Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Lisa Mancini, Director, Aging and Adult Services
Subject: Amendment to the Agreement with the Institute on Aging for Friendship Line Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the Chief of San Mateo County Health or her designee to execute an amendment to the agreement with the Institute on Aging for the Friendship Line, increasing the amount by $50,000 to an amount not to exceed $262,180.
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BACKGROUND:
Measure K funds help to support the Institute on Aging's (IOA) Friendship Line, a 24-hour hotline for seniors and disabled adults. The Friendship Line is the only such 24-hour hotline in the United States, and it provides crisis support services that include active suicide intervention and a unique call-out service. The current amount of the agreement is $212,180.
The Friendship Line, in conjunction with the Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention, will provide client services and training to San Mateo service providers to help improve the system of care for older adults and adults with disabilities in San Mateo County. Seniors and disabled adults enrolled in the Call-Out Emotional Support Program will receive outreach calls for emotional support in order to help them remain in their own home. The emotional support call is also a source for health monitoring and assessment.
DISCUSSION:
As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis, the Friendship Line is experiencing exponential call demand while, simultaneously, losing volunteers to respond to calls. IOA requested that San Mateo County increase the amount of its agreement by $50,000 to pay for staff for eight weeks to increase their capacity to address calls and to keep the Friendship Line viable. This request has been approved by the San Mateo County Emergency Operations Center.
AAS requests that the B...
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