AAA Access Committee Work Plan Qtr 1
AAA Aging Specialist Angela Velasquez and MOHAN shared the Qtr 1 progress with the
committee. A lot of ARPA money needs to be spent on Caregivers grants ARPA money
needs to get distributed for the items in the work plan. Caregiver Advisory Committee is
in a holding pattern for now. There is renewed focus on reaching out BIPOC communities
for these grants. At the Caregiver advisory committee meeting, it was clear that the
needs for BIPOC caregivers have not been assessed and that we were operating based
on assumptions about what their needs are; in reality the needs of the caregivers might
not match what the Grant pays for. There might be a disconnect between the actual
needs vs what we can pay for through the grant. The committee is taking a pause to
reassess the issue and figure out if there are other ways to provide these grants to
BIPOC members who might want to use the money differently that what is stipulated in
the grant. Members of the BIPOC (especially Black) community view caregiving as their
responsibility to care for their older adults. They need support with paying electric bills,
gas, food etc. that incur during their caregiving situation but the Caregiver Grants through
ARPA does not allow certain flexibilities in how we spend the money. The committee will
reconvene in the Fall. It is also a time to look at the goals within the Aging plan and see
if that needs to be adjusted to make it more meaningful and equitable.
Transportation is behind on their goals but working with new Transportation Coordinator
to get up and running. Fitchburg was able to secure funding for a new bus to bring older
adults to meal sites.
NewBridge Madison Bilingual CM Update
VELASQUEZ shared the NewBridge update of their bilingual case management services
they are offering. The SE Asian program is completely different than the Black/Latinx
programs as they cannot eat the food served in HDM.
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates
Next meeting August 1, 2022 at 2:00 pm.
G. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda
H. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law
MCGINNITY asked about membership for the committee and AAA Board member
assignments. New appointments to the AAA Board should be finalized at the County
Board meeting on July 21 and from there openings on the AAA Committees can be filled
with new AAA Board members.
I. Adjournment
A motion was made by MCGINNITY, seconded by BOUSTEAD, that the meeting be
adjourned at 3:19 pm. The motion carried by the following vote:
7 - BOUSTEAD, BROWN, DERR, LORENZ, LEIGH, MCGINNITY and Farsetta
1 - HOCHKAMMER
Ayes:
Absent: