Pretend I Know Nothing About

In this episode, I’m joined by two of my incredible colleagues, Rita Crow and Sarah Hall, as we unravel the story behind the Next Generation MyCare Program. Welcome to "Pretend I Know Nothing." I'm Katie White, your host and the administrator of the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA). Together, we’ll share how we navigated the transition from the original MyCare Ohio demonstration project t...

If you’ve ever wondered how older adults can age in place safely and with dignity, or what keeps things running in affordable housing buildings, this episode shines a light on the heartbeat of those communities—and on the people working quietly behind the scenes to make it happen. I’m sitting down with Michelle Missler, President and CEO of the American Association of Service Coordinators, and Ell...

Curious about innovative approaches to address housing insecurity for older adults? You won't want to miss this discussion! I sit down with Dr. Katie Calhoun (Assistant Professor, OSU College of Social Work) and Marisa Sheldon (Director, Age Friendly Columbus & Franklin County and the Age Friendly Innovation Center) to talk about the regional Shallow Subsidy Pilot Program and what we've learne...

Whether you’re a case manager, community member, or just eager to understand the forces shaping Central Ohio, this conversation is full of insights, untold stories, and a reminder of the relentless human spirit. Welcome to Pretend I Know Nothing, where curiosity leads the way. In this episode, I sit down with Tariq Mohammed, Senior Director for Refugee Programming at Jewish Family Services (JFS),...

This episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at how evidence-based, community-engaged research is shaping the future of aging in Central Ohio. I’m your host, Katie White, and today we’re taking the show on the road for a very special conversation at the Age-Friendly Innovation Center at The Ohio State University. Joining me is Dr. Holly Dabelko-Schoeny, professor and director of research at the Age...

I had the privilege of sitting down with two incredible guests, Antoine Hayes and Stephanie Andrews, to shine a light on Black Men's Wellness Day and Uplift Her—a community event that’s not only close to our hearts, but also making a real impact in Central Ohio and beyond. What is Black Men’s Wellness Day? If you’re unfamiliar, Black Men’s Wellness Day was founded by John Gregory in 2004 as a 5K w...

Welcome to Season 4 of “Pretend I Know Nothing”! I’m Katie White, your host and the administrator at COAAA, and in this kickoff episode, we're talking about a topic that’s shaping how we deliver and measure quality care: NCQA—the National Committee for Quality Assurance. I’m joined by two of my colleagues, Kayla Humphrey and Carrie Oswald, and together, we break down what NCQA is, why it matters t...

How can organizations like the COAAA ensure that their inclusivity efforts address the needs of both their LGBTQ+ staff and community members? Let's talk about the intergenerational dynamics within the LGBTQ+ community in Columbus. We cover everything from the critical needs of older LGBTQ+ adults, facing 13 anti-trans bills in Ohio, to the power of trauma-informed care. We discuss innovative comm...

In this episode, we explore the varied and innovative strategies COAAA employs for media outreach, including our use of traditional news releases, targeted email marketing, and the growing significance of social media platforms. We hear about the evolving landscape of earned media, the importance of concise communication, and the agency's impressive growth in social media followers. Meanwhile, we...

Thanks to Looking Forward Our Way 's Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson for conducting this interview. The episode brings together Anna Tobin and Melissa Owens, two prominent figures in the aging services sector, to share their insights and experiences. Grant Ames, Government and Community Relations Manager at the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA), also provides valuable context about the a...

We're getting back into the intricate world of Medicaid with the much-anticipated Part 2 of our series. Joining us again is Medicaid specialist extraordinaire, Michelle Rice, to guide us through the labyrinthine processes of Medicaid eligibility, applications, and renewals. In this episode, we'll cover everything from the initial application steps to setting up a Qualified Income Trust (QIT) and m...

What distinguishes the PACE model from other Medicaid managed care programs, particularly in terms of cost-effectiveness and service delivery? Joining us are two incredible guests, Heidi Webster, National Director of Business Development for BoldAge PACE, and Jeremy Diaz, Executive Director for the Columbus BoldAge PACE. The PACE model has been around since the early 1970s, originating in San Fran...

We explore the critical world of housing assistance with our special guests, Jennifer Tiedt and Brittany Kunkler, who are coordinators of the COAAA Housing Assistance Program. Jennifer and Brittany will discuss the challenges, successes, and operational insights of the program, including the daily intake and processing of emergency rental assistance requests, the significant impact of community re...

What were the pivotal steps in forming the Central Ohio Stable Housing Network (COSHN), and how has its mission evolved in response to the housing crisis in Columbus? In this episode, we'll explore the collaborative efforts that started The Central Ohio Stable Housing Network, or COSHN. It's vital role of emergency rental assistance in averting evictions and the importance of agencies like COAAA i...

Let me know what you think of this podcast, as well as any ideas you have for an episode. Email me at kwhite@coaaa.org! https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ Copyright 2026 Central Ohio Area Agency On Aging

What are the core objectives of the Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) program, and how does it empower veterans and their caregivers? Allen Roberts, who supervises four of COAAA’s six impactful programs, joins us to unpack how this initiative empowers veterans to take control of their own care by employing caregivers, managing their budgets, and tailoring services to their individual needs. We uncover t...

In this episode, we talk with Andy Haggard, a seasoned veteran in understanding and explaining Medicare. With over 20 years at COAAA, starting as a PASSPORT case manager before moving into community education and outreach, and now spearheading Medicare outreach, Andy's vast experience is nothing short of impressive. His role also encompasses managing internal agency disaster preparedness and staff...

We welcome Medicaid specialists Michelle Rice and Shelby Fox from COAAA. In this episode, we'll unpack the complexities of Medicaid, exploring its eligibility criteria, the nuances of waiver programs, and the critical role of income and resources in determining coverage. Michelle and Shelby share their extensive experience and highlight common challenges and misconceptions about Medicaid, providin...

The mission of COAAA University is to create a confident, competent, compassionate, and connected workforce. Learn from Erica Drewry, Director of Client Services, and Carrie Oswald, Clinical Operations Analyst, about the vision and planning efforts that have gone into the creation of COAAA University. The university, a training program developed from clinical best practices, is designed to equip s...

The “New Supe’ Group” is an educational, supportive, and mentorship program that was recently created for COAAA employees who have recently been promoted into supervisory roles. Transitioning into this type of role can be challenging, with learning new programs, skills, and requirements. The goal of the New Supe Group is to create shared learning experiences and connections to peers to ensure a su...

Tim Duggan, Clinical Manager, and Anya Moore-Ridley, PASSPORT Assessor, share the process of scheduling and performing in-home assessments. Learn about income and level of care requirements to understand how older adults and people with disabilities qualify for home and community-based services. Key Takeaways 1. The assessment and enrollment team at COAAA assesses clients for their ability to perf...

Thousands of calls, emails, website inquiries, and faxes come into COAAA each month. For individuals seeking information and assistance, there is a team at the agency ready to offer support. Learn how the screening team provides and educational and supportive environment from Marikate Leavens, Screening and Pre-Admission Review Manager, and Chelsee Russell, Screener. Key Takeaways 1. The screening...

The Older Americans Act mandates federal funding be used for meal, supportive, caregiving, and evidenced-based services for older adults across the U.S. With these funds come complex service specifications, billing requirements, and annual monitoring. Ann Bauman from Fiscal and Jackie Marchan-Rish from Provider Relations share how COAAA supports our amazing service providers in Central Ohio, ensur...

In this episode, we learn the history of the Older Americans Act, the Federal and State budgeting processes, and just how important advocacy is to ensuring aging gets in, and stays in, the budgets. Grant Ames, COAAA Government and Community Relations Manager joins Beth Kowalczyk, O4A Chief Policy Officer, to discuss the role of policy in human services, advocacy opportunities, the importance of bu...

The federal Older Americans Act mandates and governs much of the work of Area Agencies on Aging in the U.S. One of the requirements is that each State Unit on Aging must produce a state plan. Ohio’s 12 Area Agencies on Aging develop their required strategic area plans every four years, which then coordinate with and inform the Ohio Department of Aging’s state plan on aging. Tamara James, Director...