This month, Older Adult Technology Services (OATS) from AARP welcomed 19 new licensed partners across 15 states to join the Senior Planet licensing program; a unique program that provides community-based organizations across the country with tools to help older adults access technology and use it to enhance their lives. In July, the newly added licensed partners begun delivering in-person technology classes to older adults in their communities, making the award-winning Senior Planet curriculum more accessible than ever before.
Today, the licensing program has over 127 licensed partners that offer programs at 466 active sites in 35 states across the country. New partners participate in a 5-week train-the-trainer series, after which they are provided with access to a growing selection of Senior Planet curriculum and ongoing support including resources, updates, and access to a network of licensed partners across the country. With plans to continue expanding each quarter, new partners for Q3 2024 include:
“With new partners brought into the Senior Planet licensing program on a quarterly basis, OATS is given the ability to reach new communities and a larger group of older adults across the country,” said Kristina Demery, Manager of the National Licensing Program at OATS. “Continuing to expand our curriculum and resources in new locations is pivotal in equipping more seniors with the essential skills they need to navigate and excel in the digital world.”
The licensing program was launched in 2021 to meet the growing demand for meaningful, in-person technology programs that could reach older adults in rural areas. In addition to foundational technology courses like Getting Started on Zoom and Smartphones at a Glance, the free program caters to a diverse range of interests and needs among the aging community, offering digital creativity platforms like Canva and fitness and meditation apps like Insight Timer, the iPhone Health App, Google Fit App, to name a few. A commitment to accessibility and inclusivity is prioritized, with curriculum options available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Chinese.
OATS believes in supporting local partners who can be equipped to deliver programs through existing operational systems and allowing space in the curriculum for geographic-specific changes to program delivery. Interested in bringing the Senior Planet licensing program to your community? Visit www.oats.org/licensing or email licensing@seniorplanet.org for more information.