SUBJECT
Title
A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER SERVE OLDER ADULTS BY INTEGRATING COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO SERVICES INTO SENIOR CENTERS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
Senior centers have traditionally served as access points for socialization, recreational activities, lifelong learning opportunities, nutritious meals, and basic resource assistance for a growing population of older adults. These services provide fundamental support to older adults that support long, healthy, and independent lives. There are currently 30 senior centers in San Diego County, operated primarily by local governments and non-profit organizations. In addition to the traditional services provided at senior centers, older adults have a need to be connected to other social services and vital resources. Although many of the needed resources exist throughout the community, the ability to manage and schedule multiple appointments and physically transport themselves to numerous facilities remain barriers to access for many older adults. Senior centers are uniquely positioned to integrate County of San Diego (County) services with their existing operations, creating a one-stop shop for older adults.
In a comprehensive study of San Diego County senior centers completed in 2019, San Diego Seniors Community Foundation (SDSCF) identified challenges and opportunities for improvement within existing senior centers. Among other recommendations, SDSCF proposed transforming senior centers into one-stop service hubs for older adults, creating a place where older adults can access programs and essential resources that address their physical, mental, and financial health. Integrating County services in senior centers will provide direct access to a variety of health and community services including public assistance, outreach, veterans’ services, behavioral health services, housing services, aging services, homeless services, and public health services.
Today, you are being asked to support a one-year pilot program with the City of Escondido’s Park Avenue Community Center (PACC) and the Jewish Family Service’s College Avenue Center at Temple Emanu-El. This pilot program will utilize existing County resources to work directly with the City of Escondido and Jewish Family Service’s College Avenue Center at Temple Emanu-El. to provide in-person services to connect older adults to vital resources that aid in maintaining healthy, independent lifestyles.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
SUPERVISOR Jim Desmond AND SUPERVISOR Joel Anderson
Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work with staff to implement a one-year pilot program with the City of Escondido and Jewish Family Service of San Diego to integrate County of San Diego services as needed into the Park Avenue Community Center and College Avenue Center at Temple Emanu-El. Report back to the Board in 12 months with successes, challenges, and recommendations to expand or discontinue the pilot program.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Existing barriers continue to prevent San Diego County’s vulnerable older adult population from accessing resources needed to thrive. The creation of a one-stop service hub within existing senior centers will help the County of San Diego further provide services and resources to communities with the most need. Today’s action will provide the mechanism to overcome traditional barriers to provide resources, outreach, and education to older adults, improving the quality of life for equity seeking groups to include black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), women, people with disabilities, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, and the economically disadvantaged.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 CAO Recommended Operational Plan in the Health and Human Services Agency. If approved, this request will result in estimated costs and revenue of approximately $100,000 to $250,000 in Fiscal Year 2022-23. The funding sources are California Department of Aging grants, Social Services Administrative Revenue, and Realignment. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
There are approximately 959,000 San Diegans over the age of 55, and by 2030, that number is expected to grow to more than 1.1 million. San Diego County’s over-85 population is projected to diversify and grow faster than any other age group. There are currently 30 senior centers in San Diego County, operated primarily by local governments and non-profit organizations. Senior centers have traditionally served as access points for socialization, recreational activities, lifelong learning opportunities, nutritious meals, and basic resource assistance for the growing population of older adults. These services provide fundamental support to older adults that support long, healthy, and independent lives. In addition to the traditional services provided at senior centers, older adults have a need to be connected to other social services and vital resources including self-sufficiency programs, housing support, and mental and physical health services. Although many of the needed resources exist throughout the community, the ability to manage and schedule multiple appointments and physically transport themselves to numerous facilities remain barriers to access for many older adults.
In a comprehensive study of San Diego County senior centers completed in 2019, San Diego Seniors Community Foundation (SDSCF) identified challenges and opportunities for improvement within existing senior centers. Among other recommendations, SDSCF proposed transforming senior centers into one-stop service hubs for older adults, creating a place where older adults can access programs and vital resources that address their physical, mental, and financial health.
Park Avenue Community Center
Established in 1958, the Park Avenue Community Center (PACC), home of the Escondido Senior Center, offers a multitude of services and programs to older adults, and provides a place to gather for socialization, activities, and resources. Serving thousands of patrons annually, it is considered the busiest senior center in North San Diego County. PACC’s support for older adults includes a wide array of activities, nutritious meals, exercise classes, lifelong learning opportunities, travel programs, resource connections, and on-campus nonprofit partnerships with San Diego Oasis, the Senior Service Council Escondido, and Escondido Senior Enterprises, as well as drop-in community partners.
College Avenue Center
Jewish Family Service of San Diego, in partnership with Temple Emanu-El, facilitate the College Avenue Center in Del Cerro. The College Avenue Center hosts activities and services specific to older adults, including congregate dining opportunities, trivia games, transportation to vaccination appointments, home meal delivery and more. There is a large demographic of older adults in the neighboring San Carlos, Del Cerro, Allied Gardens and College Area communities that utilize these services.
Senior centers such as the Escondido Senior Center and the College Avenue Center are uniquely positioned to integrate County of San Diego (County) services within their existing operations, creating a one-stop shop for older adults. The County can provide access to a variety of health and community services including public assistance, outreach, veterans’ services, behavioral health services, housing services, aging services, homeless services, and public health services. It is recommended that the County provide on-site services on a regular basis depending upon need and availability of staff.
The City of Escondido and Jewish Family Service of San Diego will evaluate the services of the County to ensure alignment with the needs of the local older adult communities and to propose future opportunities to provide in-person resources. This integrated approach and partnerships will provide a valuable one-stop location for older adults to connect to vital resources that will enable them increased quality of life through access to resources and community support systems.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action supports the Equity (Health) and Community (Quality of Life and Partnership) initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, as well as the County of San Diego’s Live Well San Diego vision, by reducing disparities and disproportionality and ensuring access for all through a fully optimized health and social service delivery system, as well as providing programs and services that enhance the community through increasing the well-being of our vulnerable older adult residents.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Desmond Joel Anderson
Supervisor, Fifth District Supervisor, Second District
ATTACHMENT(S)
Click here to enter text.