REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
July 26, 2022
FROM
SHARON NEVINS, Director, Department of Aging and Adult Services
SUBJECT
Title
Revenue Contract with California Department of Aging for Older Adults Recovery and Resilience Funding
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Revenue Contract (State Revenue Agreement No. IF-2223-20) with the California Department of Aging for Older Adults Recovery and Resilience funding, to provide services through the Dignity At Home Fall Prevention Program, Older Californians Nutrition Program, Family Caregiver Support Program, and Senior Legal Services, in the amount of $2,254,587, for the period of July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024.
2. Adopt a Resolution, as required by the California Department of Aging, authorizing the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Director of the Department of Aging and Adult Services to execute all documents, including State Revenue Agreement No. IF-2223-20 and any subsequent non-substantive amendments, in relation to State Revenue Agreement No. IF-2223-20, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel, for the period of July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024.
3. Direct the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Director of the Department of Aging and Adult Services to transmit all documents and amendments in relation to State Revenue Agreement No. IF-2223-20 to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Sharon Nevins, Director, 891-3917)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Revenue in the amount of $2,254,587 for the Dignity At Home Fall Prevention Program ($382,260), Older Californians Nutrition Program ($881,522), Family Caregiver Support Program ($109,253), and Senior Legal Services ($881,552) is State allocated from the California Department of Aging (CDA) through Older Adults Recovery and Resilience (OARR) funding. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the 2022-23 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Federal Older Americans Act promotes the welfare and dignity of older adults by providing valuable services in order to enable older adults to be independent, remain in their communities, and assist them to be engaged citizens. In 1976, the CDA designated San Bernardino County as an Area Agency on Aging. As a result of this designation, DAAS receives funding to administer programs and services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.
Due to the effects from isolation and negative health impacts to older adults as a result of sheltering in place due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, CDA requested a one-time General Fund augmentation of $106 million to strengthen older adult’s recovery and resilience. As a direct result of this request, CDA’s 2021-22 Enacted Budget included OARR funds to provide financial resources to support and maintain service needs to the following programs for the duration of the contract period.
• The Dignity At Home Fall Prevention Program provides fall and injury prevention information, education, referral services, equipment, assessments, services, materials, and labor costs to the eligible service population. The eligible service population are individuals who are 60 years of age or older or have disabilities, and are at risk of falling or being institutionalized. This additional funding will provide services to an estimated 792 clients. The cost for service per client is approximately $483 and may fluctuate depending on the service the individual needs.
• The Older Californians Nutrition Program (OCNP) that includes Intergenerational Activities provides DAAS and the service providers with the additional resources to strengthen older adult’s recovery and resilience from the severe isolation and health impacts from staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for home-delivered nutritious meals has increased dramatically due to the pandemic. With the stay-at-home orders lifted and the state reopening, the need remains for additional home-delivered meals and resources to reestablish community-based meal sites. The OARR funding will support DAAS and the service providers in serving meals to older adults to help bridge the significant food gap that exists in San Bernardino County. This funding will provide approximately an additional 135,000 meals to an estimated 926 clients for congregate and home delivery combined. Inclusive of those numbers, funding will assist in developing partnerships, including planning, development, and implementation of intergenerational activities that connect OCNP participants with younger generations. Mutually beneficial intergenerational activities promote greater understanding and respect between generations and strengthen older adults’ recovery and resilience from the isolation and health impacts experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Family Caregiver Support Program provides a local, multifaceted system of support services to unpaid family caregivers of older adults, and grandparents, or other older relatives, with primary caregiving responsibilities for a disabled child through access assistance, information services, respite care, supplemental services, and supportive services (i.e., assessments, counseling, support groups, and training). The purpose of the OARR funding is to strengthen older adults and caregivers’ recovery and resilience from the severe isolation and health impacts from staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will provide services to approximately 53 additional caregivers, at an average cost of $2,043 per caregiver, which will reduce isolation, loneliness, and mitigate other health concerns.
• Senior Legal Services provide assistance to older adults, and older adults with disabilities, with a variety of legal problems concerning housing, consumer fraud, elder abuse, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare, Medi-Cal, age discrimination, pensions, nursing homes, protective services, conservatorships, and other matters. An estimated 434 clients were served in the county during the 2021-22 fiscal year. The additional funding will provide resources to expand these services throughout the county. The funding amount allocated by CDA will assist approximately an additional 1,251 clients, at an average cost of $705 per client.
In addition to accepting the OARR funding, this item will adopt a Resolution, as required by the California Department of Aging (CDA), authorizing the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or DAAS Director to execute all documents, including the recommended Revenue Agreement and any subsequent non-substantive amendments, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
On July 5, 2022, DAAS received the final OARR State Revenue Agreement from CDA. The item is being presented at this time, as this is the first date available following the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews. Approval by the Board of Supervisors on this date will have no impact on DAAS’ services or activities.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on June 30, 2022; County Counsel (Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 30, 2022; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on July 1, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on July 12, 2022.