Blair Senior Services Inc

ENGAGES PERSONS 55 AND OLDER IN SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

THIS AWARD FUNDS THE APPROVED 2024?25 FGP PROGRAM. YOUR 2024?25 STATUTORY MATCH IS 7% AND YOUR BUDGETARY MATCH IS 7.07%.

THIS AWARD FUNDS THE APPROVED 2022?23 SCP PROGRAM. YOUR 2022?23 STATUTORY MATCH IS 10% AND YOUR BUDGETARY MATCH IS 10%.THIS AWARD BEGINS THE FIRST YEAR OF YOUR PROPOSED PROJECT PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. THIS AWARD ACTION ADDS PERMANENT FUNDING TO INCREASE THE STIPEND AMOUNT FROM $3.00 TO $3.15 PER HOUR AND ALSO INCLUDES A PERMANENT ADMINISTRATIVE INCREASE OF $7,065. THESE FUNDING AUGMENTATIONS CHANGES THE TOTAL FEDERAL FUNDING AMOUNT TO $301,643.

SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM

FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM

SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM

FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM

OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT 60 UNDUPLICATED FOSTER GRANDPARENT VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS AND PRE-K PROGRAMS. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM WILL WORK WITH VOLUNTEERS AND FOURTEEN (14) STATION SUPERVISORS FROM VARIOUS STATIONS, INCLUDING BLAIR COUNTY HEAD START, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, PRE-K/PRE-K COUNTS PROGRAMS, AND THE STUDENT AGE PARENTING PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM WILL SERVE CHILDREN BASED ON THEIR ASSIGNMENT PLAN, WHICH SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THEIR NEEDS AND SERVICES REQUESTED. AT THE END OF THE 12-MONTH PERFORMANCE PERIOD, THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOME WILL BE THAT FOSTER GRANDPARENTS WILL HAVE ASSISTED OVER 86 CHILDREN IN EXCESS OF 52,200 HOURS, WITH GAINS IN SOCIAL AND/OR EMOTION DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN LITERACY AND/OR MATH. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OF SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, ASSURE THAT VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED IN THE PROGRAM CONSISTENTLY FIND SATISFACTION, MEANING AND OPPORTUNITY IN THEIR EFFORTS AND MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF THE PROGRAM TO THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS ASSIGNED CHILDREN, VOLUNTEER STATIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE PROGRAM WILL OFFER VOLUNTEERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT WILL NOT ONLY BENEFIT THEIR LIVES WITH MEANING AND OPPORTUNITY, BUT WILL ALSO BENEFIT A DIVERSE GROUP OF DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN. IN CARRYING OUT THE MISSION OF BLAIR SENIOR SERVICES, THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM HAS OPERATED SUCCESSFULLY FOR OVER 30 YEARS. THE PROGRAM WILL BE STAFFED WITH A DIRECTOR, COORDINATOR(S), PROGRAM ASSISTANT, AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. THE PROGRAM WILL SUPPORT 50 VOLUNTEER SERVICE YEARS FOR THE THREE YEAR GRANT CYCLE. IN ADDITION TO THE TWO NSSCP VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS BLAIR SENIOR SERVICES' SPONSORS, THE AGENCY ALSO OFFERS 26 OTHER PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS, SUPPORTS APPROXIMATELY 300 ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS, WHO ASSIST OLDER ADULTS THROUGHOUT BLAIR COUNTY.

ENGAGES PERSONS 55 AND OLDER IN VOLUNTER SERVICE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

ENGAGES PERSONS 55 AND OLDER IN SUPPORTIVE SERVICE TO CHILDREN IN NEED

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: INTRODUCTION IN 1973, AMENDMENTS TO THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT MANDATED STATES TO ESTABLISH AREA AGENCIES ON AGING BASED ON UNITS KNOWN AS PLANNING AND SERVICE AREAS. PENNSYLVANIA CHOSE TO DESIGNATE COUNTIES AS THESE PLANNING AND SERVICE AREAS. IN 1974, BLAIR SENIOR SERVICES, INC. WAS FOUNDED AS THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING FOR BLAIR COUNTY. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE PURPOSES OF THE AGENCY HAS BEEN TO DETERMINE AND ADDRESS THE LOCAL NEEDS OF THE COUNTY'S OLDER POPULATION BY PROVIDING A RESPONSIVE CONTINUUM OF SERVICES TO MEET THE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE NEEDED. IN THIS EFFORT, BLAIR SENIOR SERVICES, INC., WITH INPUT FROM A NUMBER OF RESOURCES, CREATE AND ADMINISTER A MULTI-YEAR PLAN TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT IDENTIFIED NEEDS OF THE COUNTY?S OLDER POPULATION. BLAIR COUNTY'S AREA AGING ON AGING, BLAIR SENIOR SERVICES, INC., SERVES OVER 10,000 CONSUMERS 60 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER AND OTHERS IN NEED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. BLAIR SENIOR SERVICES, INC. IS A PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION GOVERNED BY A FIFTEEN-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CURRENTLY HAS A STAFF OF 145 EMPLOYEES. WITH 28 DIFFERENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE AGENCY, CONSUMERS RECEIVE SERVICES FOR A VARIETY OF NEEDS. ALTHOUGH A MAJORITY OF SERVICES ARE PROVIDED DIRECTLY BY BLAIR SENIOR SERVICES, INC., A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS ALSO PROVIDE SERVICES THROUGH SUBCONTRACTS. BLAIR COUNTY'S TRENDS WHILE THE COUNTY LOST 1.2% OF ITS TOTAL POPULATION FROM 2010 TO 2015, THE 60+ AGE GROUP GREW BY 13.6%. APPROXIMATELY 39.2% OF THE COUNTY?S 65+ POPULATION HAS A DISABILITY. WHILE 42.3% OF PENNSYLVANIA?S 60+ RESIDE ALONE, 43.8% OF BLAIR COUNTY?S 60+ LIVE ALONE. THE DEMOGRAPHIC MAKEUP OF THE 60+ POPULATION IN BLAIR COUNTY SHOWS THAT 98.7% ARE WHITE AND 97.8% SPEAK ENGLISH ONLY. WHILE 84% OF INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 60 RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME, 19.7% ARE AT OR BELOW 150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN GATHERING INPUT FOR THE AGENCY?S FOUR YEAR PLAN, A NUMBER OF SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED WHICH TARGETED SPECIFIC GROUPS WITHIN BLAIR COUNTY. SURVEYS FROM AGENCY CONSUMERS AND PROVIDERS, POTENTIAL CONSUMERS, AGENCY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND AGENCY STAFF WERE RECEIVED ALONG WITH SOLICITATION OF INPUT FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE MESSAGES FROM ALL RESPONDENTS WERE SIMILAR IN NATURE. CITED WERE NEEDED IMPROVEMENT IN ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, NUTRITION, HOME CARE, HEALTH CARE ISSUES, FINANCIAL CONCERNS AND HEALTH, WELLNESS AND SOCIALIZATION ACTIVITIES. THE AGENCY'S FUTURE FOCUS UPON REVIEW OF ALL PHASES OF THE AGENCY?S NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING?S POLICY THEMES, FOUR FOCUS AREAS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THE NEXT FOUR-YEAR PERIOD. HOWEVER, AS THE AGENCY LOOKS AHEAD TO THESE FOUR YEARS, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT FLAT, EXTREMELY LIMITED GOVERNMENT FUNDING OR CUTS IN FUNDING WILL BE A REALITY. TO ENSURE POSITIVE OUTCOMES, THE PREPARATION OF OBJECTIVES INCLUDE PROMOTING EXISTING SERVICES SUCH AS SENIOR CENTERS, CHOICES, AND TRANSPORTATION; PROTECTIVE SERVICES, OPTIONS AND DOMICILIARY CARE HOMES; ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE PROVIDED BY MAINTAINING A ROBUST QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM; AND EMPOWERING THE WORKFORCE BY SUPPORTING PAID AND UNPAID CAREGIVERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND AGENCY STAFF. FOUR GOALS AND ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN PLANNED, WHICH INCLUDE: 1. PROMOTE EXISTING SERVICES 2. IMPROVE ACCESS TO SERVICES 3. ENHANCE QUALITY OF SERVICES 4. EMPOWER THE WORKFORCE BLAIR SENIOR SERVICES RECOGNIZES THE BENEFIT OF SENIOR COMPANION VOLUNTEERS TO MEETING THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS IN ALL FOUR AREAS OF THE AGENCY'S FOUR-YEAR PLAN. OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT 60 UNDUPLICATED SENIOR COMPANION VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE 50 VOLUNTEER SERVICE YEARS OF HOURS TO CLIENTS THROUGH IN-HOME AND RESPITE CARE ASSIGNMENT PLANS. SENIOR COMPANIONS WITH IN-HOME ASSIGNMENTS WILL HELP WITH DAILY TASKS, INCLUDING ACCOMPANYING CLIENTS TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, THE PHARMAC

BLAIR COUNTY'S AREA AGING ON AGING, BLAIR SENIOR SERVICES, INC., SERVES OVER 10,000 CONSUMERS 60 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER AND OTHERS IN NEED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. BLAIR SENIOR SERVICES, INC. IS A PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION GOVERNED BY A FIFTEEN-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CURRENTLY HAS A STAFF OF 130 EMPLOYEES. WITH 28 DIFFERENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE AGENCY, CONSUMERS RECEIVE SERVICES FOR A VARIETY OF NEEDS. ALTHOUGH A MAJORITY OF SERVICES ARE PROVIDED DIRECTLY BY BLAIR SENIOR SERVICES, INC., A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS ALSO PROVIDE SERVICES THROUGH SUBCONTRACTS. AN ESTIMATED 65 AMERICORPS SENIORS FGP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE 45 VSY. OF THIS NUMBER, ALL 45 VSY WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE IMPROVING THEIR SOCIALIZATION, EMOTIONAL SKILLS, INDIVIDUALS SKILLS DEVELOPMENT/EDUCATION NEEDS, LEARNING TO READ, ASSISTANCE WITH MATH AND PLAYING NUMBER GAMES. THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS EDUCATION: MENTORING. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, THE AMERICORPS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $883,899 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $88,389.90 OF IN-KIND FUNDS.

ENGAGES PERSONS 55 AND OLDER IN SUPPORTIVE SERVICE TO CHILDREN IN NEED

RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

THIS AWARD FUNDS THE APPROVED 2025?26 SCP PROGRAM. YOUR 2025?26 STATUTORY MATCH IS 10% AND YOUR BUDGETARY MATCH IS 10%. YOU ARE APPROVED FOR PRE-AWARD COSTS BEGINNING JULY 1, 2025. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING PRE-AWARD COSTS RELATED TO VOLUNTEERS ARE NOT APPROVED: ? VOLUNTEER STIPENDS ? VOLUNTEER REIMBURSEMENTS SUCH AS MEALS, TRAVEL, AND RECOGNITION

RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM