May 2017 Long-Term Services and Supports Policy Update
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Aging & Adult Network Updates
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Bi-monthly Santa Barbara County Adult & Aging Network (AAN) meetings have focused on identifying and exploring coalition priorities in order to begin developing a policy agenda and communication plan. Affordable and accessible housing, mental health services, caregiver support and workforce development have emerged as top concerns, along with the need to increase the level of basic services to meet the needs of a growing senior population.
PROGRESS UPDATES
Last fall, AAN invited local housing experts to discuss the county's senior housing crisis. Representatives from the City and County Housing Authorities weighed in and fielded questions, along with People's Self Help Housing and the Parsons Group. The needs across Santa Barbara County far exceed available resources and although new projects have been completed and more are on the horizon, these will barely make a dent in the demand. The group discussed the importance of local funding, the possibility of ballot measures to raise revenue, strategies for keeping at-risk seniors housed and how to look for new partnerships and creative solutions. AAN members who are working with the office of State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson have also identified senior housing and homelessness as a priority issue they are exploring.
In January, we received an update from the nurse whose Senior Wellness Program was launched through the Public Health Department and Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care as a result of AAN advocacy with the Board of Supervisors. The nurse is taking referrals, conducting assessments and offering short-term case management to optimize each person's ability to access community services, improve home safety and enjoy good health and quality of life. She can be reached at www.vnhcsb.org/seniorwellness.
LEADERSHIP CHANGES
We were fortunate to have two strong leaders from the County Board of Supervisors as co-chairs of AAN. In December, we said a fond farewell to Supervisors Salud Carbajal and Doreen Farr. Ms. Farr stepped down from public service and passed the baton to her successor, 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann. Mr. Carbajal was successful in his bid to represent the 24th Congressional District in Washington, DC, and will continue to be a strong voice for older adults in this new role. Supervisor Das Williams, formerly a State Assemblyman, has stepped in as 2nd District Supervisor and the new co-chair of AAN.
MOVING FORWARD
AAN continues to support the successful efforts of the Santa Barbara Foundation's Caregiver Initiative, which is bringing data-informed innovation and support to caregiver networks across the county.
In the quest to build bridges between medical and social services, AAN is also in talks with the Santa Barbara County Care Coordination Collaborative, a newly formed group led by local health care organizations CenCal Health, Dignity Health and Cottage Health, with a variety of participants from other health and human service organizations. The group shared their plans for addressing population health and improving whole person care at AAN's March Meeting.
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The Santa Barbara County Adult & Aging Network facilitates connection, collaboration, education and advocacy to improve the lives of seniors and adults with disabilities in our community.
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<![if !vml]>  <![endif]> The California Collaborative for Long Term Services and Supports is a coalition of 32 statewide organizations that promote dignity and independence in long-term living for seniors and people with disabilities. Member organizations represent consumers, providers, advocates, labor and insurers.
Founded in 2011, the Collaborative convenes twice monthly to sponsor high-level discussions with experts on budget, policy and program issues that impact the system and services that supports millions of older and disabled Californians to live safely in their homes rather than in institutional settings. The Collaborative works to foster understanding among members about the importance of all of the components of the system; to educate policymakers about the needs of seniors and people with disabilities; to develop policy solutions and recommendations for improvements; and to support members in their advocacy on behalf of the programs and services that are the backbone of the system of care.
The Collaborative has been involved in the development of California's Coordinated Care Initiative since its inception, and continues to work with state and federal officials as well as the Legislature, health plans and regional advocates on this signature program. It regularly considers LTSS legislation and budget issues and has recently focused meetings on the impacts of the aging demographic, California's housing crisis, and the needs of the Alzheimer's population.
Although the Collaborative was primarily designed to impact state policy, in 2017 it has also expanded its agenda to include system-changing federal policy developments, including the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, block granting or per capita caps in Medicaid, the impact of the proposed American Health Care Act and federal budget impacts on seniors and people with disabilities. You can find more about the Collaborative and its work at www.ccltss.org or follow the conversation on twitter @CaCollabLTSS.
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Community of Constituents Partner Updates
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Policy Maker Roundtables
The Los Angeles Aging Advocacy Coalition (LAAAC) is planning a series of Policy Maker Roundtables for the Fall of 2017. We are looking for partner agencies to get involved! Please contact LAAAC for opportunities of engagement!
Affordable Housing
LAAAC, along with LeadingAge California and multiple member organizations, are working to increase the supply of affordable housing for older adults. We have created a Policy Action Team to develop strategies and tactics, and are looking for committed advocates, agencies and policy makers to get involved. Our work has begun with cross sector collaborations and relationship building between health, housing and services. Our goal is to work with policy makers to develop solutions to preserve the current stock, while increasing supply, all with a focus on macro-level poverty and economic security solutions.
8th Annual Summit on Aging
The 8th Annual Summit on Aging will be held on Friday June 2nd at USC. The theme of this year's conference will be "Living & Thriving," focusing on the personal experiences of aging in Los Angeles, as well as the Purposeful Aging LA initiative led by L.A. City Mayor, Eric Garcetti and L.A. County Board Supervisor, Hilda Solis.
The 1-day Summit will feature an art exhibit depicting aging in Los Angeles, presented by KCRW and the "Going Grey in LA" series.
Additionally, two expert panels will focus on local implications under President Trump's Administration, and the importance of building alliances with new advocacy partners, such as groups focused on immigration, labor and the faith-based community.
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Members from the Independent Living Workgroup of Kern County will be participating in the annual Elder Abuse Conference hosted by Kern County Aging and Adult Services. The Workgroup is also in discussion with the Central Valley LTSS Coalition on efforts to improve health and quality of life for seniors and people with disabilities in the San Joaquin Valley.
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The Central Valley Long Term Support and Services Coalition (CVLTSS) mission is to promote service coordination for dependent adults through multidisciplinary approach to the development of programs that directly support workers handling older adult abuse cases. It includes members from protective agencies, social services agencies, legal services, senior services, private attorneys, and advocates. CVLTSS is in discussion with the Independent Living Workgroup of Kern County on efforts to improve health and quality of life for seniors and people with disabilities in the San Joaquin Valley.
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In 2016, the IE LTSS Coalition focused on strategies to increase member participation, and engage new partners. This included a partnership with the Loma Linda University Institute for Health Policy and Leadership. The Institute is providing policy training for Coalition members and supporting the development of policy-focused products and activities to help advance the Coalition's mission. This included the development of a Public Policy Committee, which finalized the Coalition's 2017 policy agenda.
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The Orange County Aging Services Collaborative (OCASC) surveyed and collected over 700 OC Senior Living Needs surveys for 2016 from seniors that voiced their opinions on their wants, needs, and concerns they have as they age in Orange County. In addition, OCASC hosted their 3rd Annual Leadership Forum on Aging on April 21st, and highlighted policy in aging on federal, state, and local levels, including the Orange County Strategic Plan for Aging Initiative.
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The Long Term Care Integration Project (LTCIP) in San Diego is busy preparing for changes to the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI), including exploring how changes might impact local services and In-Home Supportive Services program recipients. In March, San Diego concluded its Community-based Care Transitions Program (CCTP), having served over 58,000 Medicare beneficiaries and reduced the 30-day, all-cause re-admission rate from 16.2% to 9.9%. Last fall, AIS was awarded a $1 million grant to improve the dementia-capability of the local service system, including screening, respite care and training for all families.
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The Ventura County Hospital to Home Alliance (Alliance) consists of a unique body of health care providers whose mission is to work together as collaborators instead of competitors in order to improve quality health care across the continuum.The Hospital to Home Alliance provided public testimony at the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging's Public Hearing regarding the need for behavioral health services for older adults; support for the Dementia Friendly Ventura County Initiative; and integration of long-term services and supports (LTSS) community care coordination into the health care continuum. Also, the Camarillo Health Care District, the Alliance's CBO representative, has been selected as an Early Adopter of the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) LTSS Case Management Accreditation.
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