Information & Referral/Assistance (I&R/A) programs are a vital resource in times of disaster and emergencies. Programs have risen to many challenges over the past two years and beyond along with developing innovative and creative approaches to helping individuals, families, and communities. The identification and sharing of promising practices from the I&R/A field can help strengthen current and future disaster readiness and response. In this context, the National Information and Referral Support Center is launching a promising practices contest to identify and disseminate practices for disaster and emergency preparedness and response in aging and disability I&R/A programs. We encourage organizations to think broadly about the roles of their I&R/A services in disasters and emergencies and welcome submissions from national, state, and community programs.

Share your promising practices with us and you could join us at the National HCBS Conference. Submission guidelines and the application are available online. To view the guidelines and application prior to starting a submission, click here. Awards include complimentary registration and lodging, or registration only, for the 2022 National Home and Community-Based Services Conference (first and second place awards) and a breakfast gift box for I&R/A staff (third place award). The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2022.

Contact Support Center director Nanette Relave at [email protected] with questions or for the application in an alternate format.