DEPARTMENT: Department of Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Senior Nutrition Program
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the following budgetary actions related to the City's FY 2014 Senior Nutrition Program: acceptance of a continuation grant from the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) in the amount of $1,626,258.00; a cash match of $3,584,661.00 included in the FY 2014 Adopted General Fund Budget; an adjustment in cash match of $67,045.00 from the Supportive Services for the Elderly Program (SSEP) to the Senior Nutrition Program; a total program budget of $5,271,426.00, which includes an estimated $60,507.00 in client contributions, for the period of October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014; and a personnel complement of 51 grant funded positions in the Department of Human Services to manage the Senior Nutrition Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City's Senior Nutrition Program provides seniors 60 and over with a meal and nutritional information in a congregate setting. The program serves approximately 2,900 meals daily, Monday through Friday, at the City's Senior Center sites located throughout the community. The City partners with various community agencies to augment the City's senior center locations to provide optimal access to senior nutrition services.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) operates the program using City General Fund and federal United States Department of Health and Human Services Older Americans Act grant funds awarded by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services through AACOG. The City has received Federal Funds from AACOG since 1973. For FY 2014, AACOG has indicated that grant funds in the amount of $1,626,258.00 are available to the City. This award amount is a reduction from the $1,885,970.00 received in FY 2013, which included $95,000.00 in supplemental funds received in September 2013.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of a continuation grant from AACOG of $1,626,258.00 and a total Senior Nutrition Program budget of $5,271,426.00 to support the provision of congregate meal service to seniors in San Antonio and Bexar County. To account for reduced grant funds, DHS will realign funds in the amount of $67,045.00 in matching funds from the SSEP program to the Senior Nutrition Program to provide senior participants transportation to and from the City's senior centers.
DHS is proposing a Nutrition Program Personnel Complement of 51; however, a total of 95 full and part-time authorized positions deliver all Senior Center programming as summarized in the table below.
Programs |
Senior Nutrition Program Grant |
Medical Transportation Grant |
General Fund |
Total |
Medical Transportation |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
Center-Based Transportation |
15 |
0 |
9 |
24 |
Nutrition and Center Operations* |
36 |
0 |
32 |
68 |
Total |
51 |
3 |
41 |
95 |
*This figure includes staff support for administration, Multi-Service Senior Centers (D2, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8 and D10), and Community Centers (Frank Garrett West End Center and Claude Black Center).
DHS, as required by Older Americans Act (OAA) grant regulations, provides participants the opportunity to voluntarily contribute to the cost of services. DHS currently suggests a donation rate of $.50 per meal and anticipates receiving $60,507.00 in program donations to be used to support the meal program.
Accepting grant funds for the Senior Nutrition Program is consistent with City Council's direction to provide access to senior nutrition services throughout the community.
ALTERNATIVES:
If awarded funds are not accepted, the City would not be able to provide the same level of nutrition services without identifying alternate funds. Additionally, AACOG would need to identify an alternate contractor to provide congregate meals in the City and County through the Older Americans Act funds which could result in an interruption of service delivery.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of a continuation grant from AACOG of $1,626,258.00 for a total Senior Nutrition Program budget of $5,271,426.00 to support the provision of congregate meal service to seniors in San Antonio and Bexar County. This includes the realignment of $67,045.00 match funds from SSEP, and a total complement of 51 positions for the provision of senior nutrition services. There is no additional fiscal impact related to this action.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing acceptance of the Senior Nutrition Program Grant from AACOG; the total program budget; and a personnel complement of 51 positions for the support of senior nutrition services.