Preparing Future Aging Advocates: The Oklahoma Aging Advocacy Leadership Academy

Purpose: This article describes the organization, operation, and evaluation of the Oklahoma Aging Advocacy Leadership Academy (OAALA). Design and Methods: The Academy was designed to assure the continuation of future cohorts of advocates and volunteers for aging programs and services. It is a statewide training program consisting of 10 weekend sessions. The curriculum incorporates age-related content and advocacy/leadership/voluntary skills training. Evaluation consisted of: (a) a pre-post assessment of perceived familiarity with advocacy and volunteer leadership issues; (b) post-academy participant assessments of the quality of various aspects of the Academy; (c) post-Academy written statements about areas that were valuable and in need of change; and (d) a compilation of student volunteer and advocacy activities. Results: Evaluation results indicate that the OAALA led to significant increases in perceived familiarity with issues and very positive participant assessments of quality. In addition many participants spontaneously initiated advocacy and volunteer activities while enrolled in the Academy. Implications: Our experience with the Academy suggests that it is a feasible means of preparing individuals to become successful old-age advocates and volunteer leaders.