Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with the Alliance on Aging for $544,202 to provide Outreach, Long Term Care Ombudsman, Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Services, and Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act services to Monterey County seniors, retroactively to July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($54,420) of the original contract amount and do not significantly change the scope of work.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with the Alliance on Aging for $544,202 to provide Outreach, Long Term Care Ombudsman, Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Services, and Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act services to Monterey County seniors, retroactively to July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($54,420) of the original contract amount and do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Alliance on Aging was established in 1970 by a group of concerned local citizens who wanted to help seniors remain safely in their own homes for as long as possible. This volunteer-driven organization is now a multi-purpose senior service agency with over 200 volunteers. The largest non-profit provider of senior services in Monterey County, the Alliance on Aging serves over 7,000 individuals every year.
Practical changes due to COVID 19 will be made to services in this Agreement in order to provide the following: 1) Bilingual/bicultural (English/Spanish) outreach to seniors throughout all of Monterey County to inform and enroll this most isolated and frail population into available services. 2) Ombudsman services designed to protect the elderly in Skilled Nursing Facilities and licensed residential care facilities for the elderly by investigating complaints, facilitating resolutions, monitoring facilities, and providing training to program volunteers. 3) Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Services (HICAP) and Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) services that provide extensive assistance to seniors applying for and maintaining Medicare insurance.
This Agreement was delayed in being brought for Board consideration prior to the effective date due to County delays in administrative processing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Auditor-Controller and Purchasing have reviewed and approved this agreement. County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
Funding is provided by the Older Americans Act and the California Department of Aging. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues in SOC010 are included in the FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This Agreement correlates to the Health & Human Services Strategic Initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors by working towards the goals of improving health and quality of life outcomes by providing outreach and supportive services to seniors.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__Economic Development
__Administration
X Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Kathleen Murray-Phillips, MA III, x3530
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, Director x4430
Attachments: Alliance on Aging agreement 2020-21
Proposed agreement is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report