Section 230.150  Area Agency on Aging Responsibilities

 

Each area agency on aging shall have the following responsibilities:

 

a)         Advocacy Responsibilities

            In performing its stated function of advocate for older persons, an area agency on aging shall throughout the planning and service area:

 

1)         Monitor, evaluate, and comment on all policies, programs, hearings, levies, and community actions which affect older persons;

 

2)         Conduct public hearings on the needs of older persons;

 

3)         Represent the interests of older persons to public officials, public and private agencies or organizations;

 

4)         Carry out activities in support of the State administered long-term care ombudsman program; and

 

5)         Coordinate planning with other agencies and organizations to promote new or expanded benefits and opportunities for older persons.

 

b)         General Planning and Management Responsibilities

            The area agency shall:

 

1)         Develop and administer an area plan for a comprehensive and coordinated service delivery system in the planning and service area, in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including all requirements of this Section;

 

2)         Assess the kinds and levels of services needed by older persons in the planning and service area, and the effectiveness of the use of resources in meeting these needs;

 

3)         Award subgrants or enter into contracts to provide all services under the area plan;

 

4)         Provide technical assistance, monitor, and periodically evaluate the performance of all service providers under the area plan;

 

5)         Coordinate the administration of the area plan with Federal, State, and Local resources in order to develop a comprehensive and coordinated service system;

 

6)         Establish an advisory council;

 

7)         Give preference in the delivery of services under the area plan to older persons with the greatest economic or social need.

 

8)         Assure that older persons in the planning and service area have reasonably convenient access to information and referral services;

 

9)         Provide adequate and effective opportunities for older persons to express their views to the area agency on policy development and program implementation under the area plan;

 

10)         Have outreach efforts to identify older persons and inform them of the availability of services under the plan;

 

11)         If possible, have arrangements with children's day care organizations so that older persons can volunteer to help provide the day care;

 

12)         If possible, have arrangements with local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit private organizations, to use the services provided older individuals under the community schools program of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 236 et seq.);

 

13)         Develop and publish the methods that the agency used to establish priorities for services, particularly those associated with access to other services, in-home services, and legal services;

 

14)         Establish procedures governing outreach, training and coordination activities of service providers;

 

15)         Attempt to involve the private bar in legal services activities, including groups within the private bar that furnish legal services on a pro bono and reduced fee basis; and

 

16)         Designate, if feasible, community focal points.

 

c)         Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council

            Each area agency on aging shall establish an advisory council for the purpose of advising the area agency on aging in carrying out those functions specified in this Part.

 

1)         The area agency on aging advisory council shall be composed of:

 

A)        More than 50 percent older persons and include:

 

i)          Older persons with greatest economic or social need; and

 

ii)         Participants in programs administered under this Part;

 

B)        Representatives of older persons;

 

C)        Local elected officials; and

 

D)        The general public.

 

2)         The area agency on aging shall develop and make public by-laws which specify:

 

A)        The role and function of the advisory council;

 

B)        The number of members of the advisory council;

 

C)        Procedures for selection of the members of the advisory council;

 

D)        The term of membership of the advisory council; and

 

E)        The frequency of meetings of the advisory council.

 

d)         Coordination With Other Programs

            To carry out its responsibility to develop a comprehensive and coordinated service delivery system, each area agency on aging shall establish effective and efficient procedures to coordinate with:

 

1)         Health systems agencies designated under Title XV of the Public Health Services Act; and

 

2)         Agencies administering the following programs:

 

A)        The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 801 et seq.);

 

B)        Title II of the Domestic Volunteer Act of 1973 (43 U.S.C. 5001 et seq.);

 

C)        Titles II, XVI, XVII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C., Chapter 7);

 

D)        Sections 231 and 232 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C.);

 

E)        The United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.);

 

F)         Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.);

 

G)        Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301);

 

H)        Section 222(a)(8) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.);

 

I)         The community schools program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 236 et seq.); and,

 

J)         Sections 3, 5, 9, and 16 of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 (49 U.S.C. 1601).