Pathways to Greatness Recognition Program
2008 Application Process is Open

Several years ago, AAHSA joined with two other leading aging-services organizations to launch the Quality First initiative to achieve excellence in aging services and to earn public trust. More than 60 percent of AAHSA members have signed the Quality First Covenant and embarked on a journey of commitment to continuously improve quality.

Since Quality First was launched, AAHSA has provided members with numerous tools to engage in self-assessment and communicate their commitment to quality.

Last year, we introduced Pathways to Greatness, a new annual program to help AAHSA members move forward on their Quality First journeys. Our first year was highly successful, and two aging-services providers received our inaugural awards.

Now, entering our second year of this exciting program, we are pleased to welcome applications for the Pathways to Greatness Recognition Program. We look forward to the learning more about the successful, innovative organizations providing senior living services across the nation.

AAHSA and LarsonAllen LLP (LarsonAllen), a national CPA, consulting, and advisory firm serving aging-services providers, have joined together to develop the Pathways initiative, a recognition program that will define the primary attributes of high-quality aging-services organizations and recognize high-performing providers for their excellence.

We believe this program will help educate the field about the attributes of greatness and how to achieve them while also allowing those recognized to enhance their reputations in their communities.

Organizations chosen to be honored will receive recognition at the AAHSA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia this October as well as in the widely-distributed final report.

Through this recognition program we will begin to identify the traits of high-performing organizations so aging-services providers can successfully meet the changing demands of their customers, use disciplined processes to improve and measure results, and develop a committed and skilled workforce.

The Pathways to Greatness Recognition Program is also designed to identify the leading practices and innovations "great" organizations are developing to impact their communities and deliver superior performance relative to their mission. For more information on the program, the inaugural award recipients, key findings, selection process, and assessment tools, download the white paper, Pathways to Greatness 2007: A Recognition Program for Exemplary Aging Services.

Participation is open to AAHSA Quality First Covenant signers that provide multiple levels of services and programs for older adults on one campus. This year the application process has been abbreviated to one phase. The application deadline is May 15, 2008, and the application process has been abbreviated to one phase. Click on the Next button below to access the application.

We encourage you to participate and help define Pathways to Greatness in our field. The findings will benefit you, your boards, constituencies, and the aging-services field. Thank you for your continued leadership in creating a better understanding of great aging-services organizations and the path required to achieve greatness.

Sincerely,

Larry Minnix	John P. Richter, CPA
President & CEO, AAHSA	Principal-in-Charge, Health Care, LarsonAllen