In December 2018, AFTD’s Board of Directors voted to adopt a new Strategic Plan for our work through June 30, 2022. The plan – now publicly available – presents our vision to advance a world with compassionate care, effective support, and a future free of FTD.

Written with input from a range of experts – including many with lived experience of the disease – the plan will amplify AFTD’s work as the leading authority focused on FTD, and will guide us in sustaining the organization at the scale needed to fulfill our mission.

It focuses on advancing early and accurate diagnosis of FTD, developing new treatment options, educating health professionals, and bringing AFTD’s national impact into local communities. AFTD will create new resources to inform and empower our constituents; expand our education, awareness and advocacy efforts; and work to help people access vital FTD care and support in their own local communities.

“AFTD strives to be a voice for all people affected by this disease. At the same time, we know that there are communities we haven’t reached,” said AFTD CEO Susan L-J Dickinson, M.S., CGC. “Our new Strategic Plan endeavors to find those who’ve slipped through the gap and aid them in receiving the attention and care they need.”

As highlights of this work, AFTD will:

• Expand the scope and impact of its volunteer program.
• Advance early and accurate diagnoses and the development of successful treatments.
• Empower our community to advocate for high-quality dementia care and healthcare professional education.

This ambitious plan will require AFTD to expand its staff by approximately 50 percent by June 2022, in a sustainable way. Achieving the impact that this community deserves will require support from thousands of volunteers and donors.

“Our Strategic Plan would not have come together without the valuable input of the people we serve. Now, we must work together to make our shared vision a reality. My hope is that when you read this plan, you will envision a future we can all be proud to be part of,” Dickinson said.

If you would like to learn more about this plan and our vision for the future, and how you can help to make it possible, please read more here.