Erika has been involved with Virginia?s No Wrong Door initiative for the past 13 years. In her role as Expansion Specialist, she promotes and educates agencies across the Commonwealth about this statewide network of shared resources designed to streamline access to long term services and supports. She started out her career in the information technology world, and it was the impetus for her move to America from South Africa. An early assignment with VirginiaNavigator turned into a long career where Information Technology blended with Health and Human Services. Today she?s employed by Virginia?s Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services and serves on the Virginia AIRS (VAIRS) Board. Erika holds a Bachelor?s in Information Technology.

Sara Link directs No Wrong Door Virginia, a statewide initiative streamlining access to long term service and supports through person-centered planning. In 2016, Sara joined Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, as strategist monitoring options counseling service standards and developing policy standards for implementation of a statewide person-centered single point of entry system. Sara formerly directed a partnership between Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging and Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Gerontology for livable communities and formerly served as analyst for New York City Office of the Mayor and Department for the Aging. Sara has led research studying older adult services, social isolation, and community-based supports. Sara’s work in person-centered care was informed by her experience as an educator, community organizer, applied researcher, funder, policymaker, and administrator. Throughout a career that has largely focused on serving older adults, Sara has designed evidence-based solutions that have utilized geographic information system (GIS) data and mapping to improve utilization of senior centers and to identify pockets of regional social isolation among older adults. Sara and her team are currently expanding the number of statewide person-centered thinking trainers and incorporating trauma-informed care and ageism disruption into the statewide person-centered planning curriculum for the aging and disability

services workforce. Sara holds a Master of Science degree in Urban Policy and Management and formerly served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala.

Rosa Plasencia is the Director of NCI-AD at ADvancing States. Ms. Plasencia also participates in work related to long term services and supports policy, equity initiatives, and No Wrong Door/ADRC. She holds a Juris Doctorate and Graduate Certificate in Consumer Health Advocacy from the University of Wisconsin, and a BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Prior to this role she worked in state government, as a Title III-B legal services provider, and with healthcare focused nonprofits.