HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9604 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9604
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 12, 2013
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SUBJECT: PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS
The purpose of this Informal Report is to update the City Council on new developments with
programs provided for seniors through the Parks and Community Services Department (PACS)
community centers in partnership with Senior Citizens Services of Greater Tarrant County, Inc.
Background
On March 19, 2013 an Informal Report (I.R. 9550) was presented to the City Council outlining the
services provided by the Parks and Community Services Department in partnership with area
agencies and in particular Senior Citizen Services of Greater Tarrant County, Inc. Senior Citizen
Services, a United Way agency, whose primary mission is to serve seniors, is currently operating
in seven (7) community centers and one (1) stand-alone city facility. Enrollment currently stands
at 742 individuals, with an average daily attendance of 509. This partnership has allowed the City
to avoid duplication of programs, maintain a streamlined management and administrative effort
and enabled the efficient use of existing facilities.
Current Situation and Proposal for Support
Senior Citizen Services has experienced a reduction of support from United Way and further
fiscal reductions due to federal sequestration. In an effort to ensure that service delivery remains
stable, Senior Citizens Services has requested financial support from the City to underwrite the
cost of on-site senior program directors at the eight (8) facilities. SCS is seeking $160,000.00
($20,000.00 per center) for full year funding which would pay for one part-time Senior Program
Director position at each location, Monday - Friday. Programs generally operate five hours daily
from approximately 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Responsibilities of this position include overseeing the
daily senior program planning, completing meal registrations for the federally funded meal
program, coordinating transportation, overseeing volunteers, completing incident/injury reports,
etc.
The eight centers (including the average daily attendance) are as follows-
1. Como (56)
2. Diamond Hill (79)
3. Eugene McCray (46)
4. Fellowship Corner (78)
5. Hand ley-Meadowbrook (114)
6. Northside (50)
7. North Tri-Ethnic (38)
8. Worth Heights (48)
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9604
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 12, 2013
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SUBJECT: PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS
Funding History
SCS has been subject to reductions in funding in their United Way Core Allocations and
Designations by $145,000.00 (approximately 54%) from FY2011 to FY2014. From FY2013 to
FY2014 the funding dropped by $46,000.00 (approximately 22%). During this same period other
program specific funding (chronic disease self-management, fall prevention and self-medication
programs) grew from $170,000.00 in FY2011 to $246,000.00, in FY2014, a 45% increase.
In FY2011, the City allocated $52,000.00 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds
for general program support i.e. staffing. CDBG funding was not allocated in FY2012. However,
in FY2013 and FY2014 the City allocated CDBG funds for transportation services in the amounts
of$75,000.00 and $81,824.00, respectively. These funds are program service specific and
cannot be used for general operating activities.
City of Fort Worth Service Delivery Strategy
Since the 1980s, the City of Fort Worth has maintained a service delivery strategy for the
provision of senior services under a tenant/partner model. The City provides the space and SCS,
whose primary mission is to provide program services for senior citizens, deliver those services.
This structure has enabled the City to avoid duplication of services and allowed SCS to
concentrate their expertise and resources specifically to the senior population. In the past, the
City has made resource investments in program delivery primarily on a contractual basis and for
the most part through the allocation of available federal dollars, i.e. CDBG funds. With the
reduction in federal funding for local public services, the City has eliminated general operating
federal program dollars and focused available funds in program specific functions, i.e.
transportation services.
On the Horizon
The aging population will continue to grow and therefore demand for services will increase. While
specialized agencies such as SCS will continue to address the need, local government agencies,
including park, recreation and community services departments are expected to see an increase
in demand for services.
In response, staff recommends a comprehensive review to identify optional service delivery
models and potential combinations and to analyze program feasibility, outcome effectiveness and
possible revenue streams. In the meantime, a short-term program service delivery financing
structure is advisable in support of the proposal from Senior Citizen Services.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9604
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 12, 2013
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SUBJECT: PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS
Recommended Interim Funding Actions
As noted previously, SCS has proposed the City of Fort Worth fund $20,000.00 per senior center
or$160,000.00 for eight (8) centers. Given that the City has already allocated $81,824.00 for
transportation services through CDBG funding, it is recommended that the City fund 50% of the
funding amount requested, for all eight (8) City facilities. This would equate to $10,000.00 per
center or a total of$80,000.00 for FY2014. Funds to underwrite this service agreement would
require a supplemental appropriation.
Because the City would only fund a portion of the proposed amount, the gap in requested funding
could be addressed by SCS seeking matching grant funds from Tarrant County, the United Way,
or other agencies or through the collection of user fees on a qualifying basis, or a combination of
these sources.
Recommendation
Unless the City Council directs otherwise, staff will prepare a Mayor & Council Communication to
authorize the City Manager to enter into a management services agreement with Senior Citizens
Services of Tarrant to provide day-to-day program services at the eight (8) City-owned sites. The
recommended funding level will be based on a fifty (50%) subsidy which for FY2014 will equate to
a management services fee of$80,000.00. In addition, during the 2nd quarter of FY2014, further
research and analysis will be conducted with the goal of providing a recommended program
policy and future management strategy for the delivery of these services beginning in FY2015.
Should you have any questions regarding this report or the senior programs currently being
offered through the City of Fort Worth Parks and Community Services Department community
centers please contact Richard Zavala, Parks and Community Services Director.
Tom Higgins
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS