THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS SERVICES DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUESTED ACTION.
This item supports the Commission Value of "Approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately, with a special emphasis on the most vulnerable," and the Goal to "Collaborate with public and private partners to find creative, equitable, and responsible solutions to systemic community problems, especially permanent, supportive housing for persons experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.” This Agreement provides match funding to the Areawide Council on Aging of Broward County, Inc. (Areawide Council) to fund an array of support services provided through the Aging and Disability Resource Center to Broward County residents who are 60 years of age or older.
Retroactive approval is sought as the Agreement is effective October 1, 2018, but was not finalized prior to the effective date due to delays in obtaining the necessary documentation and authorized signatures from the Areawide Council. Under federal and state guidelines, the Areawide Council is the entity responsible for planning, coordinating, monitoring, and funding programs and services that meet the needs of 412,750 Broward County residents who are 60 years of age or older. Federal dollars are allocated to the Areawide Council through the Older Americans Act, and state dollars are allocated by the Community Care for the Elderly Act. For every $9 provided by federal and state resources, the Areawide Council must raise $1 in local match. These match dollars provide for the receipt of 45% of federal/state dollars that support services for Broward's elderly residents.
The Areawide Council developed a formula to request and receive their matching funds from Broward County and its municipalities. The Board approved allocation of this local match funding for the past 20 years. For Fiscal Year 2019, the Areawide Council must raise a total of $1,531,696, which includes $684,920 from the County, to ensure that it matches the $13,785,264 in federal and state funding.
The Areawide Council met its outcomes for Fiscal Year 2018. The expected outcomes for Fiscal Year 2019 are as follows: 1) maintain number of persons receiving services; and 2) minimize number of persons waiting for any agency service by ensuring proper expenditure of all available funds, including Home and Community Based Services, Diversion and Long Term Care Initiatives, Supportive Community Care, Caregiver Support, and Nutritional Services.
The Elderly and Veterans Services Division informed the Office of Professional Standards/Internal Investigations and the Office of Economic and Small Business Development that the Areawide Council is in compliance with the policies set forth by the County regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, American with Disabilities Act and equitable distribution amongst Broward County’s small businesses. The Areawide Council is a not-for-profit organization, functioning in a quasi-government role, as an agent of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and following the state’s policies on protection of civil rights and small business development. Consequently, no goals in relation to the above-mentioned policies are required.
The Risk Management Division approved the insurance requirements set forth in this Agreement. The County Attorney's Office also reviewed and approved this Agreement as to form.
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