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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-02-2017 - 4-a - NC Ann Johnson Senior Center of the Year Award – Robert and Pearl Seymour Center 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 2, 2017 Action Agenda Item No. 4-a SUBJECT: NC Ann Johnson Senior Center of the Year Award — Robert and Pearl Seymour Center DEPARTMENT: Aging ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Award Submission Janice Tyler, Department on Aging, 245- 4255 PURPOSE: To join with Department on Aging staff in accepting the North Carolina Ann Johnson Senior Center of the Year Award for the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center. BACKGROUND: The North Carolina Senior Center Alliance gives the annual Ann Johnson Senior Center of the Year Award for excellence in the field of aging in honor of Ann Johnson, who is recognized locally and nationally for her dedication, hard work, and vision that helped pave the way for seniors and those who work with older adults. The award honors a senior center that has made significant contributions that address and elevate issues important to the field of aging through advocacy, or other methods that make a positive impact affecting older adults. The award honors a senior center that: • Provides quality direct services to older adults in the community. • Provides quality programs and staff • Provides quality leadership and organizational management to the organization and the aging network • Has made significant contributions that address and elevate issues important to the field of aging. • Is a focal point in the community for older adults to access services, programs, and assistance with information and referral. • Has championed senior causes through advocacy or other methods that make a positive impact to the seniors and the community. Brittany Williams, Chair of the North Carolina Senior Center Alliance, will present the award to Department on Aging staff and the Board of Commissioners. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Alliance will award $300 to the Seymour Center for programming. 2 SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board join with the Department on Aging, specifically Robert and Pearl Seymour Center staff, to accept the award and that the Board recognize staff for their work enabling the senior center to receive statewide recognition. 3 Summary of the Nominee's Qualifications for the 2nd Annual Ann Johnson Senior Center of the Year Award- Excellence in the Field of Aging Nominee: Robert and Pearl Seymour Center As the Programs and Operations Manager of the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center(Seymour Center), it is an honor and privilege to apply for the 2nd Annual Ann Johnson Senior Center of the Year Award. Within the last year, Orange County Department on Aging-Seymour Center marked several milestones, including celebration of our 10th Anniversary this past May; recognition via the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services for receiving Senior Center of Excellence Accreditation; National Institute of Senior Centers- National Accreditation; one of our unique programs, The Veterans Wall of Honor, was featured in the National Institute of Senior Centers programs for 2017 and a $10,000 mini-grant from AARP for further development as an Age-Friendly community. Our mission is a mirror image of the North Carolina Senior Center Alliance in that both organizations strive to provide a focal point in the community for older adults to find a variety of information, services and programs to enhance their quality of life, well-being and to promote longevity and independence. What is so great about the Seymour Center? How are we providing quality direct services, programs, leadership, advocacy and significant contributions locally and nationally?The Seymour Center is considered one of Orange County's best hidden secrets and it is rapidly becoming a vibrant melting pot for many of the mature adults residing in Orange and surrounding counties. On any given day, persons of all cultures and backgrounds are darting through the doors to get involved in some way or another. When you visit our center,you will find the most beautiful faces including Asian, African-American, Caucasian, Latino, and Middle Eastern. It doesn't stop there,you are guaranteed to meet persons from all walks of life such as the retired professor from a local university; a homeless individual that is trying to make their way to back on their feet; the homemaker that enjoys socializing to the avid artists or musicians who enjoy sharing their talents. Many of our participants come for different interests, different reasons, and happily end up in one common place, which is affectionately referred to as their home away from home. Over 450 seniors are engaged in activities ranging from wellness, theatrical arts, educational, special events, interests groups, support services, dance, crafts, and many other exceptional opportunities. We are the "One Stop Shop"for any or everything one would need to age well! We are very proud of our Volunteer Services Program, VC 55+,which enables over 500 plus senior adults to connect and give back to the community on a daily basis. Our stellar lunch program is federally funded and supported through the Older Americans Act, local municipalities, Orange County Department on Aging and donations, which serves over 70 seniors five days a week. Our popular fit feet wellness program keeps our older adults on their toes providing superior foot health care by registered nurses to 112 seniors a month; this program is so popular it has a waiting list. Daily we offer 3-4 different exercise programs and bi-monthly health education classes. Every Wednesday, our OC Cares team provides an ongoing respite program for 8 to 10 caregivers.This supportive program, Caregiver's Respite, provides persons with dementia a creative outlet to stay active and stimulated while their loved one(s)are able to have a little down time one day a week. Our most recent and newest program with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services supplemental food program has got off to a great start providing additional food for 40 plus low-income older adults in our county. 4 Our staff is made up of awesome professionals who provide community engagement.Two prime examples are the MAP-Master Aging Plan(ning) process, a year-long planning effort that includes the community in the development of a County-wide aging plan, including goals and objectives for the next 5 years, 1000 completed surveys, 5 workgroups made up of more than 100 plus individuals, 3-4 interns and staff involved; and trainings such as Project EngAge, a 13-week senior leadership program whose mission is to train older adults to become resource leaders for their communities.The Dementia Friendly Business initiatives is where team members meet and train local businesses by making them aware of needs of patrons with dementia and other special needs. A new staff member, an Employment Specialist, will coach and assist seniors in job/employment searches and strategies of re-entering the workforce. Our Mandarin and Spanish speaking staff have served as remarkable assets in making language barriers easier for both staff and participants. The Aging Transitions, social work team, works tirelessly making sure seniors are aware of services and programs that enhance many of their daily living needs including transportation, understanding Medicare, family counseling, financial assistance and more.Then there are the super dedicated administrative and operations staff who are considered the heartbeat of the center by making registrations, program marketing, surveys, staffing support, classes, special events, and many other facility, activities and policies are run efficiently and effectively,while providing excellent customer service to both clients and staff. Our programs are not only innovative, but trailblazers when it comes to many of the eclectic areas of interest we consistently tap into. Our offerings are well known through our bi-monthly listsery which we have over 2400 subscribers; growing Facebook Page where we have hundreds of followers; quarterly newsletter, Senior Times, distributed to 14,000; and timely press releases and in-house announcements (i.e., fliers, bulletin boards, verbal announcements, creative props, the Buzz Table, Program Advisory concierge table, sidewalk board, etc.). Forefront programs that hit the ground running and attracted many participants are the Brain Health Academy; Nature Walks with Ken Moore; Booming Night Series- evening programs for baby boomers, working adults, caregivers, and other mature audiences looking for an out of the box experience; Seymour Art and Jewelry Exhibits featuring our very own senior participants; Memory Café for individuals with mild to moderate dementia and their caregivers; Spanish Social Club, providing socialization and educational opportunities with Latino seniors;theatrical groups such as Prime Time Players and Village Revue, both who perform at the center and within the community; Chinese Choir which grew to over 30 members; Cinema Night at Seymour; Wall of Honor Recognition Program which features 16 veterans on a significant wall in the center;Ted Talks; Low Vision Support Group; Bus Riding 101, a program created by our Transportation Specialist to encourage and educate seniors on how to navigate within their community utilizing mass transit; and a Senior Housing Expo attended by over 200 participants. Of course, many of our successes would not be possible if it were not for our Program Advisory Committee, Seymour Friends organization, and a host of other co-partnerships within the county. It's a wonderful feeling to come to work each day knowing it will be different; someone's life will change for the better; there is always someone to talk to and many issues or concerns that our seniors may have will be resolved in a safe and fun environment of the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center.