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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board Minutes-11-14-2023 Orange County Department on Aging Advisory Board on Aging MINUTES Tuesday, November 14, 1 — 3 p.m. Seymour Center Hybrid In Attendance: Colin Austin, Ann Bradford, Jeff Charles, Jackie Podger, Vibeke Talley, Sandy Walker; Staff: Myra Austin, Brandi Beeker, Robert Bradford, Leiha Edmonds, Kendall McMillan, Cydnee Sims, Beverly Shuford, Dawn Smith and Janice Tyler. Excused Absent: Rachel Bearman, Jerri Gregory and Dick White Absent: James Harris 1. Welcome a. Colin opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. 2. Introductions and Announcements a. Roundtable introductions. b. We are looking for a vice-chair. This is a rotation system, serving about 1 year. If anyone is interested in being vice, then they would be the chair next year. Duties include: 1) Direct the meeting, and make sure people are comfortable speaking and that their voice is heard; 2) There are 1-2 opportunities a year to go to the Board of County Commissioners for presentations and reports; and 3) The hope is that the chairs are a support to Janice, and she has a point person that she can go to. Talk to Colin after the meeting if interested or by email. 3. Approval of Minutes — October 10, 2023 a. Approved with corrections to the report made by Vibeke Talley, Senior Tar Heel Legislation. Director's Report 4. Staff updates a. Cydnee Sims — New Senior Centers Administrator i. Happy to report that Cydnee is onboard and in a training role with Myra Austin until November 30t" then on her own. Cyd reports that Myra has been a wonderful support and mentor and they have an excellent team. Cyd has been with OCDoA for 22 years and will keep us moving forward. b. Posting Seymour Center Programs and Operations Manager i. Janice is working with HR to post the position in the next few days. If you know interested, internal and external candidates please refer them to the job posting. c. Jeanne Chamberlin's retirement Dec. 31 i. Jeanne is retiring on Dec 31, and we are almost ready to post her position. The job description has been updated and awaiting HR and the County Manager to sign off. Jeanne will be away for one month and then returning to be our part- time SHIIP Coordinator. There is grant funding for SHIIP position and less hours. ii. VITA is the primary job duty with smaller projects also assigned. d. Posting Volunteer Connect 55+ Program Assistant i. In the process of posting. See bullet 4.c.ii. e. Employment Specialist i. We are still recruiting for the Employment Specialist position that works directly with clients. Robert has been very gracious to step and fill that role until it is filled. Thank you, Robert. 5. Myra Austin's last Aging Board meeting a. Worked at OCDOA 35 years. She will be missed, but Cyd will step in and keep us moving. Myra commented that she will miss working at OCDoA but it has been challenging at times. Older adults that we work with still inspire her. Myra hopes to continue to actively engage with the center as a participant and volunteer. Colin thanked her for being the face, hands and legs of this organization. 6. All Stages All Ages Multi-Sector Aging Plan— Co-Workgroup Leader for Strengthening Communities for a Lifetime a. Janice was contacted by the Division of Aging to co-lead the Strengthening Communities for a Lifetime section. This is a fast-track plan and the creation will go quickly. There are five workgroups and Brandi Beeker and Ryan Lavalley are on one of these workgroups. The workgroups will meet until February or March. They asked Janice about how we do the MAP, since we are a model and have been at this for years. The plan is multi-sector across state government and is required as part of being designated as an Aging Friendly State . The plan will be presented to Governor Cooper by May of 2024. Colin congratulated Janice that she will be able to work at the state level and be a leader of the plan. 2022-27 Master Aging Plan 7. MAP Steering Committee — December 8, 9-11 a.m. Carol Woods Retirement Community a. Another date was picked but there were conflicts. The Chamber was having a legislative breakfast meeting and presentation on "Critical Issues." Janice hopes by starting at 9 a.m. that we will get people before going to their offices. Ann Bradford shared that breakfast will be served. It is important to try to get all the players in the room, including county staff, county elected officials and the municipalities new mayors. 8. First Quarter Year 2 Reports from MAP Workgroup Leaders. Kim is out sick and Shenae was unable to report due to food box distribution and implementation issues (boxes missing). They will report at the December board meeting. a. Outdoor Spaces and Buildings — Myra Austin • Goal 1: Optimize usability of outdoor spaces and buildings for older adults • Objective 1.1: Increase engagement of older adults, emphasizing racially diverse communities, in the planning of outdoor spaces and buildings in Orange County (OC). o Strategy 1.1.1: Encourage advocacy efforts by including older adults relative to the planning and use of public outdoor spaces and buildings. ■ Indicator 1.1.1a: At least one dedicated space for an older adult age 55+ (or representative of older adults) is on every county and town Advisory Board that has input on outdoor spaces and buildings. ■ Indicator 1.1.1.1b: Other non-municipal and non-profit trail owner/groups are invited to join MAP — Outdoor Spaces workgroup ■ Indicator 1.1.1c: Older adults are educated on how to access information about participating in local government planning and are encouraged to contribute to meetings/hearings about outdoor spaces and buildings. ■ Indicator 1.1.1 d: Interactive strategies are developed to solicit input from older adults, with emphasis on racially diverse community members, regarding parks, outdoor spaces, and community development needs. ACTIONS: • Dialoged with Town of CH staff regarding the Town's AARP Challenge Grant and holding a community awareness event around pedestrian and bicycle safety event. Town will wait to spring to offer a large community event to share info. • Presented to the NCCU Alumni and individuals from Northside community and downtown CH Historically African American churches in July, the Spanish Social Club and Mandarin community in October with appropriate translation at the Seymour Center on how to participant in local government planning and sought feedback. • Objective 1.2: Improve equitable access, availability, convenience, and use of outdoor spaces and buildings by everyone. o Strategy 1.2.1: Increase accessibility, diversity, and safety to encourage inclusiveness in public outdoor spaces and buildings by older adults of all abilities. ■ Indicator 1.2.1 a: Older adults' use of outdoor spaces is encouraged through multi-cultural special events and educational programs organized by and/or for older adults. ■ Indicator 1.2.1 b: A different park is highlighted quarterly, on the OCDOA website and in the Endless Possibilities Activity Guide, with the encouragement of participation by everyone. ■ Indicator 1.2.1c: Community members are assisted by Senior Center staff in using interactive parks, greenways, and trails locator maps using short video tutorials. ■ Indicator 1.2.1 d: Trail intersections in need of signs/trail markers are identified by older adults and community members, and identified locations are shared with Responsible Agencies and other non-municipal and non-profit trail owners. ■ Indicator 1.2.1e: Community members are educated on how to advocate and fund additional equipment (e.g., benches, bathrooms) in public spaces. ■ Indicator 1.2.1f: The inclusion of universal design principles is promoted as standards in the development review processes of each jurisdiction. ACTIONS: • Several different Outdoors Programs are offered at the county/municipal facilities and the OC Sr Ctrs. and off-site sponsored by OC Dept on Aging. • Advertise Carrboro and Chapel Hill Parks & Rec Outdoor Adventures in EP along with the Interactive Trails MAP. • A different Park is highlighted quarterly in Endless Possibilities; Yr2Qtr1 was Blackwood Farm Park, OC DEAPR • Gathered feedback at the IGPWG meeting on how different agencies gather requests/input when signage is needed in parks/trails. • Strategy 1.2.2: Increase the availability of small-scale outdoor areas that promote wellness and community engagement with an emphasis on racially diverse communities and gathering spaces at the OC Senior Centers. • Indicator 1.2.2a: Outdoor areas (e.g., activity stations, stationary games and/or adult playgrounds) are added to the Senior Centers. • Indicator 1.2.2b: Outdoor areas at the Senior Centers are made more comfortable in different seasons (e.g., add outdoor heaters, shaded spaces, fans, misting fans) • Indicator 1.2.2c: At least one bus stop in each town is converted into a wellness stop. • Indicator 1.2.2d: Volunteer opportunities are inclusive and inviting to all adults age 55+ who enjoy working in community gardens (e.g., vegetable gardens, flower gardens, pollinator gardens) • Indicator 1.2.2e: Existing outdoor spaces within OC are identified and promoted that can be used as quiet meditation spaces for caregivers. ACTIONS: • An outdoor play/exercise area at the Seymour Center is in the county's Capital Improvement Plan for Yr. 2, FY25. • Outdoor areas at the Passmore and Seymour Centers have been made more comfortable and inviting... • 4 Wellness signs delivered to Town of Chapel Hill for 4 bus stops where older adults are primary riders and/or senior shuttle stops. • Listed quiet meditative spaces for caregivers in Endless Possibilities (EP) Fall edition, keeping the list updated and use in other community publications when space is available and permitted. Will advertise in alternating editions of the EP. b. Communication and Information — Beverly Shuford Objective 8.1: Increase the accessibility of information regarding available programs, services, and resources throughout the community with an emphasis on reaching diverse populations. Strategy 8.1.1: Create and maintain a comprehensive Orange County Community Contact Database of multilingual health, faith-based, public, civic, and community organizations. 8.1.1a. Contacts are identified by individual employees, departments, and community partners, and are used to create a contact list to be shared and maintained by Orange County Community Relations. • TOCH Community Relations Manager (CRM), Shay Stevens, joined the OCDOA MAP Communications & Information Workgroup. To invite additional TOCH communicators to join. • OCDoA& TOCH CRM met and discussed a central "registry" of contacts and potential platforms. • Planning to convene stakeholders to research "registry" platforms to better share agency/resource contacts and reduce duplicated efforts. Include GIS Mapping, governmental PIO, community relations managers, etc. Strategy 8.1.2: Further expand OCDOA communications to racially diverse and underserved communities. 8.1.2b. Key programs, resources, and services are made available in Spanish, Mandarin, Karen, Burmese, and other emerging priority languages as feasible, using the translation tools on the OCDOA website and social media. • New webpage for AWT Radio Show includes current and past episode podcasts. 8.1.2c. "How to Use Our Website" information and translation tool are advertised in Spanish, Mandarin, Karen, Burmese, and other emerging priority languages as feasible, on OCDOA products and outlets. • Communication Assistant completed CivicPlus website training. • Website redesign planning meetings and implementation in process. • Project launching new website design in late October with website "tour" at OCDoA Leadership meeting. • Website "tour" for OCDoA Staff in Y1 Q2 All Staff Meeting. 8.1.2k. Volunteer diversity is promoted to increase the recruitment of diverse volunteers. • As a result of our MAP Comm. & Info Matrix Strategy 8.1.2 and Indicator 8.1.2k, partner OCCR shared Volunteerism Campaign/Committee concept with OC Manager and BOCC. • OCCR requested all OC departments appoint a staff member to the Volunteerism Campaign/Committee • The first Volunteerism Campaign/Committee met July 26, 2023. Three sub- committees were formed: o Volunteerism — Committee to create marketing materials to promote volunteer opportunities in Orange County; highlight benefits of volunteering. o Volunteer Fair— Committee to put together a Volunteer Fair to be held in conjunction with National Volunteer Week (April 21-27, 2024). o Volunteer Recognition — Committee to examine existing department efforts to recognize volunteers and create a way to celebrate outstanding volunteers at a Board of Commissioners meeting. • Video interviews, Volunteer Spotlight: Alicia Reid and Volunteer with OCDOA recorded and shared on YouTube and Facebook promoting volunteerism. Strategy 8.1.4: Explore and expand non-electronic communication outlets. 8.1.4b. OCDOA welcome packets are created and made available for staff and volunteers to share in multiple languages. • Welcome packets assembled and available at both Senior Center i. Both Centers report the packets are well received and beneficial c. Employment — Robert Bradford i. Objective 6.1: Match Job Seekers 55+ with appropriate employment opportunities for all qualified Orange County residents including an emphasis on racially diverse communities. 1. Strategy 6.1.1: Gather information about employers' hiring needs and job seekers' preferences. a. 6.1.1 b. Data on the local employment landscape includes information about older adults and racial equity and is reviewed in the workgroup annually; and 6.1.1 c. Data on the local employment landscape includes information about older adults and racial equity and is reviewed in the workgroup annually. i. US Census data gathered on race, disability status, living arrangement, and employment for older adults in OC. 2. Objective 6.2: Expand opportunities for older adults to gain job-seeking guidance and job skills to secure living-wage employment, including traditional, alternative, and entrepreneurial options. a. Strategy 6.2.2: Promote alternative and entrepreneurial employment opportunities; and Strategy 6.2.3: Create job skills training for older adults to gain new skills that increase the possibility of future hire. i. Discussions underway with OCDOA, Durham Tech, NC Works/Department of Social Services to connect resources. b. Strategy 6.2.4: Leverage existing and forge new partnerships to reach broader audiences, improve synergy among organizations, and reduce duplication. i. Website updated in 2022. Review of website ongoing with a goal to provide new content emphasizing storytelling. c. 6.2.4b. Relationships with non-employment organizations that serve populations of interest (e.g., Faith-based, immigrants, military associations, justice system involvement, rural communities, communities of color, senior housing) are forged to better understand needs and offer employment services resources to promote the workgroup services and resources outlined elsewhere. i. MAP workgroup leader initiating outreach. d. Transportation — Brandi Beeker Volunteer Driver Program (VDP) 2 new riders enrolled in program Drivers provided 15 round-trips, 4 one-way 1 new driver added, 3 volunteer drivers receiving requests in Q1 Transportation Help Line: 525 incoming calls tracked, 170 unique callers, 1843 minutes logged from all calls (-30 hours) e. Social Participation and Inclusion — Dawn Smith and Cydnee Sims i. 4.1.1 b Develop neurodivergent programming: 1. We connected with the Chapel Hill Library and learned more about their neurodivergent programming especially with the Sensory kits and sensory garden space. Along with that connection we have connected with the Autism Society to discuss training Petals with a Purpose at Seymour every Wednesday with Triangle Disability and Autism Services 2. 5.1.1 b Staff and volunteers prepared to welcome, interact with and help people with different abilities and diverse language backgrounds: 3. Continue to implement the Lobby Inclusion Project for those speaking different languages. 4. Welcome packets in 3 different languages. 5. We hope the Autism Society training would also be instrumental with front desk staff and volunteers to help people with different abilities. ii. 5.1.3a Programs are created and expanded to facilitate strong connections among senior center participants 1. Passmore — Busy Body Tables, run by center ambassador- very inviting and helps newcomers feel welcomed and regular participants feel even more at home — Peer program, they not only tell you about what's happening, they introduce you to other participants and help you get connected. 2. Seymour is reviving the Buzz table which mirrors the Busy Body- will report more on this as we re-launch this outreach program. a. Programs created — that helped expand connections: i. Seymour— Wind down Wednesdays- attracted over 200+ community members. ii. Hispanic Latin Heritage Celebration — brought in new Hispanic/Latin participants and the ongoing club at Seymour is steadily increasing. 10 to 25 participants within the last year. iii. Passmore — The Closing of School Central High — History and legacy of Central high documentary about the only black high school in Hillsborough from 1936-68 well attended — 115. iii. 5.1.3b Community groups are surveyed every 2 years with emphasis on racial and cultural equity to determine any barriers that may prevent participation at the senior centers a. We are planning to push surveys in 2024, for this MAP workgroup, however we word smith our survey and got to down to 4 questions, including capturing demographics of those we surveyed. We are thinking of possibly forming a hand-picked focus group outside of our work group but that is to be determined after at our upcoming meeting set for Monday, November 20th. f. Housing — Kendall McMillan and Ryan Lavalley i. Senior Housing Guide updated. ii. 411 in Senior Housing presentation held at Seymour, planned again in January. iii. Habitat, RTT, CPL, PiAP, and County have formed a "Coordination Crew" that focuses on working cases through the repair networks and timeline. SOPs and guidelines are being developed to support navigation. iv. Workgroup leaders preparing to post job opening for MPA student to research policy options for expanding affordable housing and livable design. v. OCHPC prepared a memo describing the current status and needs of the Home Preservation Network in Orange County for the OCAHC. One telling figure is that to complete all the repairs on our current waitlist (276 homes), it would likely require around 3 million dollars to achieve. vi. Community Health and Supports — Shenae McPherson and Kim Lamon- Loperfido vii. Report will be given at a future meeting. New Business 9. Vice-chair Needed and Board Vacancies a. See bullet 2.b. under announcements regarding the need for and duties of a vice-chair. Also, please see Colin if you are interested. b. We need to reach out to the diverse participants and volunteers already at OCDoA to personally invite them to join a committee. We need to fill Saru's and Michael's vacant positions. c. There are two openings on the board. Alicia Reid, an African-American woman, wellness instructor and volunteer has applied to the Advisory Board on Aging and to the Adult Care (AC) and Nursing Home (NH) Joint Committee. Alicia is 60+ and the co-host of our "Aging Well Together" radio show. The need is greater on the NH/AL Committee. d. We do have an Asian-American 60+ gardener at the senior center and who is in the Eno township. Someone will reach out. e. We have a couple of other applications that are not as new as Alicia's. f. Janice will have something prepared for next meeting and put it on the agenda. We will make a decision about new members at that time. Committee Progress Reports if needed: 10.Senior Tar Heel Legislature — Dick White/Vibeke Talley a. Nothing new to report. 11.Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee — Jackie Podger a. First merged meeting of the committee with the new title, AC & NH Joint Committee. Jackie reported that it was a successful meeting, everyone had new teams, new facilities to visit, and is happy to be engaged, One minus, we said goodbye to Vibeke on the committee. Autumn Cox, Orange County AAA Ombudsman, mentioned that one of the facilities that we visit have 30+ Covid outbreak. Don't go unless masked and/or other PPE is used. We have one applicant besides Alicia that inquired about the committee. We also need to increase participation among the Hispanic population. Jackie will let us know if there is interest in participating in other committees. 12.Friends of the Passmore Center— James Harris a. Holiday Market— December 9, lots of venders come by to shop from 9 am — 2 pm. 13.Friends of the Seymour Center a. We reached out to the Seymour Friends chair about having a representative to the Aging Board but haven't heard back. We will ask them again about this. b. The Friends hosted an afternoon tea for the 90s group, it was a big success. c. Sending out annual holiday cards. Adjournment Final announcement: On 1/11/2024 Seymour is hosting a live watch and listen taping of the "Aging Well Together" radio show with Heather. Next meeting: December 12, 1-3 pm — Passmore Center & Virtual