Advocacy
We are thankful for YOU!
By Maddy Bynes , PCOA Director of Public Policy & Special Projects We owe you another thank you this year. Because of your bold advocacy and tireless work, elected officials have recognized the rights and needs of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since last thanksgiving, we’ve done a lot to help older people in our community. Last November, we were in the midst of implementing our CARES Act-funded grocery shopping expansion program in partnership with the City of Tucson and Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest. Through this partnership, we were able to serve 624 people with groceries during the four- month span of the program. Over the last year, because of an influx of stimulus dollars through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, CARES Act, and Consolidated Appropriations Act, we were able to significantly expand our nutrition program. Last fiscal year we served just over half a million meals to people in need in Pima County through Pima Meals on Wheels, congregate community lunch grab ‘n’ go programs, and our innovative partnership between local restaurants and low-income apartment complexes for older adults. In the spring, we ramped up our efforts on vaccination outreach launching the Take YOUR Shot Campaign. A major
portion of this effort is a community organizing campaign, which has been executed in partnership with the Pima County Health Department and Arizona Center for Empowerment. Through this campaign, Arizona Center for Empowerment has knocked on over 42,000 doors in Tucson and made over 20,000 phone calls. Thus far, thousands of people have taken the pledge to get vaccinated and ensure their families and friends are vaccinated. In addition, in May we launched an advertising campaign on radio, TV, and in print. Through this campaign we’ve had over 1,000 cable and TV slots, hundreds of radio slots, and hundreds of thousands of digital impressions. We had significant success at the State Legislature this year, too! The legislature heard our voices this year and appropriated an addition of $2.5 million to home and community-based services to help the Area Agencies on Aging address increases in minimum wage and other operating costs. The legislature also appropriated $1 million for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which will go towards hiring an additional 13 full-time Ombudsmen statewide. We have much work to do over the next year to solidify these funds for use in years to come. More than the legislature, new opportunities continue to be on the horizon with the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act at the federal level. These funds will help sustain some of the pandemic
service levels as other stimulus funding like CARES and Families First Coronavirus Response Act funding begins to run out. Over the summer, we worked with local government at both the City of Tucson and Pima County to fund a home sharing program. With the help and advocacy of our friends at Tucson Home Sharing, we were able to obtain $100,000 from the Pima County Board of Supervisors and $50,000 from the City of Tucson. This program will officially launch in January of 2022 and will work to pair home seekers and homeowners in a sustainable home sharing relationship. With availability of affordable housing becoming ever more prevalent of an issue, we are so glad to be starting a program that can help get housing, socialization, and support they need. All of these are major accomplishments for PCOA, the aging network, and ultimately for older adults and those who love and care for them. We couldn’t have done it without your advocacy and vote and are so grateful to have you with us. From all of us at PCOA to you: thank you.
Page 24 | November 2021, Never Too Late
Pima Council on Aging
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker