Self Direction Coalition of NC
About the Self Direction Coalition of NC
The Self Direction Coalition of NC is an organization dedicated to empowering families and individuals who use North Carolina Medicaid waiver services by promoting self-direction as the ideal choice for service delivery.
Our mission is to advocate for policies that support self-direction, promote equitable access to services, facilitate long-term sustainability, and protect the rights of individuals to live independently and with dignity.
Meet our Keynote Speaker Alison Barkoff
The Self Direction Coalition of North Carolina Welcomes Alison Barkoff
Alison Barkoff is the Harold and Jane Hirsh Associate Professor of Health Law and Policy and
Hirsh Program Director at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public
Health. She is a nationally recognized expert on health care, long-term-services and supports,
disability and aging policy, Medicaid and civil rights.
Prior to joining George Washington University in October 2024, she led the Administration for
Community Living (ACL) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, serving in the
role of ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging from January 2021 to October
2024. She was the advisor to the HHS Secretary on aging and disability policy, oversaw
national disability and aging programs, and led cross-agency initiatives related to long-term
services and supports, civil rights, housing, direct care workforce, family caregiving, healthy
aging and public health. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles at the Civil Rights
Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and Center
for Public Representation.
For more than 25 years, Ms. Barkoff has focused on legal and policy advocacy to improve the
lives of people who face the most significant challenges in accessing health care and other
critical community services. She has led the development of federal regulations related to
Medicaid, health care discrimination, aging programs, elder justice and workforce; engaged in
precedent setting civil rights litigation; and led numerous policy initiatives nationally. Ms. Barkoff
has testified before Congress on disability and aging issues and before the U.S. Commission on
Civil Rights.