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EOEA Corner
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elder AffairsFormula & Service Incentive Grant TrainingFrom 22 April to 25 May 2010
Brief Introduction to MA Councils on Aging /Senior CentersIn most cities and towns in MA, the municipal Council on Aging (COA) acts as an advisory board (and, ideally, as an effective partner) to help the paid staff and other volunteers implement programs, services and activities in accordance with the mission of the COA.
The administrative staff (e.g., director, van driver, outreach workers, etc.) are NOT employees of the COA, but of the town. The COA, as an advisory board, typically does not (with very rare exceptions) hire, evaluate and/or terminate any paid staff: that is typically the responsibility of the "appointing authority" e.g., chair of the BOS or the town administrator [or equivalent]. The director, once hired, typically handles all other personnel matters.
The board serves typically as extra eyes, ears AND hands with respect to implementing the COA mission. The feedback ideally goes both ways: there are professional and political aspects to the organization. Service delivery pretty much has to fall under the purview of the director unless you want people to have multiple bosses; we do not recommend that approach.
Since COAs operate at/through senior centers they appear synonymous. To an outsider the COA "runs" the senior center, but the actual administration is in the hands of the paid staff and volunteers. The only exception to that rule is when there is no paid staff available to conduct programs.
I've tried to keep this relatively short and have attached some materials that may be of interest.
Sincerely,
Emmett H. Schmarsow
Program Manager for Councils on Aging and Senior Centers
Executive Office of Elder Affairs
The Senior Community Services Employment ProgramThere are slots available under the Senior Community Services Employment Program.
Please see the attached document for details or, for further information, please contact:
Olga Yulikova, Senior Community Employment Manager, Executive Office of Elder Affairs, 1 Ashburton Place, 5th floor, Boston, MA 02108 — 617-222-7459 (direct line) — Olga.Yulikova@state.ma.usThe Governor's "Embrace Your Future" InitiativeDear Colleagues:
As you may know, Governor Patrick recently launched an initiative called "Embrace Your Future" to help state residents plan for future long-term support including financial, legal, home modification and health needs as well as planning options.
The Governor mailed a letter to approximately 400,000 Massachusetts residents ages 45 to 60 to encourage them to order a free 44-page "Massachusetts specific" planning guide. The Governor's letter and the entire "Embrace Your Future" initiative launch kit is attached.
The "Embrace Your Future" initiative, overseen by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, is part of a joint federal-state initiative of the US Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS) entitled "Own Your Future." Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia have participated nationwide.
Please contact Aaron Kingson, OLTSS Project Associate (Aaron.Kingson@umassmed.edu; 508-330-8049), if you have any questions. — Emmett Schmarsow, EOEA Programs Director
Understanding Senior Mental Health Issues
A Four-part educational series made possible through a grant from the Executive Office of Elder AffairsLifelines for Elders Living on the EdgeThe FINAL date and TIME (June 18 at NOON, State House, Room 222) for the Release of the Lifelines for Elders Living on the Edge report — Let me know if you can make it! The report will be available at the release and electronically on the 19th. In addition to the report, we will have the updated numbers that reflect the Massachusetts Elder Economic Security Standard Index for 2009. Hope to see you there. Ann Hartstein, Secretary of Elder Affairs — AHartstein@MAOAMASS.ORG
Centers for Disease Control — Links for MayBelow is a compilation (provided by the Centers for Disease Control) that is extraordinary in its breadth: I hope you will find it useful. Emmett H. Schmarsow
National Governors' Academy (NGA) for Civic Engagement projectMassachusetts Partnership for Promoting the Civic Engagement and Employment of Older Adults
United States Department of LaborVolunteering in the United States, 2008
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/volun.pdf
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