Studying OAA Title III-B Legal Assistance for Older Adults

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living

Challenge

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) recognizes the importance of the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III-B legal services network in ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable older adults. However, there is limited knowledge surrounding the network that provides legal services and how ACL can best support the network in meeting the needs of vulnerable older adults.

Solution

ACL contracted with our subsidiary, WRMA, to conduct a study of OAA Title III-B Legal Assistance to better understand stakeholder:

Roles in implementing OAA Title III-B legal assistance services
Relationships in implementing OAA Title III-B legal assistance services
Needs in delivering OAA Title III-B legal assistance services
Need for support from ACL

WRMA will explore these topics using a mixed methods approach involving qualitative focus groups and interviews, a document review, and secondary analysis of Title III-B reporting data.

Learn More About This Project

Research and Evaluation

Our team designed a mixed methods evaluation to address the study objectives. We will conduct a document review of publicly available materials to develop a comprehensive view of legal services network structures in each state, secondary analysis of OAA Performance System (OAAPS) data to explore provisions and funding, and qualitative focus groups and interviews with legal services stakeholders.

Qualitative Data Collection

WRMA will conduct six focus groups with legal services network staff and up to five in-depth interviews with national organizations that support the legal services network. Qualitative data will provide key insights into the experiences and needs in delivering legal assistance services. WRMA will lead recruitment, conduct all focus groups and interviews, and conduct data analysis.

Quantitative Analysis

We are conducting secondary data analysis of OAAPS data to examine breadth and extent of legal services provision across the country. This first-of-its-kind analysis will explore resources and expenditures, services provided, and populations served by Title III-B legal assistance nationally and by state-level characteristics, such as ACL region and single vs. multiple planning and service area.