Maryland Department of Aging and Engage with® Partner to Enhance Service Delivery to Older Adults

The Maryland Department of Aging today kicked off its new partnership with the Mental Health Association of Maryland’s Engage with® initiative to make Maryland’s workforce more age friendly. The Engage with® Skills Training Program will provide immersive skills and communications training to Maryland professionals who are crucial to the care and support of older adults in a variety of settings, from call centers that ensure access to crucial services to housing and home care providers supporting aging Marylanders in their homes.

“Maryland’s older population is a large, fast-growing segment of our population, and we want to make sure our workforce is prepared to effectively support them to age with health and dignity,” said Maryland Department of Aging Secretary Carmel Roques. “By focusing on respect, active listening, clear communication, and meaningful interactions, this program will improve access to high quality services for Marylanders as we age.”

Through this partnership, professionals from government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private companies will receive free training on a variety of topics including core communications skills, responding to mental health issues, navigating dementia and traumatic brain injury, partnering in care, and more.

“We are excited to partner with this dynamic organization to offer free training to the boots-on-the-ground care providers who are committed to the future of older people in Maryland,” said Betty Romero, director of the department’s Multisector Plan for Aging. “We look forward to developing additional partnerships and collaborations with more stakeholders as part of our ongoing efforts to make Maryland the first aging-friendly and longevity-ready state.”

The Multisector Plan for Aging is a roadmap for creating and strengthening programs and policies to meet the multiple challenges of Maryland’s increasingly diverse older population, people living with disabilities, and caregivers in an equitable manner. Learn more about the plan at aging.maryland.gov. 

If you have questions on the Engage with® Skills Training Program or want to participate, contact training@engagewith.org or (443) 921-2940.