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Adopt a resolution of the Solano County Board of Supervisors honoring Faith in Action on their 20th Anniversary
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Brown recommends the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution honoring Faith in Action on their 20th Anniversary.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Faith in Action Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Solano County was founded in 1998, funded by a pilot grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The agency was founded to provide services to seniors 60 years and older, many of whom live with multiple chronic conditions and/or are frail due to their illnesses. The mission of Faith in Action is to end the isolation, sustain the dignity, and promote the independence of homebound seniors and their family caregivers. Faith in Action provides services to seniors by matching them with trained volunteers.
Currently, 713 seniors are enrolled in 4 programs:
1) Caregiver Respite Program, the oldest program of the agency, provides 1:1 assistance. 27% of Faith in Action’s care receivers are enrolled in this program. Seniors receive assistance with grocery shopping, meal preparation, companionship, bill organizing and paying, light housekeeping and yard work, respite for family caregivers.
2) Ride with Pride Program is a transportation program that provides 1:1 door-through-door transportation assistance for frail seniors, and curb-to-curb for seniors who simply do not drive and cannot access public transportation. 85% of seniors enrolled receiving services are enrolled in this program. This program was introduced in 2003.
3) Senior Peer Counseling provides evidence-based in-person group counseling, 1:1 counseling in the senior’s home, group counseling via teleconference calls, phone reassurance calls and home visits. 15% of care recipients are enrolled in this program. This program was introduced in 2008.
4) Fall Prevention provides evidence-based workshops on maintaining balance by light exercising, in-home safety assessments, individualized fall prevention plans with 1:1 coaching. This program was introduced in September 2018.
In 2017-2018, 11,345 phone reassurance calls were made, 2,225 visits adding up to 3,322 home visit hours; 5,664 one-way rides to both medical and life enhancement appointments; 88% of seniors enrolled in 1:1 counseling show improvement in navigating depression and sadness; 83% of individuals in group counseling showed improvement in their view of quality of life.
Faith in Action has 150 trained volunteers providing services to the seniors amounting to more than 31,200 hours of service. Over the years, Faith in Action has received numerous awards for their work with the senior community.
Health and Social Services’ Mental Health Division currently has a contract in the amount of $116,687 with Faith in Action for virtual and in-person peer counseling for individuals 60 years and older, and funded with Mental Health Services Act monies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by District 2’s FY2018/19 Adopted Budget. The costs associated with preparation and purchase of the resolution materials are included in the Board’s FY2018/19 Adopted Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to adopt this resolution but that would not give us a chance to recognize Faith in Action and all of its work for seniors.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
There is no other agency involvement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION