Trellis

Helping people optimize well-being as they age.

Consulting

Trellis’ Eldercare Development Partnership (EDP) team is made up of seasoned professionals uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive consulting services to support and connect organizations, coalitions, and communities to resources and partnerships that enhance the systems and programs supporting older adults in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Photo of a man smiling.

Technical assistance

We support organizations in identifying and applying to funding opportunities and implementing projects. How we can help:

  • Identifying funding sources
  • Exploring project concepts
  • Reviewing work plans and grant proposals
  • Navigating project implementation and reporting
  • Advocating on your behalf to reduce barriers in funding opportunities

Funding opportunities for which we provide technical assistance include:

We provide technical assistance to organizations serving older adults and caregivers for other funding opportunities as our capacity allows.

Capacity building consultation

Our team understands the needs of older adults and caregivers, and we bring a variety of skills and expertise in business management. We support providers who currently serve older adults, and those who aspire to serve older adults or caregivers. Our team offers training and consultation on a number of topics:

  • Grant writing
  • Nonprofit management
  • Program development
  • Caregiver services
  • Chore, homemaker and transportation services
  • Age-friendly initiatives

Community engagement

We participate in a number of groups and initiatives involved with supporting older adults and caregivers. Examples include:

  • The Metropolitan Caregiver Service Collaborative
  • AARP Age-Friendly Communities
  • HIV Housing Coalition
  • LGBTQ+ Elder Services Work Group
  • Mental Health and Older Adult Services Roundtable

Meet the team

Sarah Adams

Sarah Adams

Sarah brings to Trellis a background dedicated to serving older adults and caregivers, engaging in program design and implementation, and overseeing grants and contract management. In her role as an ElderCare Development Partnership Coordinator, Sarah supports organizations and community groups in the seven-county metropolitan area to enhance their capacity to serve older adults and caregivers through technical assistance for funding opportunities, program consultation, and partnership building. Sarah builds awareness about current and emerging issues related to aging and caregiving through educational presentations and trainings.
 
Special focus areas: Family/friend caregiving, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, Grant writing and management, Program development
 
Geographic focus: Anoka, Dakota, and Washington Counties
Email Sarah
    Diane Graham-Raff

    Diane Graham-Raff

    Diane has been one of Trellis’ Eldercare Development Partnership Coordinators for the past 8 years, with plans to retire in April 2025. She provides capacity building support to community partners who provide services to older adults in the Metro.   
     
    She is a skilled trainer, bringing real world experience to topics such as board governance, grant writing and project management. Prior to her current position, Diane was the Executive Director of Neighborhood Network for Seniors (18 years), Director of the Living at Home Network (5 years) and served as Vice Chair of the MN Leadership Council on Aging and chair of their Health Equity Workgroup. She has been working on issues related to LGBTQ equity for over forty-five years and convenes the Metro LGBTQ Elder Services Workgroup. 

    Geographic focus: Ramsey County
    Email Diane
      Bill Tiedemann

      Bill Tiedemann, MSW, LGSW

      With an MSW from Cleveland State and Akron Universities with a focus on Macro Practice, Bill is known as a highly accomplished and enthusiastic transformational leader with a focus on impacting the complex social issues that prevent many of us from living our best lives.
       
      With over 23 years of experience in the HIV Sector, Bill has held multiple leadership positions within City and State Governments, including non-profit organizations advocating on behalf of people at risk for and infected with HIV. In 2023, Bill began a new chapter in his professional journey by joining the aging sector and Trellis (MAAA) as an ElderCare Development Partnership Coordinator where he builds the capacity of organizations, coalitions, and communities to develop and expand services to support the aging population within the Twin Cities with a focus on LGBTQ+, HIV, and Housing.

      Bill resides in Mendota Heights with his life partner Mike and Bella Grace, a highly active 13-year-old Black Lab Border Collie.

      Geographic focus: Carver, Hennepin and Scott Counties
      Email Bill

        Contact us

        Email EDP@trellisconnects.org if you have questions or believe we can support you.

        ElderCare Development Partnerships are a statewide service in Minnesota. If you are outside the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area, we encourage you to connect with your regional EDP.

        Trellis’ EDP consultation service is funded in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services.