AGING WITH INDEPENDENCE AND DIGNITY (AID) CAMPAIGN ñ AID FOR NEW YORKíS SENIORS

$4.2 MILLION INITIATIVE TO BRING MSW SOCIAL WORKERS INTO SENIOR CENTERS

1. COLA for senior services workers - $9 million - These funds would come from the administration. City Council could highlight the need for the COLA increase. It’s been two years since the aging services workforce has received a raise. The percentage increases match what DC-37 won.
2. Baselining - $ 9.3 million –
   1. $4.5 million – senior meals – 35 cents more a meal
   2. $4.0 million – operational costs of vans - $7800 per vehicle
   3. $750,000 – senior center rents
3. Restorations - $6.4 million –
   1. $750,000 – Safe Streets/Elderly Crime Victims program (was originally funded at $2.2 million)
   2. $5.6 million – City Council discretionary funds
4. New initiatives – $7.1 million -
   1. $2.3 million – funding for rent at senior centers & sr. services
   2. $4.2 million – INFOA Hubs/MSWs in senior centers
   3. $500,000 – HIV/AIDS Initiative for Older Adults
   4. $100,000 – AGE Scholarships – “Aging Graduate Education” – scholarships for MSW students of all backgrounds in gerontology (part of the Latino Social Work Development Project)

   CSCS – THE POWER OF AGING!

   
   
   $4.2 MILLION INITIATIVE - INFOA HUBS/MSW SOCIAL WORKERS IN SENIOR CENTERS
   
   HAS ANYONE YOU KNOW EVER NEEDED ASSISTANCE WITH AN ELDERLY RELATIVE? PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS AT SENIOR CENTERS CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION – IT’S A COMPLEX WORLD FOR SENIORS & FAMILY CAREGIVERS

   THE FULL PROPOSAL IS ON THE CSCS WEBSITE – www.cscs-ny.org
   View under “Policy Documents – 2007, INFOA Hubs”

   • INFOA HUB – INFOA stands for “Information for Older Adults”

   • Fund one MSW social worker per City Council district who can do direct service, supervise other staff, as well as train and supervise students.

   • Menu of possibilities an MSW can bring to enhance services for seniors at senior centers (these are examples):

     • I&R for benefits such as Medicare Part D, food stamps, etc.

     • Preventing isolation – Develop partnerships with health providers and other resources, provide community-wide services, “senior center without walls”

     • Caregiver support services – caregiver support services, assist grandparents raising grandchildren, community-wide forums on long term care services and retirement planning

     • Assisting elderly immigrants – need for bilingual social workers, access to ESL classes, provide access to benefits and social services for elderly immigrants that are linguistically appropriate

     • Housing services – assist with tenant/landlord problems, work with other community resources on housing issues

     • Special needs – assist older adults with HIV/AIDS, grief support, Adult Protective Services

   Proposal to develop Community INFOA Hubs: $4.2 million

   • 1 MSW trained social worker per City Council district

   • 1 Senior Center INFOA Hub per City Council district

   • Staff training for benefits, services and community outreach. Training could include staff beyond INFOA Hubs.

   • Evaluation of program to gage benefits for seniors, family caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren.

   • Broaden this foundation to additional INFOA Hubs in communities based on evaluation.

   $80,000 per INFOA Hub: ($80,000 x 51 = $4.080 million)

   • MSW social worker salary

   • Fringe benefits

   • Program costs - outreach, transportation, program supplies, technology, printing, etc.

   Staff training and evaluation: $120,000
   $4.080 million (51 INFOA Hubs) + Training and Evaluation ($120,000) = $4.2 million

 

For further information, please contact Bobbie Sackman, (212) 398-6565 x226 or bsackman@cscs-ny.org