Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Gaudin
Department: Human Services Division: Elderly & Veterans Services
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Agreement No. 22-EVSD-8210-01 between Broward County and the Areawide Council on Aging of Broward County, Inc. in the amount of $784,920, effective retroactively from October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022, providing local match funding for senior services in Broward County and supplemental rollover funds to purchase electronic devices for eligible seniors and caregivers; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; and authorize the County Administrator to take any necessary budgetary and administrative actions to implement the Agreement.
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Why Action is Necessary
Agreements with external agencies require approval by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”).
What Action Accomplishes
This Agreement allows the County to contribute local match funding to support delivery of senior services to Broward County residents.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS SERVICES DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUESTED ACTION.
This item supports the Commission’s Value of "approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately with a special emphasis on the most vulnerable" and the goal to "collaborate with public and private partners to find creative, equitable, and responsible solutions to systemic community problems.” This Agreement provides match funding to the Areawide Council on Aging of Broward County, Inc. (“Council”) to fund an array of support services provided through the Council to Broward County residents who are 60 years of age or older, and to their caregivers.
The effective date of this Agreement (Exhibit 1) is retroactive due to the ongoing contract negotiations related to language and finalization of the documentation.
The Council is the entity responsible for planning, coordinating, monitoring, and funding programs and services that meet the needs of over 437,000 Broward County residents who are 60 years of age or older. Federal dollars are allocated to the Council through the Older Americans Act, and state dollars are allocated by the Community Care for the Elderly Act.
The Council developed a formula to request and receive its matching funds from the County and its municipalities. The Commission has approved allocation of this local match funding for the past 26 years.
The Council met its outcomes for Fiscal Year 2021.
This year’s agreement will provide the Council with $684,920 in local match funding and $100,000 in supplemental rollover funding to purchase tablets for the Council’s technology project to improve isolated seniors’ and their caregivers’ quality of life by enabling their access to the internet. These funds will be used for one-time technology equipment purchases to supplement the Council’s existing project funded by the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs (“DOEA”).
The Council’s pilot project was originally funded in 2021 with state dollars from the DOEA, and contracted services from vendors to provide tablets for clients and their caregivers to use and gain access to internet services. The program was recently approved at the state level to be changed from a pilot project to an on-going program with recurring funding from the state.
The Office of County Attorney reviewed and approved this Agreement as to form. Copy of the Agreement has been attached as Exhibit 1.
Source of Additional Information
Andrea Busada, EVSD Director, (954) 357-8818
Colekia Lawrence-Francois, Administrative Officer Sr., (954) 357-6622 ext. 0066
Damarley Wallen, EVSD Contract/Grant Administrator, (954) 357-6622 ext. 0243
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Funding in the amount of $784,920 is allocated in the Fiscal Year 2022 General Fund Operating Budget 10010-40404000-580210.