Title
Report regarding a resolution approving the acceptance of Older Americans Act grant funds from the San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services Division in the amount of $75,018 and amending the Parks and Recreation Department Fiscal Year 2022-23 Operating Budget pursuant to budget amendment #23.008. (Greg Mediati, Parks and Recreation Director)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the acceptance of Older Americans Act grant funds from the San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services Division in the amount of $75,018 and amending the Parks and Recreation Department Fiscal Year 2022-23 Operating Budget pursuant to budget amendment #23.008.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
For many years, the Parks and Recreation Department’s Adult Day Care program at Roberta Cerri Teglia Center in South San Francisco has received Older Americans Act (OAA) grant funds from San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services (AAS) Division for the purpose of providing Nutrition Services for seniors and Transportation program services. OAA funding to support Adult Day Care has been received since it began operating in the 1980s.
The Adult Day Care program operates in accordance with the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division regulations, and the standards and requirements established by AAS. Grant funds are overseen by staff in the Recreation Division’s Senior Services Program and are directed to the Adult Day Care program located on the second floor at Roberta Cerri Teglia Center.
The purpose of the Adult Day Care Program is to provide a structured day program for frail, and/or impaired adults with disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s, strokes, or Parkinson’s. The program is therapeutic and maximizes the client’s physical, emotional, and social functioning and encourages the highest level of independence. The program offers a variety of activities in a safe and secure environment with this goal in mind, and provides daily lunch and transportation services for South San Francisco residents. This program also provides much needed respite for family members and caregivers. Additional services include community resource information, support group opportunities, and cultural and special events.
For grant funding in fiscal year 2022-2023, AAS invited agencies to apply for funding via a request for proposals (RFP). Staff responded to the RFP to reapply for Adult Day Care and Transportation funding and applied for funding to add a congregate nutrition program to the Parks and Recreation Department’s Senior Services Program. The Department used to operate a congregate meal program that was eliminated due to low enrollment and budget cuts during the Great Recession. During COVID, staff realized the presence of significant food insecurity in the community and decided to apply for congregate nutrition funding. In recent years, except for a hiatus in 2020 and 2021 during COVID, the Department had implemented seasonal special luncheons that celebrated holidays such as Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and St. Patrick’s Day. For a $6 fee, older adults enjoy a delicious meal catered by a local restaurant, themed entertainment or educational speakers, and small gifts to celebrate the occasion.
Although the special luncheons are very popular, they are not to be confused with a congregate nutrition program. A congregate nutrition program operated under the AAS grant is donation based, with a suggested donation of $3.50, and meals served must meet strict nutrition standards outlined by the grant. Daly City, San Bruno, and Pacifica have congregate nutrition programs.
If approved for acceptance, staff anticipates using the congregate nutrition grant funding to offer a weekly meal program. The frequency and number served per sitting may change as staff continues to develop this new program, however, for example, 4,000 units of service could provide 40 meals twice per week over 50 weeks of the year. If desired, the City may choose to subsidize additional meals to serve more seniors and/or increase the frequency of meals per week. Although the grant began on July 1, 2022, AAS is allowing the City through September to formalize a plan to kick off the congregate nutrition program.
FISCAL IMPACT
Grant Award
For Adult Day Care, Transportation, and Congregate Nutrition, staff identified a total budget of $406,700. Informed by the availability of OAA funding, AAS awarded the City $75,018.
Program Grant Allocation
Adult Day Care $33,007
Transportation $12,011
Congregate Nutrition $30,000
TOTAL $75,018
See Attachment 1 for a detailed breakdown of the grant award by program.
Adult Day Care and Transportation
For many years, Older Americans Act funds along with City general funds, individual contributions, and fundraising support the programs offered through the City, currently offered at the Roberta Cerri Teglia Center. Adult Day Care clients are charged $40 to $64 per day on a sliding scale based on need. Acceptance of this grant is important to sustaining and providing additional funds for new and existing clients in the program. The financial support is invaluable to clients and can mean they can continue living in their homes and maintaining their highest level of independence. Given the long-standing nature of Adult Day Care and Transportation services, the City’s funding match is already built into the Parks and Recreation Department’s budget and no additional general fund money is being requested to continue these services.
Congregate Nutrition
Given that congregate nutrition is a new component to the Senior Services Program, the general fund impact is still to be determined. The City was awarded a total of $30,000 for congregate nutrition allocated by: $24,900 to provide 4,000 units of service (i.e., meals), $100 for nutrition education, and $5,000 in supplemental state funding that can be applied to offset any costs related to congregate nutrition.
As part of the Department’s fiscal year 2022-2023 budget, City Council approved a position upgrade of a 0.75 FTE part-time regular Community Services Site Coordinator to a 1.0 FTE regular Recreation and Community Services Coordinator. The additional FTE and higher-level skillset of the upgraded Coordinator position will be used to provide the primary staff support for the congregate nutrition program. In addition, not yet part of the Department’s budget, staff anticipates needing 0.4 FTE part-time hourly Recreation Leader III. The Department may also realize unbudgeted supply and service expenses to cover the cost of incidental supplies, and to offset the cost of meals if the cost to the City is more than the grant amount per meal or if the City chooses to subsidize more than the 4,000 units of service provided by the grant. Staff may return to City Council at midyear for a budget adjustment to support additional expenses not covered by the grant if needed. No funding beyond the grant amount is being requested at this time. AAS has indicated that supplemental funding may be available later in the year. Staff will consider other external funding opportunities when developing the congregate nutrition program.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
Acceptance of this funding will contribute to the City’s Strategic Plan under Priority #2: Quality of Life by supporting programs that promote the health and wellness of older adults and their families in South San Francisco.
CONCLUSION
Acceptance of this grant is important to sustaining the Adult Day Care and Transportation program, as well as addressing food insecurity for older adults with the reestablishment of a congregate nutrition program. Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the acceptance of Older Americans Act grant funds from the San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services Division in the amount of $75,018 and amending the Parks and Recreation Department Fiscal Year 2022-23 Operating Budget pursuant to budget amendment #23.008.