Need

: In 2020, issues of health, isolation and racial injustice were at the forefront of public attention. Trellis and its service delivery partners faced the challenges created by the pandemic by experimenting in new and bold ways to continue to provide uninterrupted services to as many people as possible.

Trellis recognized there was a racial disparity in how their programs were accessed and commissioned a study to understand the disparities better and identify ways to connect more BIPOC older adults to the services they provide.

SDK Contributions

Trellis engaged SDK to conduct a racial equity analysis of Trellis’ Title III funding. The goal of the assessment was to provide a more complete picture of equity issues in Trellis’ Title III funding areas and BIPOC older adults in the Metro Area, broadly.

The project began with SDK leading the Trellis staff in a SWOT analysis of Trellis’ work to engage communities of color and American Indians in Title III funding and a discussion about project goals.

Once the goals were identified, the research was designed with the context of systemic barriers and past and present opportunities denied to people of color and American Indians. SDK used several sources to create a community-centered overview of racial equity and aging in the Twin Cities, with a special focus on the common and unique needs of older adults in the Black, Latinx and American Indian communities. They included:

• Census and demographic data painted a broad picture of older adults in the Twin Cities and their needs.

• Program data from Trellis provided a snapshot of the people served across the Twin Cities and within key programs.

• Interviews with professionals serving older adults offered a glimpse at the different services available to help older adults of color in their home and community.

• Interviews and listening sessions with leaders and older adults in the Black, Latinx and American Indian communities that capture their unique and shared needs and priorities in aging.

Based on this research, SDK developed recommended strategies and actions to help Trellis provide funding more equitably. SDK also facilitated a board retreat focused on embedding equity lessons and approaches into Trellis’ work.