STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY GAVIN NEWSOM Governor
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING SEAL OF
Division of Administrative Services
2880 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95833
www.aging.ca.gov
TEL 916-419-7517
FAX 916-928-2267 CALIFORNIA
TTY1-800-735-2929
PROGRAM MEMO
To: Area Agencies on Aging
No: 22-09
DATE ISSUED: June 10, 2022
SUBJECT: Older Adults Recovery and Resilience (OARR) Funding for the Older Californians Nutrition Program and Intergenerational Activities
EXPIRES: December 31, 2024
PROGRAMS AFFECTED: Older Californians Nutrition Program under the Older Americans Act SUPERSEDES: N/A
PURPOSE
This Program Memo (PM) outlines the funding intent, process, methodology, and timing for the FY 2022-23 Older Adults Recovery and Resilience (OARR) funding for the Older Californians Nutrition Program (OCNP) and intergenerational activities.
FUNDING INTENT
The OARR funding for the OCNP and intergenerational activities provides $20.7 million, one- time over three years, to California to strengthen older adult's recovery and resilience from the severe isolation and health impacts from staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for home-delivered, nutritious meals has increased dramatically due to the pandemic. With the stay-at-home orders lifted and the state reopening, the need remains for additional home- delivered meals and resources to reestablish community-based meal sites. The OARR funding will support the AAAs and their service providers in serving more meals to more older adults to help bridge the significant food gap that exists in California.
Additionally, the OARR funding is intended to support AAAs and their service providers in developing partnerships and efforts, including the planning, development, and implementation of intergenerational activities that connect OCNP participants with younger generations. Mutually beneficial intergenerational activities promote greater understanding and respect between generations and strengthen older adult's recovery and resilience from the isolation and health impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES
OARR funding utilized for the OCNP must be expended on allowable Older Americans Act (OAA) activities as defined by the OAA and California Code of Regulations to support the goal to provide more meals to more older adults. OARR funding utilized for intergenerational activities support the goal of connecting older adults with children, youth, and adults through the OCNP.
Examples of activities include, but are not limited to the following:
• Development or maintenance of partnerships and collaborative efforts with programs serving children to foster intergenerational connections between older adults and children. • Planning, development, or implementation of shared sites with programs serving meals to children to promote intergenerational socialization among the participants. • Planning, development, or implementation of intergenerational cooking demonstrations or classes to support healthy eating habits.
• Planning, development, or implementation of a shared garden site(s) and intergenerational gardening activities and nutrition education. • Virtual or in-person lunch companion for OCNP participants to socialize with children, youths, or adults while enjoying a meal.
• Virtual or in-person intergenerational social activities related to the OCNP.
ALLOWABLE EXPENSES
Allowable expenses include supplies or equipment necessary to support the implementation of intergenerational activities such as cooking demonstrations, shared garden site development and maintenance, and social activities related to the OCNP.
OARR funding may be used to provide meals for older adults and younger generations participating in activities that support intergenerational connections, however, OARR funding may not supplant funds that would otherwise be available from other nutrition programs. CDA encourages AAAs to pursue opportunities to build partnerships to foster intergenerational connections between the OCNP and other nutrition programs where both are contributing and benefitting from the collaboration.
For capital expenses over $5000, such as refrigerators, freezers, vehicles, or any computing devices, the Senior Nutrition Infrastructure funding or other funding sources are to be utilized.
PROGRAM FLEXIBILITIES
Program flexibilities provided under the Major Disaster Declaration apply to the OARR funding and remain in place until further notice. Funding flexibilities provided under the Major Disaster Declaration are not applicable to OARR funding.
FUNDING FORMULA AND DISTRIBUTION
Each AAA will receive a base allocation of $300 thousand with the remaining funding allocated based on the Intrastate Funding Formula Washington factors. AAAs can opt to receive the OARR funding on an advance or reimbursement basis per Welfare and Institutions Code Section 9114.
For the AAAs that have opted to receive advance funding, a check for one-sixth of the allocated funding will be issued upon execution of the contract. AAAs on an advance will not be required to submit Request for Funds.
BUDGET DISPLAYS
The Budget Displays for the OARR allocations reflect funding available between July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. AAAs can utilize up to 10% (maximum) of the funding for Administration. OARR funding does not have any required match and cannot be used as match for any other program.
EXPENDITURE REPORTS AND CLOSEOUT
This funding is separate from all other Title III C/Area Plan funding and must be tracked separately. Data and expenses for OARR funding should not be tracked in the NAPIS/SPR systems. Data reporting includes following categories:
• The service units (meals) and unduplicated client count for congregate (C-1) and home- delivered (C-2) meals provided to OCNP clients using OARR funds. • The service units and estimated participant count for meals provided to intergenerational participants who are ineligible for OCNP meals.
• A brief one-page narrative describing successes and challenges of the program, as instructed by CDA.
Data is reported quarterly in format specified by CDA. Refer to IF-2223, Exhibit E, Article III.
Reporting Provisions for further detail.
AAAs are required to report expenditures monthly. To report expenditures, AAAs must use the Local Finance Reporting System.
These funds will end December 31, 2024 and the closeout must be completed by January 31, 2025. Closeout information will be forthcoming.
UPDATES ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING DISTRIBUTIONS: STATE AND FEDERAL A new calendar of all current and upcoming funding has been shared with the network and is now posted on the AAA - Contract Information page of CDA's website. More tools will be posted on an ongoing basis and can be proposed to CDA's Division of Administrative Services.
INQUIRIES
For questions regarding this PM, please email:
[email protected].
/S/
Sutep Laohavanich, Deputy Director
Division of Home and Community Living
CC:
Susan DeMarois, Director
Mark Beckley, Deputy Director
Thomas Cameron, Deputy Director, Division of Administrative Services Nicole Shimosaka, Chief Financial Officer
California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (CA)