Minutes
1. Welcome & Introductions by Chair — T. Abah welcomed all members and called the meeting to order by 2pm
2. Commissioners Present: Theresa Abah, Kristen Stauss, Dawn Angelo, Debra Larson, Maureen Sullivan, Sery Tartpaporn, Matt Rosenberg, Sharon Jennings, Debra Bonner
Excused Commissioner: Suzanna Nye
3. Guests / Staff Present: Aaron Chong, Contessa Bunn, Sylvia McBride, Clayton Wyatt, Catherine Koss
4. Request(s) for Remote Participation under the Brown Act (None)
5. Consent Items
- Approval of January 22, 2025, Minutes - Moved by
- Approve February 26, 2025, Agenda
The motion to adopt January minutes and February agenda was moved by M. Sullivan and seconded by D. Larson
6. AAC Business & Initiatives — ACTION
- AAC Secretary position vacancy:
T. Abah announced that the position for Secretary needs to be filled and called for nominations. Members deliberate and agreed for postponement of the nominations to the next meeting to enable them review the position requirements. - Updates on Letter of Support to the Board of Supervisors (BOS):
The Chair confirmed that a letter of support for the adoption, and funding of the LADAP action plan was sent to the Board of Supervisors on behalf of AAC for February 25th BOS meeting.
Three commissioners (S. Tartpaporn, D. Angelo and K. Stauss) attended the meeting to support the Senior and Adult Services (SAS) team. - Report from representative of the County Board of Supervisor:
The representative of the BOS, A. Cheng shared a correspondence from Shelby Boston, Director, Department of Child, Family and Adult Services to the AAC members on their recommendations to the BOS to adopt the LADAP action plan and commit to its funding.
He also confirmed that the LADAP action plan was approved by the board. - Report from SAS
C. Bunn shared updates on Senior and Adult Services (SAS) Programs and Contracts – Senior Connections, including;
- Brief background of the LADAP action plan, why it is important and then provided further information about the forthcoming LADAP Launch. The event is scheduled for March 17, from 10 am to - 2 pm at the Sacramento State- University Union Ballroom
- Information about SAS programs:
- Foster Grandparent program is closing in June 2025, details about the population served can be found in the SAS website/quick facts 2023/2024, assessed at https://dcfas.saccounty.net/SAS/Pages/Senior-Volunteer-Services/FGP-(Foster-Grandparents-Program)--.aspx. She added that there's a need to spread information about the program through channels such as, First 5, local libraries and other children educational support networks.
- Sacramento Senior Safe House program is ending in June 2025. This is part of the Nottoli fund, which covers, emergency housing, caregiver respite, and non-profits supporting older Adults.
- Senior Connection Program ends in 2025. There's a need to advocate for more budget allocation to extend the program beyond 2025.
Members deliberated and agreed to include these budget priorities in the letter of support to the BOS for the upcoming budget presentation during the 1st quarter budget presentation for 2025/2026 funding cycle.
- Reports from Sub Committees / Ad Hoc Committees:
- The Chair reports on the executive subcommittee meeting held on February 16, 2025. Suggestions on activities for 2025/2026 work plan and the Adult and Aging Commission 2024 report were presented to the commissioners. The summary includes:
- Four priority areas were identified:
- Basic Needs: Housing and Homelessness; Transportation and Technology and Digital Inclusion,
- Adult & Aging Commission (AAC) Initiatives, Community Engagement and Partnerships: Age-Friendly Initiatives, partnerships with other commissions & senior serving communities and monitoring senior program implementation through partnerships
- Resource and Operational Guide Development: Resource guide development for increased outreach
- Public Awareness and Advocacy: Community Awareness and Education
- Also, the Executive committee proposed three Ad hoc committees in addition to the By-laws committee to monitor SAS priority areas identified for 2025/2026 programs / projects.
- Members deliberated and made suggestions on the proposed workplan for the new Ad hoc committees. Members reviewed the areas of focus for each Ad-hoc committee and requested that the Adult and Aging Commission (AAC) Initiatives Committee (item number II, above), be updated to include - Behavioral Health, Digital Inclusion and Community Engagement
- The updated committee change: AAC Initiatives, Behavioral Health, Program Monitoring, Digital Inclusion and Community Engagement Ad hoc Committee.
- The motion to adopt the committees was agreed by all commissioners present. Next steps, the ad-hoc committees will be formally launched during March meeting.
New Business — ACTION
6. AAC Plans for 2025 - Next steps:
Approved Ad Hoc Committees and leadership. Members elected to serve on one or more ad hoc committees as highlighted below:
- Housing & Homelessness Ad hoc Committee - M. Sullivan (Team Lead), D. Larson and S. Tartpaporn - members
- AAC Initiatives, Behavioral Health & Program Monitoring Committee S. Tartpaporn (Team Lead), S Jennings and T. Abah - members
- Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee: K. Stauss (Team Lead), D. Angelo and M. Rosenberg - members
Members will review the areas of focus for the various committees and report back to the group on their committee scope of work and areas of focus during April meeting.
7. Reports — ACTION
- 5 Over 50 Awards - K. Stauss reports that a total of 18 applications were received from all districts. The committee members will review the applications and select a winner before the next meeting.
- Area 4 Agency on Aging - S. McBride reports on AAA4- Legislative committee updates on SB239. The proposed bill relates to open meeting/ teleconferencing as stipulated in the Brown Act. She also added that, the legislative team is monitoring AB 474 bill, which was introduced to expand affordable housing options for low-income seniors. The bill incentivizes and removes barriers for home developer in Californian nonprofit home-sharing programs. E.g., tenants, home sharing & homeowners receiving renter's vouchers will need to be vetted. And AAA4 team is currently watching the status of both bills.
C. Wyatt presented updates on AAA4 programs and services. The presentation highlights AA4 background, its mandate as the lead agency of overseeing federal Older American Act funded programs, in addition to its partnerships with the Aging and Disability Resource Connection programs. Plans for 2025 and next steps for senior programs in Sacramento County were also highlighted.
Members discussed about the presentations and resolved to support SAS budget priorities as it relates to AAA4 programs. AAC will send a letter of support to the BOS during SAS budget presentation in April. - Aging Resources Exchange (ARE): D. Bonner reports that the next ARE presentation will focus on: A Study on easing Medical Transportation Barriers for older adults attending dialysis sessions. The initiative will focus on rural programs looking to fill gaps in transportation access for non-emergency medical programs, specifically to help patients on dialysis. The next presentation is Tuesday March, 25 from 9am -10am
8. Liaison Report:
I. D. Bonner reports on Human Services Coordinating Council – She shared updates on AAA4 mental health coverage, PEARLS program and elder wellness program.
II. Disability, Alcohol, Children and Adults and Aging representative sent flyers on various programs and initiatives within the county to promote awareness about services offered within the county. The flyers provide informing to boards and committees on initiatives including;
- Partnership with Hope Co-op to provide 45-75 permanent supported beds available in March,
- supporting licensed board and care homes with repair grants
- support for transportation to rural communitiese
- Partnerships with libraries for technology training, language translation and digital inclusione
- Partnering with regional parks to reach districts
III. M. Sullivan reports on Elder Justice Coalition – There's a need to collaborate with providers of Room and board services because insisting on changes may result in the loss of beds, consequently increasing homelessness. Best to encourage non-licensed providers to get licensed.
9. Commission Membership Changes — D. Angelo to update members during the March 26th meeting.
10. Announcements — Open Forum and Discussion
11. Future Meetings — Next meeting is March 26, 2025 at 9750 Business Park Drive, Ste. 104, Conference Room 1, Sacramento, CA 95827
12. Adjournment - K. Stauss moved the motion to adjourn the meeting by 4pm. All members seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned
