Trust for America's Health (TFAH), in partnership with the National Network of Public Health Institutes, has selected IMPH to participate in Phase III of their Age-Friendly Public Health Systems (AFPHS) initiative. The goal of the AFPHS movement is to elevate healthy aging as a core public health function at all levels.

IMPH has had much success creating and leading work in the health policy space through taskforce efforts. IMPH taskforces allow our organization to convene South Carolina experts and stakeholders from multiple disciplines for a series of time-limited meetings to develop recommendations for improving the health of people in our state. While we will not be convening a taskforce to develop the AFPHS State Action plan, the Advisory Council will follow a similar approach. We will convene the various partners involved in healthy aging efforts across the state to ensure coordination and reduction of the duplication and redundancy of efforts. The opportunity to develop a South Carolina AFPHS State Action Plan aligns with the mission of the Long-Term Care Leadership Council (LTCLC) to offer a broad vision for affordable, accessible and high-quality services enabling older adults and people with disabilities to live with dignity.

IMPH will continue to convene the LTCLC as the Advisory Council for the AFPHS project and the council will provide IMPH with existing infrastructure and expertise to guide the development of this plan. Engagement with this group not only better positions us to ensure coordination and reduce of the duplication and redundancy of efforts, but it also allows us to learn about opportunities that align with the AFPHS and identify ways to bridge efforts and close existing gaps.