Fremont City Council Meeting: 10/18/22 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Human Services Department Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
STAFF REPORT (ID # 4717) DOC ID: 4717
Updated: 9/30/2022 1:32 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 1
INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE CONTRACT FOR OLDER ADULTS FOR FY 2022/23 WITH ALAMEDA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY (Authorize City Manager to Enter into Contract and Increase Appropriations) Contact Persons:
Name: Karen L. Grimsich
Title: Family Services Administrator
Div/Dept: Human Services Department
Phone: 510-574-2062
E-Mail: [email protected]
Executive Summary: The Alameda County Social Services Agency (ACSSA) has supported the Human Service Department’s efforts to provide Information and Assistance to older adults and their families since 2014. As an Age-Friendly City, one of the first contacts many residents have is through the Senior InfoLine (answered in 4 languages), at one of the City’s Age Well Centers, or through AFS e-mail inquiries. Professional staff and trained volunteers respond to community inquiries, provide information about City and community resources, and often follow-up with additional support services.
ACSSA has awarded the Human Services Department $100,000 for FY 2022/23 to provide Information and Assistance to seniors. This amount was greater than the $53,069 adopted in the FY 2022/23 operating budget. Staff recommends the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with ACSSA in the amount of $100,000 and appropriate an additional $46,931 in the Ageing and Family Services Fund (Fund 173) to account for the contract increase.
BACKGROUND: The Human Services Department (HSD) provides a Senior InfoLine where community members can call a dedicated phone number and talk to a staff social worker to receive support and information about resources. The InfoLine is answered in 4 languages:
English, Farsi, Chinese and Spanish to best serve our community. If other language capacity is needed, the contract provides access to a language line. Community members can also email the HSD with questions. Trained staff also provide information and assistance at the City’s two Age Well Centers, which are considered an important ‘front door’ for community members in need of support.
The City of Fremont is designated as an Age Friendly Community by the World Health Organization and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). As part of this process, the City Council adopted an Age Friendly policy platform in October 2020 that includes a policy to “Promote social networks and services which allow older adults to age safely and successfully.” In developing the Action Plan, older adults in Fremont identified an Age-Friendly community as one which has information that is timely, multilingual and provides practical information. The Senior InfoLine and access to information and assistance at the City Age Well Centers, is key to addressing the needs identified by our older residents.
Staff Report (ID # 4717) Meeting of October 18, 2022
Updated: 9/30/2022 1:32 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 2 DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: InfoLine calls are entered into the HSD electronic health record to facilitate a coordinated response and document the caller’s need as many individuals call repeatedly. Last fiscal year, 954 calls from 705 unduplicated individuals were entered into the data system. The average age of the person in need of services was 74 years. The top reasons people called were housing insecurity, financial assistance, homelessness, ability to care for their daily activities, and physical health concerns.
The Information and Assistance program is embedded in the HSD’s continuum of services that support older adults and their families and is often the first point of contact for community members seeking support. This program establishes a trusted point of contac t and many people return for additional support as their needs evolve over the years.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no impact to the General Fund. Funds from this contract are used to offset the cost of staff providing services. Staff recommends the City Council appropriate an additional $46,931 in the Ageing and Family Services Fund to account for the contract increase.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to, without limitation CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2),(4) and/or (5), and or 15061(b)(3), as it is an administrative or fiscal activity of the City, which has no possibility directly or indirectly to cause a significant adverse effect on the physical environment. Each of the foregoing provides a separate and independent basis for exemption.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to execute an agreement with Alameda County Social Services Agency for Information and Assistance services in an amount not to exceed $100,000; and recognize revenue and appropriate an additional $46,931 in the Ageing and Family Services Fund.