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: Acceptance of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Funds and the Execution of Provider Agreements for Meals, Caregiver Support Services, Information and Assistance Regarding COVID-19, Ombudsman Program Support, Legal Assistance, and COVID-19-Related Transportation
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing waiver of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, acceptance of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Funding in the amount of $1,555,387 from the California Department of Aging, and execution of provider agreements for the term of July 16, 2020 through September 30, 2021.
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BACKGROUND:
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Congress approved the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which includes $955 million in grants from the Administration for Community Living to help meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities in the community during the COVID-19 public health emergency. CARES Act funds are being directly allocated to Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). These funds are separate from Older Americans Act (OAA) funds for the AAA’s Area Plan, and they have no impact on previous Area Plan allocations.
In July 2020, California Department of Aging (CDA) issued a questionnaire to understand how CARES Act funding could build upon the services supported by the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and OAA. With input from the County’s current OAA providers, Aging and Adult Services determined that additional funding is needed for meals, family caregiver support services, information and assistance regarding COVID-19, Ombudsman program support, legal assistance, and COVID-19-related transportation. All of our current OAA providers were identified as needing CARES Act funds to continue to provide these services.
DISCUSSION:
Aging and Adult Services (AAS) already contracts with cities and community-based agencies to implement programs that achieve the Area Plan’s goals and objectives with OAA funding. AAAs have discretion to spend CARES Act funds in the ways that they deem most important for disaster relief for older adults and people with disabilities in the community.
In the County, CARES Act funds are being prioritized to support services that can help older adults and people with disabilities “sheltering in place” for the long term. Since March 2020, the County’s priority has been helping our providers shift from Congregate Nutrition to “grab and go” meals. Since Nutrition sites remain closed, funds are needed to help providers cover the costs of packaged meals for pick-up by family and friends or for home delivery. On May 8, 2020, the County began participating in California’s Great Plates Delivered Program to support the food needs of seniors who were not receiving meals from our OAA providers. Participating County residents receive three meals a day from participating restaurants. This program is supporting middle income seniors and is establishing a gateway for them to learn and benefit from County efforts to help with their emergency food needs. CARES Act funds will help pay Great Plates program administration costs.
In addition to nutrition, social, emotional, and psychological support is vital for our older adults and people with disabilities. CARES Act funds will be used to support wellness checks, COVID-19 information and referral services, assistance with how to participate in activities using technology, family caregiver support groups and activities, transportation (for shopping, medication pick-ups, and other COVID-19-related trips), and virtual activities (including social calls, support groups, virtual exercise, and other activity sessions).
Waiving the request for proposal process and directing CARES Act funds to the providers already receiving OAA funds is the most efficient way to ensure the continuity of these crucial services for seniors and adults with disabilities who are sheltering in place to protect themselves from COVID-19.
The CARES Act funds are allocated to:
Alzheimer’s Association $33,874
Catholic Charities $30,386
City of Belmont $20,534
City of Daly City $169,603
City of East Palo Alto $45,036
City of Menlo Park $12,592
City of Pacifica $50,896
City of San Bruno $148,365
City of San Mateo $30,817
City of South San Francisco $14,780
Coastside ADHC $36,459
Daly City Partnership $48,215
Edgewood $17,751
Family Caregiver Alliance $31,374
Kimochi $7,374
Legal Aid $34,271
Ombudsman $127,885
Peninsula Family Services $28,364
Peninsula Volunteers $400,676
Senior Coastsiders $41,000
Self Help for the Elderly $75,370
Institute on Aging $50,000
Great Plates Delivered Administration $99,765
Total $1,555,387
The contract agreements and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
It is anticipated that 77,315 meals will be served to older adults and adults with disabilities in FY2020-21 and 8,590 meals will be served in FY2021-22.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2020-21 Estimated |
FY 2021-22 Projected |
|
Meals served to older adults and adults with disabilities |
77,315 meals |
8,590 |
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds for these services were included in the AAS FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget. Federal funds will cover 100% of the costs. There is no Net County Cost impact by adopting these agreements and resolution.