GOOD AFTERNOON AND
WELCOME. THIS IS THE ASSEMBLY
BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE NUMBER ONE
ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
TODAY WE WILL BE DISCUSSING
AGING AND LONG TERM CARE
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR OLDER
CALIFORNIANS IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES SPACE. WE ARE HAVING AN
IN PERSON HEARING HERE AT THE
STATE CAPITOL IN ROOM 444. MOST
PANELISTS TODAY WILL BE IN THE
ROOM AND PRESENTING IN PERSON.
WE WILL HAVE TWO PANELISTS WHO
ARE TESTIFYING REMOTELY. WE ARE
ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE
END OF THE HEARING, BOTH IN THE
HEARING ROOM AND ON THE PHONE.
THE PHONE NUMBER TO CONNECT IS
ON THE COMMITTEE WEBSITE AND
SHOULD BE ON THE SCREEN IF YOU
ARE WATCHING OVER THE INTERNET.
THE NUMBER IS TOLL FREE 877692.
AND THE PUBLIC ACCESS CODE IS
131544. IF YOU ENCOUNTER ANY
PROBLEMS, PLEASE CONTACT THE
ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE AT
916319, A STAFF MEMBER WILL
ASSIST YOU. THOSE WISHING TO
TESTIFY IN PERSON MAY DO SO WHEN
WE START PUBLIC COMMENT THAT
WILL BE ONCE WE'VE COMPLETED ALL
OF THE DISCUSSION ISSUES ON THE
AGENDA WILL WE WILL BEGIN PUBLIC
COMMENT AFTER ALL OF THE MEMBERS
HAVE CONCLUDED THEIR QUESTIONS
FOR THOSE PANELS. THERE WILL BE
NO VOTES TAKEN IN TODAY'S
HEARING, AND I WANT TO NOTE THAT
WE ARE ACCEPTING WRITTEN
FEEDBACK THROUGH THE SUB ONE
EMAIL ACCOUNT. AND THE ADDRESS
IS BUDGET SUB ONE AT A SM DOT
CA.GOV. BEFORE WE INVITE OUR
FIRST PANEL TO BEGIN. I'LL MAKE
A FEW INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS AND
OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES IF
THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME.
TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
PROGRAMS, ISSUES AND NEEDS
CONCERNING OLDER ADULTS. WE HAVE
WORKED HARD OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL BUDGET CYCLES TO BUILD
UP. TO EXPAND AND TO FORTIFY OUR
MAJOR PROGRAMS. EXPANDING THE IN
HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM
TO ALIGN WITH MEDICAL EXPANSION
EFFORTS TO MORE OF THE
UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY.
INCREASING GRANTS TO THE S S. I
S P RECIPIENTS AND IMPLEMENTING
CAL FRESH EXPANSION FOR THIS
COMMUNITY. CREATING PROGRAMS
INTERVENTIONS FOR SENIORS. AT
RISK OF EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. AND INVESTING IN
THE OLDER CALIFORNIANS ACT AND
AREA AGENCIES ON AGING PROGRAMS.
THE GREAT RECESSION SAW TRAGIC
CUTS TO AGING AND LONG TERM CARE
PROGRAMS ACROSS THE BOARD. THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR
HAVE TOGETHER REBUILT THESE
PROGRAMS. NOW IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE MASTER PLAN OF AGING THAT IS
FOCUSED ON EQUITY AND COMMUNITY
BASED SERVICES. WHILE WE ARE
LOOKING AT A FUNDAMENTALLY
DIFFERENT KIND OF BUDGET OUTLOOK
THIS YEAR. WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE
COMMITMENTS WE HAVE MADE IN THE
MASTER PLAN, AND ALL OF THE
CAREFULLY LAID OUT PROTECTIVE
EFFORTS TO PREVENT CUTS TO THESE
PRECIOUS AND LIFE SUSTAINING
PROGRAMS. WITH THAT SAID, I AM
GRATEFUL TO ALL OF OUR PANELISTS
WHO ARE HERE IN PERSON. THANK
YOU TO THE MEMBERS WHO ARE
ATTENDING. AND I'LL OPEN IT UP
TO MY COLLEAGUES TO SEE IF THEY
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS.
DR JACKSON THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR CHAIR. OBVIOUSLY. SUCH A, UM
IMPORTANT SUBJECT NOW. AND EVEN
MORE IMPORTANT SUBJECT IN THE
FUTURE. WE KNOW FOR SURE. THAT
WE HAVE A HUGE WAVE COMING. AND
WE CAN SEE IT COMING. THIS IS
NOT GOING TO BE A SURPRISE. AND
SHAME ON US IF WE'RE NOT
PREPARED FOR IT. WE KNOW WE NEED
MORE SENIOR HOUSING AND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WHEN IT
COMES TO THOSE THINGS. UM IF
YOU'RE LIKE MY GRANDMA WHO'S
REFUSING TO LEAVE HER HOME, AND
IF YOU WANT ME TO, UH, IF YOU
WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF ME,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE IN
WITH ME. AND THAT'S WHAT MY DAD
DID. ENDED UP MOVING IN WITH
HER, BUT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO
LEAVE HER HOME. BUT SHE DID. HER
JOB IS NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO
DO OURS. SO MANY THINGS, UM,
THAT YOU'VE ALREADY OUTLINED MR
CHAIR, BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE
. THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN
ACTUALLY BE PREPARED FOR. IF WE
THINK LONG TERM IF WE ARE
DISCIPLINED. UM AND WE MAKE SURE
THAT WE GET THE BASICS RIGHT?
AND SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO
LEARNING MORE TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU WITH THAT. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH ISSUE ONE, WHICH IS
OUR FIRST OF TWO OVERARCHING
OVERSIGHT ISSUES. FOR THIS ISSUE
. WE WILL FOCUS ON PROGRAMS
UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES AND IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES. AS A REMINDER FOR
THOSE PANELISTS WHO ARE
PRESENTERS, PLEASE PRESENT IN
THE ORDER THAT YOUR NAME APPEARS
ON IN THE AGENDA LIKE TO REMIND
ALL OF OUR PANELISTS TO PLEASE
LIMIT YOUR REMARKS TO FIVE
MINUTES MAXIMUM WHEN POSSIBLE,
GIVEN THE DENSITY OF OUR AGENDA
OF SPEAKERS TODAY AND OUR DESIRE
TO TURN TO PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE
TOO LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY
EVENING. WE WILL HAVE 10
PRESENTERS ON THIS PANEL FOR
ISSUE ONE, BEGINNING WITH
DIRECTOR KIM JOHNSON FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
PLEASE BEGIN WHEN YOU ARE READY.
THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MR
CHAIR, DR JACKSON, KIM JOHNSON,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES AND WANT TO JUST THANK
YOU FOR YOUR OPENING REMARKS AND
PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
HIGHLIGHT BOTH THE PROGRAMS
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON
OLDER ADULTS AND PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES AND THE TRENDS WE
ARE SEEING AS WE ADMINISTER
THESE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE. AS WAS MENTIONED HERE.
CALIFORNIA'S POPULATION IS AGING
BY 2031 FOR CALIFORNIANS WILL BE
AGED 60 OR OLDER AND THESE OLDER
ADULTS WILL BE MORE CULTURALLY,
ETHNICALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY
DIVERSE THAN EVER BEFORE. THIS
MEANS THAT CALIFORNIA HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE
ARE BUILDING OUR SERVICES
SUPPORTS IN OUR WORKFORCE TO
MEET THE NEED. WE ALSO KNOW A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OLDER
ADULTS IN CALIFORNIA LIVE IN
POVERTY IN 2021 12.3% OF ADULTS,
65 OVER LIVED BELOW THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LINE, AND THAT'S YOUR
AGENDA POINTS OUT THAT OLDER
ADULTS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING
GROUP. EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
ACROSS CALIFORNIA. BECAUSE THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
ADMINISTERS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER
OF PROGRAMS TARGETED TO SUPPORT
LOW INCOME CALIFORNIANS. WE ARE
PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON ENSURING
CALIFORNIANS WHO MAYBE AGING
WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL
INCOME OR RESOURCES ARE STILL
ABLE TO HAVE STABLE HOUSING TO
AGE IN PLACE SAFELY, INCLUDING
YOUR GRANDMOTHER, DR. JACKSON UH
, TO HAVE A CAREGIVER OF THEIR
CHOOSING, AND TO HAVE INCOME AND
FOOD SECURITY. TO MEET THE
INCREASED NEEDS IS MORE
CALIFORNIANS AGE IN SOME
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES THE
GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE, AS YOU
POINTED OUT, HAVE INVESTED AT
SIGNIFICANT AND HISTORIC LEVELS
AND EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY TO
ENSURE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THE
SUPPORTS AND SERVICES THAT THEY
NEED. AS WE HAVE LAUNCHED AN
EXPANDED THESE PROGRAMS. WE HAVE
DONE SO FOCUSING ON A SET OF
CORE PRINCIPLES NUMBER ONE, A
COMMITMENT TO EMBEDDING EQUITY
IN OUR PROGRAMS AND POLICIES,
WHICH INCLUDES ENSURING LANGUAGE
ACCESS, AMONG OTHER ITEMS, USING
A PERSON CENTERED APPROACH TO
THINK CROSS, PROGRAMMATICALLY
AND CROSS DIVISIONAL E BECAUSE
AGAIN WE ARE HERE TO SERVE
PEOPLE IN THAT PROGRAMS. THE
THIRD IS TO ENGAGE OUR
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT
THE STATE AND TO UTILIZE THE
EXPANDED PUBLIC FORUMS CREATED
THROUGH THE MASTER PLAN ON AGING
TO HAVE DIFFICULT AND NECESSARY
CROSSCUTTING CONVERSATIONS AND
ALSO TO USE DATA TO INFORM OUR
DECISION MAKING, SO WE MAKE SURE
WE'RE REACHING OUT TO CALIFORNIA
ACROSS THE STATE AND USING THAT
TO INFORM OUR DECISION MAKING
SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THE MASTER
PLAN IN 2021, THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES HAS BEEN
INVOLVED IN OVER 35 DIFFERENT,
UH, INITIATIVES ACROSS ALL FIVE
GOAL AREAS, AND I'LL COVER SOME
OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS IN JUST A
MOMENT. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN
WITH THIS COMMITTEE IN PREVIOUS
HEARINGS ABOUT ENSURING THAT WE
AS A DEPARTMENT OR INTENTIONALLY
ORGANIZED IN A WAY THAT
FACILITATES INTEGRATION AND
CONNECTION ACROSS OUR PROGRAMS.
IN THIS CASE, THAT'S NO
DIFFERENT IN 2021. I SHIFTED OUR
DIRECTORATE SUPPORT TO ENSURE
THERE WAS A CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR
ADVISING AND ASSISTING THE
FORMATION OF POLICIES AND
PRACTICES, INCLUDING THE
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING
DIVISION, WHERE AGAIN OUR ADULT
AND SENIOR CARE SETTINGS ARE
SUPPORTED DISABILITY
DETERMINATION SERVICE ADULT
PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDES OUR IN
HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM
AND OUR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
DIVISION. SO AGAIN INTENTIONAL
LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT TO MAKE
THOSE CROSS CONNECTIONS REAL AND
WE HAVE IN FACT, DONE THAT, JUST
AS WE SPEAK TO OUR INVESTMENTS
IN HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS,
CALIFORNIA AGAIN HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY INVESTED IN THE
DEPARTMENT'S PROGRAMS TO ENSURE
OLDER ADULTS HAVE ACCESS TO
HOUSING, SUPPORTS, CASE
MANAGEMENT AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING OPTIONS. UH, JUST SOME
EXAMPLES OF THIS CROSS
COORDINATION THAT I WANT TO LIFT
UP IS KIND OF ACROSS THE BOARD
IN THESE PROGRAMS. BUT FOR
EXAMPLE, EVEN THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC PROJECT ROOM KEY WAS
ESTABLISHED AND WE WERE
INTENTIONAL ABOUT THINKING ABOUT
UNSHELTERED POPULATIONS WHO
WOULD NEED ALSO ACCESS TO IN
HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. HOW
COULD WE MAKE THAT A REALITY IN
THIS INNOVATIVE MODEL THAT AGAIN
BECAME A NATIONAL MODEL ACROSS
THE COUNTRY. THAT PROGRAM SERVED
MORE THAN 61,000, CALIFORNIA
SINCE ITS LAUNCH, AND WE HAVE A
GREAT RESULTS ACROSS THE
COUNTIES WHO HAVE IMPLEMENTED
THAT HAVE TRANSITIONED
INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN
THAT PROGRAM INTO PERMANENT
HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND GRATEFUL
FOR THAT EFFORT TO CONTINUE
THROUGH THE COURSE OF THIS
FISCAL YEAR. AS WE LOOK ACROSS
THE TRENDS WITH ADULT AND SENIOR
CARE SETTINGS AND LOOK AT
STABILIZING, EXPANDING MORE
OPTIONS IN THE LONG TERM CARE
CONTINUUM. THIS IS INCLUDES THE
LAUNCH OF OUR NEWEST PROGRAM,
THE COMMUNITY CARE EXPANSION
PROGRAM, AND SO TOGETHER AGAIN,
THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE
HAVE INVESTED $860 MILLION TO
EXPAND HOUSING OPTIONS FOR OLDER
ADULTS APPLYING FOR OR RECEIVING
SSC AND SSP OR CAPPY OR AT RISK
OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND AS OF FEBRUARY, CDSS HAS
ANNOUNCED A TOTAL OF 207 MILLION
THROUGH THE CAPITAL EXPANSION
COMPONENT OF THIS PROGRAM FOR 32
PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE, WHERE
CONTINUING TO REVIEW OUR
APPLICATIONS AND MAKING AWARDS
ON A ROLLING BASIS. ADDITIONALLY
WE'VE AWARDED $249.5 MILLION TO
35 COUNTIES FOR THEIR
PRESERVATION PROGRAMS, WHICH
INCLUDE THE OPERATING SUBSIDY
PAYMENTS FOR LICENSES. I ALSO
WANT TO NOTE THAT THE $350
MILLION WE'VE INVESTED TOGETHER
TO BE SPENT OVER MULTIPLE YEARS
FOR THE HOUSING AND DISABILITY
ADVOCACY PROGRAM, WHICH NOW
SERVES OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES EXPERIENCING
OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN 57
COUNTIES. IT ALSO INCLUDES TWO
TRIBES THAT ARE ADMINISTERING
THIS PROGRAM. SINCE ITS LAUNCH.
WE'VE ENROLLED MORE THAN 5500
CALIFORNIANS AND HELP
PERMANENTLY HOUSED MORE THAN
2800 INDIVIDUALS. SIX MONTHS
POST EXIT OF THE PROGRAM 80 OF
THE 80% OF THE PARTICIPANTS
RETAINED THAT HOUSING. WE ALSO
HAVE, OF COURSE, $185 MILLION.
WE'VE INVESTED TO BE SPENT OVER
MULTIPLE YEARS FOR OUR HOME SAFE
PROGRAM, WHICH SERVES ELDERS,
INDEPENDENT ADULTS EXPERIENCING
AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, AND
THAT IS ACROSS ALL 58 COUNTIES.
AND SINCE ITS INCEPTION, WE HAVE
ENROLLED MORE THAN 5600 CLIENTS
AND PROVIDED MORE THAN 2000
INSTANCES OF HOUSING RELATED
FINANCIAL SUPPORTS. SIX MONTHS.
POST POST THE EXIT OF THIS
PROGRAM, 85% OF PARTICIPANTS
HAVE RETAINED HOUSING. AS WE
TURN TO IN HOME SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES PROGRAM AS PART OF OUR
MEDICAL EXPANSION THAT YOU
MENTIONED NOW SERVING
UNDOCUMENTED ADULTS AT
CALIFORNIA FOR ALL AS WE
CONTINUE TO STRIVE TOWARDS 50 OR
OLDER AND IN ENSURING THAT THEY
RECEIVE THE IN HOME CARE THEY
NEED, REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION
STATUS IS TREMENDOUS IN THAT
EXPANSION. WE ALSO OF COURSE,
WHICH YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT
HAVE LAUNCHED THE JUST ASK
CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM. A $300
MILLION INVESTMENT THAT'S
PROVIDING MULTIPLE PRONGS TO
BOTH RETAIN AN UPSCALE THE
EXISTING WORKFORCE TO RECRUIT
NEW IN HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICE
PROVIDERS, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE
WHO WANT TO MOVE ON TO OTHER
HEALTHCARE CAREER PATHWAYS,
GIVING THEM THOSE CONNECTIONS TO
THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE SYSTEM
. THE HSS PROGRAM HAS ALSO
LAUNCHED A NEW PERMANENT BACKUP
SYSTEM AGAIN, BUILDING ON
LESSONS LEARNED IN IN, UH
PENDULUM, THE PANDEMIC AND
TEMPORARY SYSTEMS THAT IS NOW
PERMANENT. TO HELP HSS
RECIPIENTS AVOID DISRUPTIONS AND
CARE AND AGAIN THAT'S OPERATING
ACROSS THE STATE AND ALL 58
COUNTIES. ALSO IN TERMS OF THE
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
PROGRAM. IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE
HAD ADDITIONAL FEDERAL
INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD
PRIOR BUT ALSO AGAIN. THE
EXPANSION TO INCLUDE AND THE
DEFINITION OF ELDER TO INCLUDE
EVERYONE 60 AND OLDER TO ENSURE
PEOPLE CAN AGAIN LIVE FROM FREE
FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT. WE'VE
INVESTED OVER $70 MILLION IN
2021 TO SUPPORT THIS EXPANSION
AND ADDITIONAL 9.2 MILLION FOR
ONGOING SOCIAL WORK TRAINING FOR
THOSE WORKING IN ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES. FINALLY
CALIFORNIA INCREASED THE STATE
SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT LEVEL BY
23.95% STARTING JANUARY ONE OF
2022, ANOTHER 10.3% AND JANUARY
ONE OF THIS YEAR. ADDITIONALLY
THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING
ANOTHER APPROXIMATE 8.6%
INCREASE EFFECTIVE JANUARY OF
NEXT YEAR AND THE CASH
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR
IMMIGRANTS, ALSO KNOWN AS CAPPY
. BENEFITS HAVE BEEN INCREASED
AT THE SAME PACE AS THE C S S P
GRANTS. TO ENSURE AGAIN. WE ARE
CALIFORNIA ALL FOR ALL, AND
ENSURING IMMIGRANTS HAVE ACCESS
TO THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT.
THE MAXIMUM GRANT LEVEL FOR AN
INDIVIDUAL THIS YEAR IS $1134.73
AND FOR A COUPLE OF $1928.62,
THE PROJECTED MAXIMUM GRANT
LEVEL FOR AN INDIVIDUAL IN 2024
WITH THE 8.6% PROPOSED INCREASE
, UM, OF THE FEDERAL AMOUNT WILL
BE $1193.62 FOR AN INDIVIDUAL IN
$2036.49 FOR A COUPLE. SO AGAIN,
WE KNOW THAT MANY OLDER
CALIFORNIANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
THAT ARE LOW INCOME OR
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR
ABUSE OR NEGLECT ARE FACING
SERIOUS AND ONGOING CHALLENGES.
BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THE
INVESTMENTS AND EXPANSIONS THAT
WE'VE MADE TOGETHER OVER THE
LAST TWO YEARS IN ADDITION TO
OUR CORE AND ONGOING COURSE,
SAFETY NET PROGRAMS HAVE
POSITIONED CALIFORNIA TO HELP
ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES AND TO
HELP BUILD THAT CALIFORNIA FOR
ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. YOU'LL
HEAR FROM ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS
FROM THE DEPARTMENT ON SOME OF
THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT I
REFERENCED, AND I'M GLAD TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU NEXT, MR RAMSEY. THANK
YOU. CLAIRE RAMSEY, CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, FILLING THAT
ROLE THAT DIRECTOR JOHNSON SPOKE
ABOUT AROUND AGING DISABILITY
AND HOUSING INTEGRATION. NO
FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE
DEPARTMENT BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. NEXT. WE
HAVE DR MARGO KUSHELL. FOR BEING
WITH US. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
CHAIRMAN WILL BLEND OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M
MARGO KUSHELL, PRACTICING
PHYSICIAN PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE
AND A RESEARCHER ON HOMELESSNESS
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,
SAN FRANCISCO. SO AS YOU KNOW,
IN CALIFORNIA, APPROXIMATELY
171,000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS NIGHTLY. OF WHOM
ABOUT 136,000. WE CALL SINGLE
HOMELESS ADULTS, SO THESE ARE
NOT FOLKS AND FAMILIES OR YOUNG
ADULTS IN THE EARLY 19 NINETIES
, 11% OF SINGLE HOMELESS ADULTS
WERE 50 AND OLDER AND NEARLY
HALF ARE NOW THAT MEANS THAT
APPROXIMATELY 65,000
CALIFORNIANS ARE HOMELESS IN AGE
50 AND OVER AND ABOUT TWO THIRDS
OF THEM ARE UNSHELTERED DO THE
IMPACTS OF STRUCTURAL RACISM,
BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND LATIN X
CALIFORNIANS ARE AT A
DRAMATICALLY INCREASED RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS. PEOPLE WHO
EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS IN THEIR
FIFTIES AND SIXTIES HAVE WORSE
HEALTH PROBLEMS AND THOSE IN THE
GENERAL POPULATION IN THE
SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES.
EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH PREVALENCE
OF CHRONIC DISEASES, GERIATRIC
CONDITIONS SUCH AS DIFFICULTIES
WITH ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING,
COGNITIVE AND MOBILITY,
IMPAIRMENTS AND THE LIKE. A
LARGE PROPORTION ACTUALLY MEET
CRITERIA FOR NURSING HOME
PLACEMENT AND DESERVE AND
REQUIRE THE SERVICES THAT WOULD
ALLOW THEM TO LIVE SAFELY IN THE
COMMUNITY. INSTEAD MANY LIVE IN
HOMELESS SHELTERS UNEQUIPPED TO
ASSIST PEOPLE WITH THEIR DEGREE
OF DISABILITY. OR OUTSIDE WITH
NO HELP AT ALL. HOMELESSNESS IS
AT ITS ROOT HOUSING PROBLEM.
CALIFORNIA HAS ONLY 24 UNITS OF
HOUSING FOR EVERY 100 EXTREMELY
LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD WITH A
SHORTFALL OF A MILLION UNITS.
OLDER ADULTS ARE THOSE MOST
LIKELY TO BE SEVERELY PROSPERED
AND PAYING OVER 50% OF THEIR
INCOME IN RENT WITH DIMINISHED
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE JOB MARKET
OR ON FIXED OR EVEN KNOW INCOMES
. THEY ARE EXTREMELY VULNERABLE
TO HOMELESSNESS. NEARLY HALF OF
PEOPLE 50 AND OLDER WHO ARE
HOMELESS HAD THEIR FIRST EVER
EPISODE AFTER THE AGE OF 50.
THOSE FIRST HOMELESS AFTER THE
AGE OF 50 HAD WORKED THEIR WHOLE
LIVES IN PHYSICALLY DEMANDING
LOW PAID WORK STRUGGLING AGAINST
RISING HOUSING COSTS. AND THEN,
AT SOME POINT AFTER THE AGE OF
50, THEY FACED A CRISIS EITHER
THE BREAKUP OF OUR MARRIAGE,
THEIR JOB LOSS OR ILLNESS OF
THEMSELVES OR THEIR PARTNER, THE
DEATH OF THEIR PARTNER OR OF
THEIR PARENT THAT LED TO THEIR
HOMELESSNESS. HOMELESSNESS AS
YOU KNOW, IS DEEPLY CATASTROPHIC
TO HEALTH. WELL, HOMELESS PEOPLE
FACE EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS
ARE EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH RISK OF
BEING VICTIMIZED FACE BARRIERS
TO ACCESSING HEALTHY FOOD
MEDICATIONS AND LONGITUDINAL
HEALTHCARE. THEY HAVE EXTREMELY
HIGH RATES OF USE THEM BIRDS,
DEPARTMENT AND HOSPITALIZATION
TO GIVE YOU SOME SENSE. ONE
QUARTER OF HOMICIDE ADULTS OVER
50 HAVE BEEN AT LEAST ONE NIGHT
IN THE HOSPITAL IN THE PAST SIX
MONTHS. PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS
OR TO 3.5 FOLD. OTHER ADULTS
INCREASED RISK OF DYING COMPARED
TO THEIR SIMILARLY AGED HOUSE
COUNTERPARTS, AND WE HAVE FOUND
THAT THOSE WHO ARE FIRST
HOMELESS AFTER 50 HAVEN'T EVEN
HIGHER RISK THAN THOSE WHO ARE
HOMELESS BEFORE 50 AND REMAINED
HOMELESS. BUT WE ALSO FOUND THAT
THOSE WHO REGAINED THEIR HOUSING
DROPPED THEIR RISK OF DYING
DRAMATICALLY. THESE STATISTICS
SHOULD GIVE US ALL PAUSE BUT
ALSO CALL US TO ACTION. AS A
PHYSICIAN, I CAN SAY THAT THERE
IS NO MEDICINE AS POWERFUL AS
HOUSING. WITH THE STRUCTURAL
DEFICIT IN DEEPLY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. IT IS GOING TO TAKE US
A LONG TIME. AND, YES, A LOT OF
MONEY TO END THIS CRISIS THIS
CAN MAKE IT SOMETIMES SEEM THAT
WHAT WE ARE DOING ISN'T WORKING
. BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT
THE INVESTMENTS THAT THE STATE
HAS MADE THUS FAR HAS PREVENTED
AN EVEN WORSE CRISIS. WE NEED TO
CONTINUE OUR FOCUS ON PREVENTING
NEW ENTRANCES INTO HOMELESSNESS
AND ENDING HOMELESSNESS, AMONG
OTHER ADULTS EARLIER VALUATION
OF THE HOME SAFE PROGRAM. WHICH
DIRECTOR JOHNSON MENTIONED? UM
AH HAS SUGGESTED IS REACHING
PEOPLE AT EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH
RISK AND INTERVENING IN REAL
TIME TO PREVENT THEIR
HOMELESSNESS AS THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM FROM THE COVID CRISIS
AND OLDER CALIFORNIANS COULD BE
FACING A WAVE OF EVICTIONS INTO
HOMELESSNESS FOR OLDER ADULTS ON
FIXED INCOME, SHALLOW SUBSIDIES
MAY BE ENOUGH TO KEEP SOME OF
THEM OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. FOR
THOSE WITH SIGNIFICANT
BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES PERMANENT
, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OR
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING WITH
APPROPRIATE SUPPORTS AND
SERVICES. THOSE THAT ADDRESS
BOTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CHALLENGES AND THE CHALLENGES
FACED BY OLDER ADULTS, SUPPORT
FOR PERSONAL CARE AND OTHER
AGING RELATED NEEDS COULD NOT
ONLY ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE
WITH DIGNITY BUT IMPORTANTLY, TO
PREVENT AVOIDABLE USE OF
INSTITUTIONAL CARE. SUCH AS
NURSING HOMES AND CHRIS REAL
SETTINGS AND PREVENT THEIR
DEATHS. ALL CALIFORNIANS DESERVE
TO AGE WITH DIGNITY AND SECURITY
. WE ALL BENEFIT WHEN WE HAVE
ACCESS TO SAFE HOUSING. EVEN IN
A DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR, WE MUST
RECOMMIT TO DOING EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO END THE CRISIS OF SENIOR
HOMELESSNESS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
NEXT WE HAVE TIFFANY WITTEN WITH
SCR YOU MR CHAIRMAN MEMBERS
TIFFANY WHITE. AND WITH THAT,
SEE HIÂU, CALIFORNIA
REPRESENTING OVER 410,000 LONG
TERM CARE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE
STATE. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU
ALL. TODAY. THERE ARE SEVERAL
PRIORITIES AND CONCERNS RELATED
TO THE AGE ASSESS PROGRAM, BUT I
WILL ONLY TOUCH UPON THREE THIS
AFTERNOON. THE AGES S PROGRAM
CURRENTLY EMPLOYS JUST OVER
600,000 I H S S PROVIDER AND
SERVED MORE THAN 690,000
RECIPIENTS THAT A JUSTICE
PROGRAM AS A LIFESAVING PROGRAM
FOR RECIPIENTS AND COST SAVING
ALTERNATIVE FOR OUR STATE. ONE
OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS IS
ENSURING WE HAVE AN
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MEETS THE
GROWING DEMAND OF THE PROGRAM AS
THE AGING POPULATION CONTINUES
TO GROW RAPIDLY AND HAS MORE
PROVIDERS ARE NEEDED TO MEET THE
SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE CONSUMERS.
IF CALIFORNIA DOES NOT
ADEQUATELY INVEST IN THE
WORKFORCE, ODOR ADULTS AND THOSE
LIVING WITH DISABILITIES WILL
NOT RECEIVE THE PROPER CARE THAT
THEY NEED. CAREGIVERS WILL
CONTINUE TO LIVE IN POVERTY AND
THE PUBLIC EXPENSE OF CARING FOR
THESE POPULATIONS WILL ONLY
INCREASE ONE SOLUTION TO HELP
BUILD ON THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS
TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RATHER
THAN THE CURRENT 58 COUNTY
STRUCTURE THAT EXISTS TODAY. MS
FRAGMENTED STRUCTURE AT TIMES
FORCES PROVIDERS TO DECIDE
BETWEEN HEALTHCARE BENEFITS OR
INCREASED WAGES. SOME COUNTIES
CURRENTLY DON'T OR WON'T BARGAIN
WITH PROVIDERS BUT RATHER TAKE A
PENALTY AND OTHERS SPEND MONTHS
NEGOTIATING OVER INCREASES AS
LITTLE AS 25 CENTS. IF WE AS A
STATE ARE GOING TO PREPARE
OURSELVES, WE MUST MAKE
INVESTMENTS ON THE FRONT END TO
SUPPORT THE WORK FORCE SO WE CAN
RECRUIT AND RETAIN PROVIDERS TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CURRENT
AND FUTURE CONSUMERS OF THE HSS
PROGRAM. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A
BILL A B 16 72 BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HANEY MOVING
THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE
BARGAINING STRUCTURE, BUT WE
ASKED THIS COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER
APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE
PURPOSES OF STARTUP COSTS
ALONGSIDE AND ANTICIPATED
DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION IN AN
EFFORT TO GIVE THE STATE AND
DEPARTMENTS THE ABILITY TO STAFF
UP APPROPRIATELY AND ADEQUATELY
PREPARE FOR THIS CHANGE. THE
SECOND ITEM IS CONCERNING TO THE
SAME POPULATION OF OLDER ADULTS
AND THOSE LIVING WITH
DISABILITIES, WHICH IS ACCESS TO
RESPITE PROVIDERS. RESPITE IS
DESIGNED TO GIVE PRIMARY
CAREGIVERS REPRIEVE WHILE
ENSURING THE HEALTH AND WELL
BEING OF CAREGIVERS AND THEIR
DEPENDENCE IN AN EFFORT TO
REDUCE OR ELIMINATE BURNOUT.
RESPITE IS AN ESSENTIAL
COMPONENT TO THE STABILIZATION
OF THE I. H S S PROGRAM AS A
WHOLE, DESPITE RESPITE BEING SO
ESSENTIAL PROVIDERS STRUGGLE TO
LOCATE AND CONNECT WITH
PROVIDERS WHO CAN OFFER RESPITE
, PARTICULARLY FOR FAMILIES WHO
NEED SUPPORT PROVIDED IN
LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH. WE
ARE PROPOSING THROUGH A B ONE.
OH 1006, MAKIN, ER TO REQUIRE
THE NO WRONG DOOR SYSTEM TO
CREATE A RESPITE REFERRAL
REGISTRY IN ORDER TO CONNECT
THOSE ENROLLED IN THE MEDICAL
PROGRAM WITH RESPITE PROVIDERS.
RECENT ANALYSIS BY THE
CALIFORNIA STATE AUDITOR HAVE
BEGUN TO POINT TO SOME OF THE
CRITICAL WEAKNESSES OF THE
RESPITE DELIVERY SYSTEM, AS IT
EXISTS TODAY HAVEN'T TAKEN STOCK
OF THE SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO START MOVING,
MAKING MOVES IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION TO SUPPORT FAMILIES
NOW AND IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
WE WOULD REQUEST CONSIDERATION
FROM THIS COMMITTEE AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME TO DEDICATE
FUNDING TO THE NO WRONG DOOR
SYSTEM FOR THE PURPOSES OF
ESTABLISHING THIS VITAL RESPITE
REGISTRY. THIRD AND LASTLY IS
RELATED TO THE NEED TO EXTEND
THE TIMELINE APPROPRIATE AND
APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO CONTINUE
THE I. H S S CAREER PATHWAYS,
WHICH DIRECTOR JOHNSON HAS
ALREADY NOTED, AND I'M SURE IT
WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE SECOND
PANEL. THIS PROGRAM IS A PAID
AND INCENTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM
FOR I H S S AND W PCS PROVIDERS.
UM HELPING TO ADVOCATE RACIAL,
GENDER AND LINGUISTIC EQUITY BY
REFRAMING AND REPOSITIONING THE
WORKFORCE AS ONE TO BE INVESTED
IN VALUED AND TREATED WITH
DIGNITY. THAT I H S S CAREER
PATHWAYS PROGRAMS RESPOND
SPECIFICALLY TO THE INDUSTRY'S
LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR
TRAINING AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT
FOR HSS PROVIDERS CONTRIBUTING
FACTOR TO THE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE
CURRENTLY PLAYED IN THE
INDUSTRY. NO FORMAL CAREER
LADDERS EXIST WITHIN THE I. H S
S. UM AND PROVIDERS SEEKING
CAREER ADVANCEMENT HAVE TO LOOK
OUTSIDE OF I H S S TO OTHER
PROFESSIONS AND INDUSTRIES. THIS
ONLY SERVES TO EXACERBATE THE
CURRENT IMPEDING WORKFORCE
CRISIS. THE I. H S S CAREER
PATHWAYS PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN
FALL OF 2022, WITH THE LIMITED
NUMBER OF CLASSES FIRST BEING
OFFERED STARTING IN OCTOBER OF
2022 OPENED WITH AN ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF INTEREST AND
EXCITEMENT. UM C D S S. I JUST
ASKED CAREER PATHWAYS WHERE PAGE
HAD MORE THAN 300,000 HITS AND A
THREE DAY PERIOD IN CLASSES
FILLED QUICKLY. OF COURSE, IS
CONTINUED TO BE ADDED ON A
ROLLING BASIS, INCLUDING A LARGE
RELEASE OF CLASSES IN JANUARY.
23 MARCH 2023 WHENEVER CDSS
RELEASED NEW CLASSES, MANY, IF
NOT ALL, APPEARED TO REACH
CAPACITY VERY QUICKLY. PROVIDERS
HAVE DESCRIBED THEIR EXPERIENCE
ENCOUNTERING FULL AND WAIT
LISTED CLASSES OR IN CDSS
MULTIPLE INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS
ON THE PROGRAM. AS WITH ANY
PILOT PROGRAM, THERE HAVE BEEN
SIGNIFICANT UPFRONT ACTIVITIES
AND COSTS TO BUILD THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROCESSES
NECESSARY TO LAUNCH THE PROGRAM
. THE PROCESS HAS BEEN TIME AND
LABOR SINCE INTENSIVE. THE STATE
AND TRAINING VENDORS HAVE
DEVELOPED AND INVESTED IN
TECHNICAL SYSTEMS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING
WEBSITES AND LEARNING MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS A BUILT
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY,
INCLUDING HIRING ONBOARDING AND
TRAINING STAFF. FINDING AND
HIRING QUALITY INSTRUCTORS AND
ALL LANGUAGES NEEDED TO TEACH.
THE DIVERSE HSS WORKFORCE IS ONE
EXAMPLE OF THE UPFRONT
ACTIVITIES THAT TOOK A
CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME AND
EFFORT, UM FOR VENDORS, AND
WHILE THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN
2022 IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN IN
PHASES, AND THE INITIAL RELEASE
OF CLASSES WERE LIMITED AND 2022
, THERE WERE ONLY 37 COURSES AND
APPROXIMATELY 140 CLASS SESSIONS
OFFERED. THE TWO VENDORS FOR THE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DID NOT
START THEIR TRAINING DELIVERY
UNTIL JANUARY OF 23. SINCE
JANUARY. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE
THAN 40 NEW COURSES AND OVER 500
CLASSES, SESSIONS ADDED TO THE
COURSE, CATALOG VENDORS AND CDSS
CONTINUED TO RAMP UP THE PROGRAM
AND BUILD THE COURSE CATALOG. AS
THE MAN IS EXTREMELY HIGH, AND
CLASSES REACHED CAPACITY QUICKLY
. THERE IS CONCERN THAT
PROVIDERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
ENROLL IN ENOUGH CLASSES TO
COMPLETE A CAREER PATHWAY. BY
THE TIME CLASSES ARE SCHEDULED
TO END AND THEREFORE THEY WILL
NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
INCENTIVE PAYMENTS. NOR WILL
THEY OBTAINED REAL KNOWLEDGE OR
OR GAIN SKILLS TO ADVANCE THE
GOALS OF THE PROGRAM OF IMPROVED
CARE, RETENTION AND JOB SKILLS.
IN ADDITION TO BEING PAID FOR
THEIR HOURS SPENT IN TRAINING,
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF
INCENTIVE PAYMENTS THAT
ENCOURAGE PATHWAY, COMPLETION
APPLICATION AND WORKFORCE
RETENTION. THE FIRST IS
COMPLETION OF 15. HOURS OF
COURSE, IS WITHIN A CAREER
PATHWAY SECOND FOR PROVIDING FOR
AT LEAST 40 HOURS OF CARE TO A
CONSUMER AND THE FIRST MONTH
AFTER COMPLETION OF A
SPECIALIZED CAREER PATHWAY,
THIRD FOR PROVIDING AT LEAST 40
HOURS OF CARE PER MONTH TO A
CONSUMER FOR SIX MONTHS AFTER
COMPLETING OF A SPECIALIZED, UM
CAREER PATHWAY. THE INCENTIVE
PATHWAYS PARTICULARLY TYPE TWO
AND THREE INCENTIVE PAYMENTS,
PROMOTE THE RETENTION OF HSS
PROVIDERS IN THE PROGRAM, BUT
THE NUMBER OF PROVIDERS WHO MAY
BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THESE
PAYMENTS ONE AND SIX MONTHS
AFTER TRAINING IS POTENTIALLY
VERY LIMITED, ESPECIALLY
DEPENDING ON WHEN THE DEPARTMENT
STOPS ACCEPTING CLAIMS FOR THIS
PAYMENT. THIS IS
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO WHAT I KNOW
THE PROGRAM'S GOAL OF IMPROVING
THE RETENTION OF THE PROVIDERS
ARE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR,
ONLY 1000 PROVIDERS STATEWIDE
HAD SUBMITTED TRAINING CLAIMS,
AND THERE WERE LESS THAN 100
INCENTIVE CLAIMS SUBMITTED. WE
CAN REASONABLY ASSUME THIS IS
LIKELY IN PART DUE TO THE
LIMITED NUMBER OF CLASSES
OFFERED, WHICH MEANT MANY
PROVIDERS WHEN WE'RE UNABLE TO
ENROLL IN ENOUGH OPEN CLASSES TO
COMPLETE A PATHWAY BASED ON THE
COURSES AVAILABLE IN THE FALL.
IT IS ALSO PROBABLE THAT MOST OF
THESE INCENTIVE CLAIMS WERE FOR
ENGLISH SPEAKERS, WHICH POINTS
TO THE ISSUE OF LANGUAGE EQUITY
FOR NON ENGLISH SPEAKERS. THE
FULL POTENTIAL OF THE STATE'S
INVESTMENT IN TRAINING MAY NOT
BE REACHED IF PROVIDERS WHO ARE
PROGRESSING THROUGH A PATHWAY
ARE FORCED TO CUT THEIR LEARNING
JOURNEY SHORT WHEN THE PROGRAM
ENDS AND EXTENSION BY THE STATE
TO CONTINUE FUNDING THE PROGRAM
TRAINING THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR
, 23 24 CONTRIBUTING ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES, IF NEEDED, WOULD HELP
ALLEVIATE SOME OF THESE PENT UP
DEMAND. FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES
. ADDITIONAL TIME TO IMPLEMENT
THE PROGRAM WOULD ALSO GIVE ALL
STAKEHOLDERS THE CHANCE TO
EXPLORE HOW TO MAKE PAY TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES AND CAREER
PATHWAYS. PERMANENT PARTS OF THE
HSS PROGRAM ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL
IF THE PROGRAM WERE HALTED AND
THEN RESUMED IN THE FUTURE, THE
STATE AND TRAINING VENDORS WOULD
INCUR, UM PROGRAM COSTS AND WHAT
EXPERIENCE NEEDLESS AND
INEFFICIENCIES, TRAINING VENDORS
WOULD HAVE TO CUT STAFF LEADING
TO A DEFICIT OF EXPERIENCE AND
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND MANY
START UP ACTIVITIES WOULD HAVE
TO BE REPEATED AND REFRESH,
CAUSING DELAYS AND DUPLICATION
ON AN IDEOLOGICAL LEVEL. WE
SHARE THE STATE'S URGENCY AROUND
BUILDING A STRONG DIRECT CARE
WORKFORCE AS ARTICULATED IN THE
MASTER PLAN OF AGING. WE VIEW
THE PROGRAM AS PART OF A LONG
TERM VISION AND STRATEGY TO
SUPPORT THE DIRECT CARE
WORKFORCE BY CONTINUING TRAINING
AND CAREER PATHWAYS INTO THE HSS
PROGRAM. BEYOND THE PILOT
PROGRAM STAGE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE ADRIAN
MOHAMMED WITH YOU. D W GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
ADRIAN MOHAMMED WITH THE UNITED
DOMESTIC WORKERS AFSCME LOCAL 39
30, REPRESENTING OVER 165,000 IN
HOME, SUPPORTIVE SERVICE
PROVIDERS, UM, AS MY COLLEAGUE
JUST MENTIONED THE HSS PROGRAM
EMPLOYS JUST OVER 600,000
PROVIDERS AND HAS ALMOST 700,000
RECIPIENTS AND OVER THE NEXT 10
YEARS. AS THE AGING POPULATION
CONTINUES TO GROW, THERE WILL BE
AN EXPONENTIAL RISE IN THE
DEMAND FOR LONG TERM CARE IN
CALIFORNIA'S WORKFORCE, AND
CALIFORNIA, FRANKLY, IS NOT
PREPARED FOR IT. UM, WHICH IS
WHY WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK,
CREATING THE MASTER PLAN ON
AGING. PROVIDING HOME CARE IS A
VERY INTIMATE JOB AND ONE THAT I
JUST ASK CAREGIVERS TAKE GREAT
PRIDE IN PROVIDERS ARE EAGER TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK THEY
DO AND HOW TO BETTER PROVIDE. I
HSS CARE BECAUSE THEY CARE FOR
THE RECIPIENTS AND THE LOVED
ONES AND THEIR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, AS MY COLLEAGUE JUST
NOTED IN TERMS OF THE CAREER
PATHWAYS. HOWEVER AS THE
POPULATION OF OLDER ADULTS GROWS
, THEY THAT NEED FOR LONG TERM
SERVICE AND SUPPORT IS EXPECTED
TO GROW BY MORE THAN 40% BETWEEN
2019 AND 2030, FROM SIX MILLION
TO JUST OVER 8.6 MILLION,
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. ABOUT 55% OF PEOPLE
RECEIVING. I JUST S BENEFITS NOW
ARE OLDER INDIVIDUALS. AND WHILE
LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE AN
ALTERNATIVE TO H S S THE COST OF
CARE AND THESE FACILITIES VARIES
FROM ABOUT 39,000 TO ABOUT
170,000 YEARLY, DEPENDING ON THE
RECIPIENTS DEGREE OF NEED.
CLEARLY I JUST S IS A LIFESAVING
PROGRAM FOR RECIPIENTS AND A
COST SAVING ALTERNATIVE FOR OUR
STATE. UM HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM
IS STRUGGLING TO RECRUIT AND
RETAIN THE CAREGIVER CAREGIVER
IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THIS
RESOURCE. AND WE HAVE, UH. MANY
COUNTIES RIGHT NOW, WHO ARE GOOD
ACTORS. UM THEY ARE MAKING SURE
THAT THEY ARE ACTING IN THE BEST
FAITH OR SORRY AND THE BEST
REGARD OF THEIR RECIPIENTS. THE
CLIENTS BUT WE ALSO HAVE
COUNTIES THAT, UM, ARE NOT
NECESSARILY PROVIDING THAT THAT
SAME GOOD FAITH. UM AH,
INCLUSION, RIGHT. WE HAVE
COUNTIES THAT HAVE OPTED TO TAKE
A FISCAL PENDANT PENALTY IN AS
OPPOSED TO ACTUALLY, UM, PAYING
OUR PROVIDERS WHAT THEY'RE
WORTH. WE'VE HAD THIS BEST
SPECIFICALLY IN CURRENT AND
ALPINE COUNTIES. WE'VE HAD A LOT
OF DIFFICULTY, EVEN JUST
BARGAINING WAGES WITH THEM, UM
WE IN CURRENT COUNTY. WE HAVEN'T
HAD A CONTRACT THERE FOR ABOUT
SEVEN YEARS. RIGHT? UM AND. JUST
TO TELL YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS
LIKE. THAT MEANS THE MINIMUM
WAGE AND CURRENT FOR OUR
PROVIDERS. IT'S 15 50, WHEREAS
IN COUNTY LIKE SAN FRANCISCO
PROVIDER IS GETTING JUST UNDER
$20 AN HOUR, RIGHT? THAT ALL TO
SAY THERE IS STILL NOT A SINGLE
COUNTY THAT IS PAYING AN HSS
PROVIDER A LIVING WAGE. THE
AVERAGE LIVING WAGE IN
CALIFORNIA FOR ONE ADULT AND ONE
CHILD IS $43.44 PER HOUR
COMPARED TO THE MINIMUM HSS WAGE
OF $16.46. THIS GROSS DISPARITY
HAS RESULTED IN A GROWING
SHORTAGE IN THE EYES I H S S
WORKFORCE RESULTING IN GAPS AND
CARE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES. ACCORDING TO A 2020
STATE AUDIT OF THAT I JUST S
PROGRAM ALMOST 58,000 APPLICANTS
WHO ENTERED THE PROGRAM WITHOUT
A CAREGIVER AND WHO RECEIVES
SERVICES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
2015 THROUGH 2019 DID NOT
RECEIVE SERVICES FOR AN AVERAGE
OF 108 DAYS AFTER THEIR COUNTY
APPROVED THEIR APPLICATION. WE
BELIEVE THIS REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
THE NUMEROUS DISPARITIES IN THE
STRUCTURE OF THE CURRENT PROGRAM
AND THE STATE'S CURRENT
INABILITY TO MEET FUTURE LONG
TERM CARE DEMANDS. THESE
CONCERNS INCLUDE CAREGIVER
SHORTAGES, THE EFFECTS OF
RAPIDLY OF A RAPIDLY GROWING
AGING POPULATION AND THE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CONSISTENTLY
LOW WAGES ACROSS THE HSS
WORKFORCE. AND WHILE THERE HAVE
BEEN A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL
BARGAINING AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN REACHED IN VARIOUS COUNTIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, MANY I H S
S PROVIDERS LIVE IN COUNTIES
WITH LIMITED BUDGETARY RESOURCES
AND A LACK OF LOCAL SUPPORT IN
IN, UH, LOCAL SUPPORT TO INVEST
IN THE PROGRAM. THEREFORE
TRANSITIONING BARGAINING FROM
THE LOCAL LEVEL TO THE STATEWIDE
LEVEL. UM WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S
ADMINISTRATION WILL HELP TO
STREAMLINE THE BARGAINING
PROCESS AND PROFESSIONALIZE THE
HSS WORKFORCE BY PROVIDING
LIVABLE WAGES AND BENEFITS,
ENSURING MORE EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF LONG TERM CARE
FUNDS AND ALLOW THE STATE TO
MEET THE LONG TERM CARE DEMANDS
, AS ESPECIALLY AS WE APPROACH
THIS CHARACTER, CLIFF THAT WE'RE
FORESEEN IN 2030. THIS CHANGE IS
LONG OVERDUE WITHIN THE HSS
PROGRAM, AND FRANKLY, IT'S TIME
FOR CALIFORNIA TO UPLIFT AND
EMPOWER THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT
ARE CARING FOR OUR LOVED ONES
AND THE MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES AND I JUST AGAIN
WANT TO COUCH THIS WITHIN THE
MASTER PLAN ON AGING RIGHT? ONE
OF OUR BIGGEST INITIATIVES IS
GROWING OUR CAREGIVER WORKFORCE
IF WE HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT CAN
MAKE MORE MONEY DOING SOMETHING
ELSE AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE
OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. FRANKLY
THEY WILL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
THEY SHOULD DO. WE HAVE THIS
NEED. WE NEED TO BE INVESTING
WITHIN THIS WORKFORCE,
ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE APPROACHING
THIS CLIFF, AND ONE OF THE BEST
WAYS TO STATE CAN DO THAT IS
TRANSITIONING TO STATEWIDE
BARGAINING AS WE'RE APPROACHING
THIS CLIFF AND PREPARING FOR A
BENEFIT FOR A LONG TERM SUPPORTS
AND SERVICES BENEFIT FOR ALL
CALIFORNIANS. THE ONLY WAY TO DO
THAT IS TO GROW THE WORKFORCE
AND THAT FIRST STEP IS
ABSOLUTELY, UM, CREATING THAT
FOUNDATION WITHIN STATEWIDE
BARGAINING. UM, THANK YOU. JUST
BEFORE I FINISHED. UM AND I SAY
THIS BECAUSE IT'S SO TIMELY.
JUST YESTERDAY, THE WHITE HOUSE
RELEASE THEIR PRESS RELEASE ON
THEIR EXECUTIVE ORDER. FUNDING
DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SOLELY FROM
THE STATE, AND THE FEDS ARE
ALREADY GIVING A NOD TO SAY, HEY
, WE ARE TRYING TO INVEST HERE,
SO I BELIEVE IT'S INCREDIBLY
IMPERATIVE AND INCUMBENT UPON
THE STATE TO DO THE SAME. THANK
YOU. GONZALEZ. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS
REBECA GONZALEZ WITH THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL
WORKERS. CALIFORNIA CHAPTER,
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIANS FOR SSC COALITION,
THIS IS A STATEWIDE COALITION OF
SSC ADVOCATES AND OVER 200
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE AGING
DISABILITY RIGHTS, HOUSING AND
HOMELESS, ANTI HUNGER AND ANTI
POVERTY SECTORS. WE SEE THE
SUFFERING THAT ARE MOST
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS ARE FACING
EVERY DAY AND WE SEEK TO ENSURE
THAT THEY RECEIVE ADEQUATE
SUPPORT. TO LIVE THEIR LIVES AND
DIGNITY. CALIFORNIANS OLDER
ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES ON SS. I HOLD JOBS
PROVIDE CAREGIVING TO CHILDREN
AND ELDERS CONTINUE TO MAKE
VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO
SOCIETY AND HAVE DREAMS FOR THE
FUTURE. THE HIGH COST OF LIVING
IN CALIFORNIA INFLATION AND
RECESSION. ERIC CUTS TO SS ISPS
HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR SSE
RECIPIENTS TO SURVIVE, LET ALONE
THRIVE LIVING AS AN OLDER ADULT
OR AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A
DISABILITY WITH LOW INCOME IS
PRECARIOUS, MAKING SURE YOU HAVE
FOOD THAT MEETS YOUR HEALTH
NEEDS AND THE EQUIPMENT AND
SERVICES NEEDED TO SAFELY LIVE
INDEPENDENTLY CAN BE COSTLY.
HIGH RENTS HAVE THE DEEPEST
IMPACT ON THOSE WITH THE LOWEST
INCOMES, PUTTING THEM AT HIGHER
RISK FOR HOUSING, INSTABILITY
AND HOMELESSNESS. INADEQUATE
BENEFIT AMOUNTS DRIVE INCREASING
HOMELESSNESS IN THE STATE,
INCLUDING AMONG OLDER ADULTS. AS
A COALITION. WE SEE HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE BENEFITS
THAT ARE ADEQUATE NOW AND INTO
THE FUTURE S S. I BENEFICIARIES
LIVE IN EVERY COMMUNITY AND
REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR
STATE. AS A SAFETY NET PROGRAM S
S. I ALSO HELPS TO EQUALIZE
ACCESS FOR MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES S S. I IS A CRITICAL
BENEFIT FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE HAD
LESS ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT AND
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS
WOMEN, ESPECIALLY OLDER WOMEN OF
COLOR PEOPLE OF COLOR LGBT Q
PLUS AND IMMIGRANTS. THIS WORK
TO ENSURE ADEQUATE BENEFITS HAS
PARTICULAR MEETING FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE AT NSW BECAUSE
THROUGHOUT THE PROFESSION'S
HISTORY, SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE
SOUGHT TO ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE
HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT
ALLOW THEM TO MEET THEIR BASIC
NEEDS. I'D LIKE TO SHARE A QUOTE
FROM A COALITION MEMBER AND SSE
RECIPIENT. QUOTE I APPRECIATE
THE RAYS. WE GOT AN SSP, BUT WE
WEREN'T STILL AT 90% OF THE
POVERTY LEVEL. THE LACK OF SSP
MEANT THAT MY RECENT MOVE WAS
EXPENSIVE. I AM NOW IN SAN
BENITO COUNTY AND BEING IN THE
FLOOD IMPACTED COUNTY DIDN'T
HELP WHEN CAL FRESH GOT LOWERED
AFTER THEM. PANDEMIC EXPANSION
STOPPED, END QUOTE. THE PROGRAMS
THAT DSS PROVIDED CENTRAL
SUPPORT TO OLDER ADULTS AND
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
WHO RECEIVE SS I. CAL FRESH IS
OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE
AGAINST HUNGER AND S S. I S SP
AND CAPPY PROVIDE MONTHLY INCOME
THAT PEOPLE CAN USE FOR RENT,
FOOD AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS. THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR HAD
MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN
THE PAST FEW YEARS TO UNDO THE
RECESSIONARY CUTS AND BRING US I
S S I RECIPIENTS BACK TO THE
LEVEL OF SUPPORT THEY HAD BEFORE
THE RECESSION. WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO DO THIS AND ALSO
MAKE SURE THAT THE S S I S S P
GRANT. ANOTHER BENEFITS ARE
TRULY ADEQUATE FOR LIVING IN
CALIFORNIA NOW AND INTO THE
FUTURE. THAT IS WHY THE
COALITION IS ASKING IN THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET TO ONE
APPROPRIATED THREE STEP INCREASE
TO BRING THE S S I S SP GRANTS
TO 100% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY
LEVEL OVER THREE YEARS, WHICH
WOULD REQUIRE 209 MILLION OVER
THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND 418
MILLION ONGOING TO UPDATE SNB
AND TNB ALLOTMENTS TO HAVE
PARITY WITH ADJUSTMENTS MADE IN
COW FRESH. CALIFORNIANS DESERVE
CREDIT FOR PROVIDING STATE
FUNDED FOOD ASSISTANT ASSISTANCE
THROUGH S AND B AND T AND B TO
HOLD HARMLESS. THE HOUSEHOLD WHO
LOST CALE FRESH BENEFITS DUE TO
ENDING THE SS. I CASH OUT POLICY
, HOWEVER, WITH RECORD FLUID
FOOD, INFLATION AND CONTINUED
HUNGER AMONG OLDER ADULTS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WE
MUST ENSURE PARITY WITH THE SNAP
COW. FRESH THRIFTY FOOD PLAN
UPDATE IN 2021 CREATE A REGULAR
UPDATE PROCESS TO PREVENT FUTURE
INEQUITY BETWEEN S AND S AND B
AND TNB BENEFITS AND THE COW
FRESH BENEFITS THEY'RE MEANT TO
REPLACE. LASTLY REVIVED THE
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES PROGRAM.
PREVIOUSLY THE STATE HAD A
PROGRAM CALLED SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES FOR S S. I CAPPIE
AND I. H S S RECIPIENTS.
REVIVING THE SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES PROGRAM WOULD
SUPPORT THE RECIPIENTS WITH
EMERGENCY EXPENSES, ESPECIALLY
THOSE THAT COULD RESULT IN
HUNGER OR HOMELESSNESS SUCH AS
HOUSING REPAIRS, REPLACING
FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES, MOVING
EXPENSES AND UNMET SHELTER
NEEDS. CALIFORNIA'S MOST
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS STRUGGLE TO
STAY HOUSED BY FOOD AND SURVIVE.
WE MUST REMAIN COMMITTED TO
ENSURING THAT THE RECIPIENTS DO
NOT STRUGGLE WITH THE TOXIC
STRESS OF POVERTY AND HAVE THE
ECONOMIC SECURITY TO LIVE IN
SAFE ENVIRONMENTS. THIS WILL
HELP US MAKE CURRENT NEEDS AND
CONTINUE MOVING US TOWARD A NEW,
INCLUSIVE NORMAL IN OUR PUBLIC
BENEFITS PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES
DIGNITY FOR ALL. WE WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR ANY
PROPOSALS, SUCH AS THE ONE IN
THE AGENDA THAT THEY RECOMMEND
TO MOVE SSE RECIPIENTS TO MORE
FINANCIAL STABILITY. THANK YOU.
OKAY?
WE'LL BEGIN WITH YASMIN, PHILIP
JUSTICE AND AGENT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MOUNTAINS. DR. JACKSON
THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS
HEARING AND FOR INVITING ME TO
SPEAK ABOUT THE CRISIS OF OLDER
ADULT HOMELESSNESS. MY NAME IS
YASMINE PELLET. I'M A SENIOR
POLICY ADVOCATE OF JUSTICE AND
AGING WERE NATIONAL LEGAL
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON
ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF LOW
INCOME OLDER ADULTS. SO WHAT DO
WE KNOW ABOUT OLDER ADULTS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS?
DOCTOR CRUCIAL MENTIONED SOME OF
THIS BUT FRANKLY, GIVEN THE DIRE
CIRCUMSTANCES WERE IN IT BEARS
REPEATING HOMELESSNESS AMONGST
OLDER ADULTS IS RISING
DRAMATICALLY AND THIS TREND WILL
CONTINUE UNLESS WE TAKE SWIFT
STEPS TO ADDRESS IT. OLDER
ADULTS. OR HAVE A SORRY EXCUSE
ME. OLDER ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF
55 ARE THE FASTEST GROWING AGE
GROUP OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN CALIFORNIA. AND
WE SEE THE STEEPEST INCREASE
AMONGST THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 65
FROM 2017 TO 2022 HOMELESSNESS
AMONGST THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 65
ALL HAS ALMOST TRIPLED, GROWING
BY MORE THAN 163. HOUSING AND
SPECIFICALLY RENT ON
AFFORDABILITY IS A KEY DRIVER IN
OLDER ADULT HOMELESSNESS. OLDER
ADULTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO
STRUGGLE WITH RENT, BECAUSE, AS
THEY AGE, THEY FACE AN INCREASED
LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY'RE FIXED
INCOMES HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH
ESCALATING RENT PRICES OR
THEY'VE DEPLETED THEIR SAVINGS
OR THEY'VE LOST A SPOUSE. THIS
RESULTS IN OLDER RENTER
HOUSEHOLDS AGED 75 OLDER FACING
THE HIGHEST COST BURDENS. LET ME
REPEAT THAT AGAIN. OLDER RENTER
HOUSEHOLDS OVER THE AGE OF 75
FACE THE HIGHEST COST BURDENS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING 75 YEARS
OLD AND BEING FACED WITH THE
REAL POSSIBILITY OF HOMELESSNESS
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE?
I WAS GOING TO PROVIDE MORE DATA
AND STATS, BUT I THINK I'D LIKE
TO PROVIDE A PERSONAL EXAMPLE.
MY GRANDPARENTS LIVE HERE IN
SACRAMENTO. THERE 82 83 YEARS
OLD. THEY USED TO LIVE IN AN
APARTMENT. A SMALL APARTMENT IN
SOUTH SACRAMENTO, AND THEY LIVED
THERE FOR A YEAR STABLE HOUSED
BUT THEN THEY'RE RUN INCREASED,
AND THEN THE RENT INCREASED
AGAIN AND AGAIN. THEY BENEFIT
FROM ALL THE PROGRAMS YOU'RE
GOING TO HEAR ABOUT TODAY. THEY
HAVE MEDICAL. THEY HAVE MEDICARE
. THEY'RE ON. THEY HAVE A SMALL
SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME. THEY
HAVE THEY GET THE S S. I S S P
GRANT THEIR ON CALLE FRESH. THEY
GET THEIR UTILITIES SUBSIDIZED.
THEY'VE GOTTEN MEALS ON WHEELS.
THEY'VE GONE TO THE FOOD BANKS.
THEY GET EVERY SERVICE ALL THE
GREAT SERVICES THAT WE INVEST
IN, BUT THE RENT INCREASES THAT
THEY WERE EXPERIENCING WERE THE
THING THAT WAS GOING TO PUSH
THEM OVER THE EDGE. AND IF IT
WAS WASN'T FOR MY PARENTS BEING
ABLE TO STEP IN AND GET THEM
STABILIZED. I GUARANTEE THAT
THEY WOULD BE HOMELESS. AND NEXT
WEEK, MY GRANDPA'S ABOUT TO HAVE
SPINE SURGERY AT 83 YEARS OLD.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT HE WOULD BE
ABLE TO ACCESS THAT MEDICAL CARE
OR RECOVER FROM A SERIOUS
SURGERY LIKE THAT, IF HE WAS
STILL IN SUCH A PRECARIOUSLY.
SITUATED HOUSING SITUATION. MOST
PEOPLE THAT FALL INTO THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT AS LUCKY
AS MY GRANDPARENTS. THEY DON'T
HAVE SOME. THEY DON'T HAVE
CHILDREN THAT CAN AFFORD TO GET
THEM HOUSED. AND SO WHILE
CALIFORNIA HAS DIRECTED
SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES TO PREVENT
AN END HOMELESSNESS DESPITE
THESE INVESTMENTS, THE OLD THE
PROBLEM OF OLDER ADULT
HOMELESSNESS IS STILL
INCREASING. WHERE THE STATE HAS
FOCUSED INVESTMENTS IN
HOMELESSNESS ON SPECIFIC
POPULATIONS, LIKE TRANSITIONAL
AGED YOUTH OR VETERANS. WE SEE
THAT TAILORING SOLUTIONS REALLY
WORKS, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED A
STRATEGY TAILORED SPECIFICALLY
TO THE CONCERNS OF OLDER ADULTS.
JUSTICE NEEDING SUPPORT CDSS
EXISTING PROGRAMS LIKE HD APP
AND HOME SAFE, WHICH CAN HELP
SOME OLDER ADULTS THAT ARE
CONNECTED TO OTHER CDSS BENEFIT
PROGRAMS, BUT HTE UP IN HOME
SAFE OR NOT SPECIFICALLY MEANT
TO REACH THE LARGER POOL OF
OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR
AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. THE
PROBLEMS WE FACE TODAY ARE
BIGGER THAN THE PROGRAMS THAT WE
HAVE AVAILABLE. AND AS EVERYONE
HERE HAS MENTIONED TODAY, THE
TOP GOAL OF CALIFORNIA'S MASTER
PLAN FOR AGING IS TO PREVENT AND
END HOMELESSNESS AMONGST OLDER
ADULTS. SO IN ORDER TO REALLY
ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, WE NEED A
COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY. SO
WHAT'S ONE SOLUTION? WE NEED TO
FOCUS ON HOMELESS PREVENTION. WE
NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
KEEP OLDER CALIFORNIANS HOUSED
BECAUSE ONCE SOMEONE IS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, IT IS
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND MORE
EXPENSIVE TO GET THEM BACK INTO
PERMANENT STABLE HOUSING.
CREATING A STATEWIDE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR OLDER
ADULTS AND PEOPLE, DISABILITIES
IS JUSTICE AND BEIJING'S TOP
PRIORITY. THIS WOULD BE A
PROGRAM BOTH FOR THOSE ACUTELY
AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. AND FOR
THOSE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. WE HAVE A $500
MILLION BUDGET REQUEST TO GET A
PROGRAM OFF THE GROUND. THERE
ARE SEVERAL LOCAL RENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN SANTA
MONICA, STANISLAW SAN DIEGO THAT
ARE TARGETED TO SENIORS
DEMONSTRATING THAT THIS IS A
HIGHLY EFFECTIVE HOMELESS
PREVENTION STRATEGY. AND SO IN
ADDITION TO THE INCOME SUPPORTS
THAT REBECCA'S MENTIONED HOME
AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES
THAT OTHERS ON THE PANEL OF
MENTIONED ENSURING THAT PEOPLE
HAVE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE
HOUSING IS KEY TO AGING IN PLACE
. THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY. KATHY SANDERLING
MCDONALD WITH CWD. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR CHAIR. TANG MEMBER
JACKSON. KATHY UNDERLING WITH
CWD, A WE APPRECIATE THE
LEGISLATURE AND ADMINISTRATION'S
ONGOING SUPPORT OF THE ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM, SEE
W. D, A AND JUST AS AN AGING
TOGETHER CO SPONSOR OF THE
PROPOSAL DURING THE PANDEMIC TO
EXPAND THE APPS SERVICES TO AGE
60 AND THE INCREASE OUR
INVESTMENTS IN THE HOME SAFE
PROGRAM. HOME SAFE WILL BE
DISCUSSED FURTHER, OF COURSE, ON
YOUR AGENDA AND AS DR CASH, L.
EDMUND SPLIT, NOTED. SUCH
INVESTMENTS FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS
ARE NEEDED AND WE BELIEVE SHOULD
REMAIN A TOP PRIORITY. COUNTIES
ARE SEEING INCREASING DEMANDS
FOR A PS AS OUR POPULATION AGES,
AND WE SUPPORT CONTINUED
INVESTMENT IN THE PROGRAM. AS
YOU ALSO KNOW COUNTIES
ADMINISTER IN HOME SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES PROGRAM. SPECIFICALLY
OUR WORKERS AND STAFF PERFORM IN
HOME ASSESSMENTS FOR HSS
SERVICES ASSISTANT ENROLLING
CONSUMERS AND THEIR PROVIDERS
INTO THE PROGRAM PERFORM ANNUAL
REASSESSMENTS AND PROCESS TIME
SHEETS TO ENSURE TIMELY PAYMENTS
TO PROVIDERS. THE KEY I H S S
RELATED ISSUE I'D LIKE TO RAISE
TODAY IS A CRITICAL NEED TO
INCREASE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING
FOR THE PROGRAM. C W. D A IS
SEEKING 242.2 MILLION GENERAL
FUND ONGOING TO ENSURE THAT I H
S S BUDGET COVERS THE ACTUAL
COSTS OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE
ACTIVITIES. THERE ARE TWO MAJOR
ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT
METHODOLOGY THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
THIS UNDERFUNDING. FIRST THE
METHODOLOGY UNDER FUNDS THE
ACTUAL COST OF I H S S WORKERS.
THE UPDATED METHODOLOGY USES
WHAT WAS ALREADY AND
ARTIFICIALLY LOW WAGE RATE FOR
SOCIAL WORK STAFF THAT WAS SET
IN 27 18, DESPITE SUBSTANTIAL
COST INCREASES SINCE THAT TIME.
AT THIS POINT ABOUT 40% OF
ACTUAL SOCIAL WORKER COSTS ARE
NOT ACCOUNTED FOR. SO 60% FUNDED
40% UNFUNDED. THE METHODOLOGY
DOES ALSO NOT COUNT ALL WORKLOAD
AS YOU HEARD FROM THE PRIOR
PANELISTS. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN
INDIVIDUALS ARE PROCESSED, FOUND
ELIGIBLE AND APPROVED FOR
SERVICES, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO
SECURE A PROVIDER RIGHT AWAY AND
SOME CASES FOR A LONG TIME.
HOWEVER COUNTIES CONTINUED TO
NEED TO DO MAINTENANCE WORK ON
THOSE CASES, REASSESSMENTS AND
OTHER ACTIVITIES BOTH ON DEMAND
AND ON A REGULAR BASIS. IN
DECEMBER, 2020 TO ABOUT 12% OF
CASES SHOWED IN OUR SYSTEM AS
APPROVED, BUT NOT HAVING ANY
PAID HOURS FOR THEM, AND SO WE
ARE NOT AT THIS TIME RECEIVING
FUNDING FOR THE WORK THAT WE ARE
REQUIRED TO DO FOR THOSE CASES.
WHAT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE
UNDERFUNDED. IT AFFECTS
PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND QUALITY
CASELOADS OF 300, OR 400,
CONSUMERS PER SOCIAL WORKER ARE
NOT UNCOMMON IN SOME COUNTIES.
THIS HAMPERS COUNTY'S ABILITY TO
PROVIDE TIMELY SERVICES
PROCESSING APPLICATIONS WITHIN
THE 30 TO 45 DAY TIMELINE, AS
REQUIRED BY DSS RIGS AND
ENSURING THAT THE REASSESSMENTS
OCCUR ON TIME, EVERY 12 MONTHS
REQUIRED BOTH UNDER STATE AND
FEDERAL LAW. IT CAN ALSO RESULT
IN FISCAL SANCTIONS TO THE
STATE. IF WE DON'T MEET THOSE IT
CONTRIBUTES TO STAFF BURNOUT AND
STAFF TURNOVER AND MAKES IT MORE
DIFFICULT FOR US TO RECRUIT
STAFF TO FILL IN VACANCIES THAT
MANY COUNTIES ARE EXPERIENCING.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT
EXPANSIONS AND MEDICAL AND AS
YOUR AGENDA NOTES, INDIVIDUALS
THAT ARE POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE
FRIDAY S S, UM EXPANDING MEDICAL
TO ALL UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS.
HEALTH FOR ALL AS WELL AS
REPEALING THE ASSET LIMIT. BOTH
WILL CERTAINLY HAVE AN EFFECT IN
THE HSS PROGRAM. BUT THE FUNDING
GAP JUST GROWS WIDER. IF WE'RE
NOT PROVIDED ADEQUATE FUNDING TO
ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. WE'D
LIKE TO JUST ADD QUICKLY THAT
CWD A IS CONCERNED THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET PROPOSAL
DOES NOT PROPOSE ADMINISTRATIVE
FUNDING FOR THAT UNDOCUMENTED
EXPANSION AND DELAYS THAT UNTIL
THE MIDDLE OF 2024, THE
ESSENTIALLY THE 2024 25 FISCAL
YEAR, A FULL SIX MONTHS AFTER
THE EXPANSION WILL GO INTO
EFFECT. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT
THERE IS AN ASSUMPTION THAT I
JUST S EXPANSIONS LAG MEDICAL
EXPANSIONS. WE HAVE ASKED FOR
DATA BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE THAT
LAG AS CERTAIN ONLY NOT A SIX
MONTH LAG, ESPECIALLY IN A
POPULATION THAT IS AGING WERE
DEMAND IS GROWING FOR THE HSS
PROGRAM, AND WE KNOW THAT
ADVOCATES AND OUTREACH CONTINUE.
FOR THE PROGRAM BECAUSE PEOPLE
ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THE
SERVICES. SO UM, WE DON'T THINK
THAT THAT ASSUMPTION CURRENTLY
IS WARRANTED AND WOULD URGE BOTH
THE ADMINISTRATION AS IT
PREPARES THE MAY REVISE, AS WELL
AS THE LEGISLATURE'S. YOU THINK
ABOUT HOW TO FUND THE EXPANSIONS
AND I JUST S RELATED TO THE
MEDICAL EXPANSIONS WHAT THOSE
OUGHT TO LOOK LIKE HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PLEASED TO
BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE ON THE
PANEL TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT. WE
HAVE GINA BELLOW WITH THE L A.
OH, GOOD AFTERNOON, JENNY BELLA
WITH THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S
OFFICE. JUST ONE QUICK,
CONTEXTUAL NOTE BACK IN 2018.
OUR OFFICE UNDERTOOK AN EFFORT
TO PROJECT THE NUMBER OF AGED
CALIFORNIANS THAT WOULD BE THAT
WOULD BE LIVING HERE BY 2060.
AND NOT SURPRISINGLY, WE FOUND
THAT THAT POPULATION WOULD BE
MORE THAN DOUBLING. ONE OF THE
FINDINGS WE MADE AT THAT TIME
WAS THAT THE STATE DIDN'T HAVE A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE AGING
POPULATION SO FAST FORWARD TO
NOW WE DO HAVE THAT MASTER PLAN
ON AGING AND WE REALLY SEE THAT
AS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
AND SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US TO
USE AS WE CONSIDER ALL OF OUR
SAFETY NET PROGRAMS AND
PROPOSALS TO REALLY SEE HOW THEY
PLUG INTO THAT MASTER PLAN ON
AGING AND HOW THEY REALLY HELP
US. FURTHER OUR EFFORTS TO
REACHING THOSE SCHOOLS.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, AND I'M
CALLING DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD THAT I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. I'LL BRING IT UP TO
THE DIOCESE FOR ANY MEMBERS,
QUESTIONS. I WILL KEEP IT HERE
AT THE CHAIR. I'M GOING TO
INVITE DIRECTOR JOHNSON. AND MS
WITTEN AND DR COCHELL BACK UP
AND CATHY, I'LL HAVE YOU STAY
PUT IF THAT'S OKAY, THANKS.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH DIRECTOR
JOHNSON IF I CAN UM, HUGE FAN OF
THE LOWERING OF THE AGE OF A P
S, AS WELL AS HOME SAFE THAT I'D
LIKE TO UNDERSTAND. WHAT HAVE WE
LEARNED ABOUT THE NEEDS OF
VULNERABLE ADULTS? SINCE WE HAVE
LOWERED THE ELIGIBILITY AGE AND
WE'VE CREATED HOME SAFE? ARE
THERE ANY LESSONS LEARNED THUS
FAR? THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION. CHAIR. YEAH I THINK
THAT THE COMPONENTS IN PART OF
THE IMPETUS AROUND THAT
EXPANSION IS CERTAINLY
DEMONSTRATING THE NEED THAT WE
HAVE. I THINK TO THE OTHER.
PANELISTS. POINTS THAT THEY'VE
MADE THAT THE POPULATIONS
SPECIFIC NEEDS. AND AS WE LOOK
AT THOSE ELIGIBILITY
DETERMINATIONS, WE'RE SEEING
THAT NEED ACROSS THE BOARD. UM,
I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR RAMSEY WANTS TO ADD ANY
MORE TO ABOUT I'M SORRY. CLAIRE
RAMSEY, CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. I
WOULD JUST ADD THAT I THINK AS A
DEPARTMENT WE'RE STILL
DETERMINING, UM WHAT THE MAJOR
IMPACTS OF THAT EXPANSION ARE A
FEW, THOUGH OBVIOUS THINGS THAT
HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL. ONE IS
THAT THIS IS ALLOWED ALL OLDER
ADULTS 16 OVER TO GAIN ACCESS TO
HOME SAFE IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE
FOR APPS SERVICES. SO THAT'S
REALLY IMMEDIATELY INCREASED
ACCESS TO CRITICAL HOUSING
SUPPORTS IN CASE MANAGEMENT. UM
WE ALSO KNOW THAT COUNTIES ARE
WORKING TO RAMP UP THE MORE
EXTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT THAT
WAS ALLOWED UNDER THE EXPANSION
. AND SO THAT'S A GAP THAT HAD
BEEN IDENTIFIED BEFORE THE
EXPANSION AND IS NOW WE ARE ABLE
TO, UM, INCREASE ACCESS TO THOSE
SERVICES. UM BUT I THINK WHAT
WE'RE REALLY EXPECTING IS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO NEED A LITTLE
MORE DATA TO UNDERSTAND THE FULL
IMPACTS AND KIND OF WHAT WE'RE
SEEING AND WHETHER THEY'RE
ACTUALLY SHIFTS IN THE TYPES OF
CASES WE'RE SEEING. THE TYPES OF
NEEDS FOR THE YOUNGER ADULTS OLD
THE YOUNGER, OLDER ADULTS AND,
UM AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT
REQUIRES US TO MAKE ADDITIONAL
SHIFTS OR TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT. UM AS WE CONTINUE TO
MOVE FORWARD AND SUPPORT THIS,
UM, ADDITIONAL POPULATION. I
WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO SOME
OF THE CONCERNS FROM THE
STAKEHOLDERS, PARTICULARLY ON
THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
PROGRAMS, HOPING YOU CAN JUST
PROVIDE SOME ELEMENTS VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT
WE'VE LOOKED AT ACROSS THE BOARD
AND ALL PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT. WHAT ARE THE YOU
KNOW EXISTING METHODOLOGIES THAT
DRIVE THOSE CHANGES OVER TIME?
HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING
REGULAR CADENCE TO REVISITING
METHODOLOGIES MORE HOLISTICALLY
, SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE
HAVE THAT CONTINUED CONVERSATION
ABOUT DO WE HAVE THE METHODOLOGY
RIGHT? THAT IS MEETING THE NEEDS
SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO ARE
ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM. UM
MISS SANDERLING MCDONALD. I'LL
TAKE THIS AS A CHANCE. I WANTED
TO DIG IN A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH
THE I H S S ADMINISTRATIVE
SHORTFALL. AND SEE IF THERE'S A
BASELINE NEED HERE TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE FUNDING
METHODOLOGIES WHEN WE HAVE A 40%
UNDERFUNDING OF OUR SOCIAL
WORKERS, AND, UM, WE HAVE SOME
WHO AREN'T GETTING ANY FUNDING
AT ALL. DOES IT SPEAK MORE
BROADLY FOR US TO OPEN UP
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT REALIGNMENT IF
WE'RE HAVING SUCH DISCREPANCIES?
BETWEEN OUR FUNDING FORMULAS.
THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. SO
UM, TO BREAK DOWN A LITTLE BIT
MORE THAN THE OF THE 240 MILLION
THAT I MENTIONED THE WORKER COST
ISSUES ABOUT 185 MILLION OF THAT
, AND THE AUTHORIZED UNPAID
CASES IS ABOUT 55 MILLION OF
THAT IT WOULD TO ADD THOSE UP.
AND UM WHAT I THINK WE'RE SEEING
IN A LOT AS YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR
JOHNSON NOTED. IN A LOT OF THE
METHODOLOGIES, WE'VE REVISITED
THEM IN SOME RECENT YEARS. I
THINK THAT'S A COWL WORKS IS
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE
CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING.
UNFORTUNATELY WHEN IT SORT OF
COMES TIME TO SAY, OKAY, HERE'S
THE NEW METHODOLOGY, WHICH HAS
BEEN ABOUT FIVE YEARS SINCE WE
DID THAT, AND I JUST S IT GETS
CHANGED, BUT THEN IT STAGNATES.
THERE'S NO BUILT IN EITHER
RELOOK OR INCREASE RELATED TO
INFLATION AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN
THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
ESPECIALLY HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW
THE TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN
ACTUAL COSTS. WE KNOW THAT AS
THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDS ITS
BUDGETS FOR ITS DEPARTMENTS, FOR
EXAMPLE, THEY TYPICALLY DO LOOK
AT COST INCREASES AND SO
THINKING ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT BE
ABLE TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THOSE
PRACTICES AT UTILIZE THEM AS ONE
OPTION. RE LOOKING TO THINK
ABOUT HOW OVER TIME WE MAKE SURE
EVEN IF IT'S NOT ANNUAL, WHICH,
OF COURSE WE'D PREFER AT LEAST
EVERY FEW YEARS, CATCHING IT UP
FOR THE ACTUAL COSTS, AND THEN
YOU DON'T END UP IN A SITUATION
LIKE WITH CAL FRESH WERE 20 PLUS
YEARS OUT WITH IGS S. NOW IT'S
FIVE WITH CAL WORKS AT SEVERAL
AS WELL AND IT JUST STARTS TO
ADD UP TO SUCH HUGE NUMBERS.
IT'S VERY HARD TO CATCH UP, AND
IT'S UNREALISTIC TO THINK. OH,
I'M GONNA PUT ALL THAT IN ONE
BUDGET YEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU
KNOW, WE KNOW THAT BUDGETS
FLUCTUATE AS WELL. SO I THINK
WORKING TOGETHER AND HOW WE CAN
TRY TO BUILD IN SOME THINGS AND
WHETHER THAT BE THINKING THROUGH
REALIGNMENT OR THINKING THROUGH
JUST THE METHODOLOGY IN GENERAL
OR SOME COMBINATION. DEPENDING
ON THE PROGRAM. WE'D BE VERY
OPEN TO THAT CONVERSATION. IT
WOULD BE NICE NOT TO HAVE TO
HAVE AN ARGUMENT EVERY YEAR
ABOUT ARE YOU FUNDING US FOR THE
ACTUAL COSTS? IT'S JUST IT DOES
TAKE, I THINK, UH, TIME AND
ATTENTION AWAY FROM POLICY
CHANGES THAT WE'D LIKE TO BE
TALKING ABOUT AS WELL. NOT JUST
ARE WE FUNDING THE UNDERLYING
BASIC OPERATIONS OF THE PROGRAM
? WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO START
THERE BECAUSE WE IF WE CAN'T
PROPERLY FUND AND STAFF AND
ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM, UM,
UTILIZING MANY OF MS WHITENS, UH
MEMBERS AND OTHER UNIONS AS WELL
PRIMARILY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE
SERVICES THAT THEY NEED, SO IT
IS REALLY CRITICAL. FOR MISS
WHITEN AND I DO WANT TO GIVE MR
MOHAMMED AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RESPOND IF YOU WOULD LIKE AS
WELL. I WANT TO BRING UP THAT
CITYWIDE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS
DURING C C. I. AND WHEN THAT
INITIATIVE STOPPED, WE REALLY IT
CEASED THE EFFORT TO HAVE THAT
STATEWIDE COLLECTIVE EFFORT THAT
I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND FROM BOTH
OF YOU THE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS
OF THAT EFFORT. WHAT WOULD IT
COST FOR US TO DO THIS IN 23 24,
OR IN A MULTI YEAR SCHEDULE. CAN
YOU HELP TO LAY THAT OUT FOR US?
YEAH ABSOLUTELY. I THINK SO.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THE
COST. I THINK WE REALLY WANT TO
FIND A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE
THAT CAN ASSIST WITH COVERING
THOSE COSTS, WHICH IS WHY WE
ONLY INITIATED THE STARTUP COSTS
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN ORDER
FOR US TO GET THE DEPARTMENT'S
UP AND RUNNING A LOT OF THE
COSTS AGAIN. WE DON'T HAVE A
SPECIFIC NUMBER BECAUSE A LOT OF
IT WILL BE DUE TO NEGOTIATING AT
THE STATE LEVEL. RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S SOME COUNTIES THAT DON'T
HAVE A CONTRACT. SO YOU HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT BRINGING THOSE, UH
THOSE PROVIDERS OF SOME OF THEM
HAVE TO GO BETWEEN WAGES AND
HEALTH CARE. SO SOME COUNTIES
HAVE NO HEALTH CARE. SO YOU HAVE
TO THINK ABOUT THAT ADDITIONAL
COSTS OF THE HEALTHCARE
BENEFITS. THERE'S OTHER THINGS
THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY BE ABLE
TO BE NEGOTIATED AT THE TABLE.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL
COSTS. SO AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THIS
IS A BILLION DOLLAR BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS PROGRAM THAT WE
ANTICIPATE THERE BEING HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT
POTENTIALLY COULD GO TO FUNDING
SOMETHING LIKE THIS AT FULL
IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH IS WHY WE
ARE OPEN TO CONSIDERATION OF A
DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION. SO THAT
WE CAN FIND FUNDING. WE DO NOT
HAVE TO DELIVER, UM, RELY ON A
GENERAL FUND AND THAT WE CAN
HAVE A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE
THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO KIND OF
COME BACK TO EVERY YEAR AND JUST
TO ECHO MISS UNDERLING. WE
DEFINITELY COME BACK EVERY YEAR
AND SUPPORT OF THEIR PROPOSAL TO
INCREASE HSS EDMUND COSTS
BECAUSE WE DO REPRESENT THOSE
MEMBERS AS WELL, UM, THAT DO THE
ADMINISTRATION. SO IN WORKING
WITH THE COUNTIES, WE DEFINITELY
WANT TO KIND OF PUT OUR HEADS
TOGETHER AND HOPEFULLY WITH YOUR
COMMITTEE AS WELL TO FIGURE OUT
AN APPROPRIATE STRUCTURE TO
ADEQUATELY FUND THE PROGRAM. MR
MOHAMMED WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY, AND WE'LL JUST SAY
NOT ALL OF OUR COUNTIES ARE
CREATED EQUAL. NO THEY ARE NOT
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SIR.
UM HONESTLY, I THINK, UM MISS
WHITING SAID IT THE BEST. WE'RE
STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT,
AND I THINK WHAT'S WHAT'S MOST
IMPORTANT HERE IS, UM ALTHOUGH
THE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY
MUCH DEPENDENT ON WHAT COMES OUT
OF NEGOTIATIONS. IN TERMS OF
ACTUALLY SETTING THIS UP AND
GETTING THIS RUNNING THE COST
SHOULD BE, UM IT SHOULD BE
RELATIVELY SMALL IN COMPARISON,
RIGHT BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT
ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE FEES.
HOWEVER, THERE THERE MAY THERE
THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PIECES
TO IT RIGHT. AND SO, YEAH, AS AS
WE STATED, WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH. YOU ALL
AND, UM, THE COUNTIES AS WELL
JUST TO TRY AND SEE WHAT IT'S
GOING TO TAKE TO MAKE THIS
HAPPEN FINANCIALLY. YEAH UM, I
WILL JUST SHARE A PERSPECTIVE
FROM THE GROUND SHARED TO ME BY
THE FRONTLINE WORKERS, WHICH IS
A DIFFICULTY IN GETTING THE
DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT YOU
DESERVE WHILE WORKING SO HARD TO
KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. AND
THUS FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR US AS A STATE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING THIS
NEEDED WORKFORCE AND TO DO THAT,
I BELIEVE WERE BEST CAPABLE OF
DOING IT WHEN WE KEEP THAT
AUTHORITY HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE AS A STATE OR COLLECTIVELY
BARGAINING BARGAINING
EFFECTIVELY. LIKE TO TURN TO DR
. CRUCIAL IF I CAN YOU KNOW, I'M
REALLY STRUCK BY YOUR COMMENTS
ABOUT, UM OLDER CALIFORNIANS WHO
ARE BECOMING HOMELESS AND I WANT
TO PULL IN AN ISSUE THAT WILL
DISCUSS LATER. AN ISSUE FOR
UNDER S S. I S S P, BUT WE'VE
SEEN A TREND OVER THE LAST
NUMBER OF YEARS OF DECREASING
PARTICIPATION WITHIN THIS
PROGRAM WHILE AT THE SAME TIME
WE'RE HAVING MORE AND MORE OLDER
CALIFORNIANS. WHO ARE BECOMING
HOMELESS. AND SO I'M HOPING YOU
CAN. UM. MAKE SOME CONNECTIONS
OR HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE
CAN HAVE BOTH OF THOSE HAPPENING
AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK THAT'S
A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THERE
ARE TWO THINGS THAT PLAY ONE IS
WE USED TO SAY THAT SSC SOLVED
HOMELESSNESS. AND THAT IS NO
LONGER TRUE THAT WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE SIX MONTHS
BEFORE THEY BECOME HOMELESS,
IT'S OFTEN AT ABOUT THE SS. I
LEVEL THAT THE COST OF HOUSING
HAS JUST OUTSTRIPPED. THE
BENEFITS, BUT I THINK THAT'S NOT
THE WHOLE STORY. I THINK ONE
THING THAT WE ARE REALLY STRUCK
BY BY OUR WORK WITH THE OTHER
ADULTS WHO ARE BECOMING
HOMELESSNESS, HOW DISCONNECTED
THEY ARE FROM OUR SYSTEMS OF
CARE, AND WE ARE DOING A GREAT
JOB IN MANY WAYS, BUT WE ARE
MISSING PEOPLE AND WE, YOU KNOW
, DO A LOT OF QUALITATIVE WORK,
BUT WE'LL JUST TURN THE
MICROPHONE ON AND HAVE THEM TELL
US ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN
THEIR LIVES BEFORE THEY BECAME
HOMELESS. AND WE'RE REALLY
STRUCK BY HOW MANY RESOURCES ARE
AVAILABLE THAT THEY HAVE NOT
ACCESSED AND I THINK THAT THERE
IS PROBABLY WORK TO BE DONE IN
FIGURING OUT WHO ARE WE MISSING
? HOW DO WE BETTER GET TO THEM?
IT WILL ADD. I HAVE BEEN REALLY
STRUCK BY THIS CONVERSATION
BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN UNCOMMON
PATHWAY FOR PEOPLE TO BE AN
IDEA. JUST PROVIDER FOR A FAMILY
MEMBER. AND WHEN THAT FAMILY
MEMBER BECOMES HOME BECAUSE DIES
OR GOES INTO A NURSING HOME THAT
INDIVIDUAL BECOMES HOMELESS, AND
I THINK ABOUT IT IN TWO WAYS ONE
WHAT A LOSS OF A WORKFORCE. THIS
IS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO BE A
CAREGIVER AND COULD BE TRAINED
TO BE A CAREGIVER FOR OTHERS,
BUT ALSO HOW LITTLE CONNECTION
THEY HAVE THAT THAT THEY TELL US
AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND IT'S A
STORY WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT
THOUGHT IT WAS SORT OF ONE OFF,
BUT WE ARE HEARING IT AGAIN AND
AGAIN AND AGAIN. AND I THINK
IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP
TRACK OF AS A PHYSICIAN. YOU
KNOW, WE ARE SEEING FOLKS AND I
JUST WONDER IF WE'RE NOT DOING A
GOOD ENOUGH JOB IN OUR HEALTH
SYSTEMS CONNECTING TO OUR SOCIAL
SERVICE SYSTEMS AND OTHER ONES.
DIRECTOR JOHNSON HOPING YOU CAN
COMMENT ON RELATIVELY THE SAME
QUESTION, BUT JUST TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO
BE DOING FOR? OUTREACH TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR OLDER CALIFORNIANS
ARE AWARE OF THE SERVICES THAT
ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. AND I, YOU
KNOW, OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE
ROBUST ARRAY THAT CALIFORNIA HAS
BUILT IS REALLY LIKE, UNLIKE ANY
OTHER IN THE COUNTRY, AND SO
WHEN THAT TOTALITY OF THE ARRAY
IS CONNECTED TO B C. THE
OUTCOMES ARE SO MUCH GREATER SO
REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUESTION
AND I CERTAINLY THINK THAT THERE
IS MORE OUTREACH. WE CAN DO THAT
. UM WE'RE MINDFUL OF THIS
COMPONENT AROUND. SEE THAT'S THE
WORK WE'VE DONE TOGETHER WITH
THE COMMUNITY CARE EXPANSION
EFFORT WHERE WE'RE OFFERING THE
ADDITIONAL OPERATING SUBSIDY IN
RECOGNITION THAT AGAIN THE
OPERATORS IN ADULT AND SENIOR
CARE SETTINGS OFTEN NEED THAT
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE TO SUPPORT
THE RESIDENTS THAT THERE'S
CARING FOR WHO RECEIVED SS IN SP
, AND WE ARE FINDING THAT TO BE
A PROMISING COMPONENT THAT
YOU'LL HEAR MORE FROM OUR DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS ABOUT LATER ON, SO
I THINK THOSE KINDS OF
INTERVENTIONS ABOUT THINKING
ABOUT BOTH AGAIN HOW WE'RE
GETTING ACCESS TO RESOURCES. SO
AGAIN AS WE DESIGN PROGRAMS LIKE
HD APP, WHICH IS ABOUT GETTING
THAT CONNECTION BUILT IN TO HELP
NAVIGATE AND MAKE THE CONNECTION
TO THE SAFETY NET RESOURCES, BUT
ALSO HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE
PLACES WHERE ESA SCIENTISTS, P
RECIPIENTS ARE CURRENTLY AND HOW
WE ARE ENSURING THAT THEY ARE
SUCCESSFULLY HOUSE AND STAYING
HOUSED IN IN IN IN THEIR
SETTINGS, SO FEW INTERVENTIONS
THAT WE'VE DEPLOYED BUT
RECOGNIZED STILL MORE TO DO IN
TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING
THAT OUTREACH IN CONNECTION TO
THE WHOLE. I MAY INVITE MISS
PULL IT UP JUST FOR ONE LAST
QUESTION IF I COULD ON THIS,
OKAY? UM FIRST OFF. I'M JUST
GONNA APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY
AGAIN. IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT
WHEN WE CAN FEEL AND HERE. UH,
THE STRUGGLE THAT SO MANY ARE
GOING THROUGH. AND SO JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE TO APPRECIATE THANK
YOU. YOUR COMMENT WAS THAT A P S
AND H DEPTH DON'T FULLY
ENCOMPASSED THE OLDER POPULATION
. AND YET WE JUST HEARD HOW HOME
SAFES DOES AND SOME WANTING TO
KNOW HOW YOUR ORGANIZATION
REALLY VIEWS HOME SAFE AS AN
OPPORTUNITY. FOR US TO BE
PROVIDING OUTREACH TO AS MANY AS
WE CAN TO HELP TO PREVENT
HOMELESSNESS, WHERE POSSIBLE,
HOPING YOU CAN COMMENT ON THAT.
YEAH YOU KNOW, AGAIN HOME SAFE
AND H DAPPER DOING A GOOD JOB AT
WHAT? THEIR MISSION AT THEIR
MISSION, RIGHT? BUT IT NEEDS BUT
THE ISSUE IS MUCH LARGER THAN
WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY GOING
AFTER AND THE ISSUE. WE JUST
NEED MORE. WE NEED MORE
INVESTMENT. WE NEED MORE
OUTREACH. WE JUST WE NEED MORE
OVERALL, MORE MORE AND MORE AND
I CAN YOU KNOW THE DATA THEY
PROVIDED TODAY WITH SORT OF THE
UPTAKE NUMBERS AND THE NUMBER OF
THE 85% OF PEOPLE STAYING HOUSE,
THAT'S ALL GREAT THAT IS, YOU
KNOW, WE APPLAUD THAT WE WANTED,
BUT WE WANT TO SEE THAT MORE. I
MEAN THE NUMBERS AGAIN. IT WAS I
CAN'T REMEMBER. EXACTLY THAT WAS
WHAT 5600 PEOPLE. THAT IS A
FRACTION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THERE, YOU KNOW. THE DATA IS NOT
GREAT ON THE NUMBER OF TOTAL
NUMBER OF OLDER ADULTS THAT ARE
HOMELESS IN CALIFORNIA, BUT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 60 TO 63,000
PEOPLE FROM THE MOST RECENT
CALYX CH DATA. 5600 IS A GREAT
START. BUT IT IS IT IS FAR FROM
WHERE WE NEED TO BE. AND SO WE
NEED TO KEEP INVESTING IN THE
PROGRAMS THAT WE KNOW ARE
WORKING. WE NEED TO BUILD ON
THOSE MODELS, BUT WE ALSO NEED
TO GET PEOPLE HOUSED AND WE NEED
AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO
MANY PEOPLE REALLY ON THE BRINK
THERE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE NOT
HOMELESS YET, BUT THEY'RE 123
MONTHS AWAY FROM A RENT INCREASE
THAT TOTALLY BLOWS THEM OUT OF
THE WATER. AND SO AND I THINK DR
KUSHELL HAS DATA FROM HER
SURVEYS THAT EVEN A SHALLOW
SUBSIDIES OF 100 $200 A MONTH
REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR
FOLKS AND I THINK TO BRING IT
BACK TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT
SCS SP. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT
THE SSP GRANT LIMIT WAS SLASHED
IN THE LAST RECESSION AND
BETWEEN THEN AND NOW THE COST OF
LIVING HAS DRAMATICALLY
INCREASED. THE SSP GRANT HAS NOT
KEPT UP WITH THAT, EVEN WITH THE
IN THE RESTORATION THAT WE
FINALLY NOW HAVE WERE RESTORED
TO THE RATE OF 10 YEARS AGO,
WHEN SO MUCH HAS CHANGED HERE
AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW THE COST OF
LIVING THE RENTS NOTHING.
NOTHING IS THE SAME AS 10 YEARS
AGO. AND SO THAT'S PART OF THIS,
UM YOU KNOW THIS MISALIGNMENT
BETWEEN THE REALITY THAT PEOPLE
ARE FACING AND THE BENEFITS THAT
THEY'RE GETTING. THANK YOU FOR
THAT, AND I'M GOING TO THANK
THIS ENTIRE PANEL FOR THEIR
TESTIMONY. I WILL MAKE A REQUEST
FROM THE CHAIR. UM WE WILL MAKE
SEVERAL REQUESTS OVER THE COURSE
OF THIS HEARING RELATED TO THE
TOPICS WHICH ARE DISCUSSED. AS
WE GO THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON,
ONE THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE NOW IS
REGARDING THE I. H S S STATEWIDE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. I'D LIKE
TO ASK C. D S S AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO ASSIST
ON A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BASIS
ON THE GENERAL FUND REQUIRED.
BOTH FOR STATE OPERATIONS AND
LOCAL ASSISTANCE. TO REALIZE
THOSE GOALS. COULD THE
ADMINISTRATION WORK WITH US TO
PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT COULD
GIVE A PICTURE OF WHAT THIS
COULD MEAN? AND WHAT POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS YOU WOULD WANT US
TO WEIGH AS THIS IS THOUGHT
THROUGH. AND ON WHAT TIME BASIS
COULD THIS POTENTIALLY BE
PROVIDED? PERMANENT FINANCE. UM
. CONCERNING YOUR QUESTION.
YEAH, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT
BACK AND WORK WITH YOUR STAFF TO
GET YOU UPDATES. THANK YOU. WE
WILL HOLD THIS AND ALL OTHER
ISSUES OPEN. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON
TO PANEL TOO. PANEL TWO IS OUR
SECOND OVER ARCHING OVERSIGHT
ISSUE NOW FOCUSING ON THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING.
THIS ISSUE WILL FOCUS ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HOME AND
COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES,
SPENDING INITIATIVES AND
PROGRESS TO REALIZE THE MASTER
PLAN ON AGING. WE WILL HAVE
EIGHT PER CENTERS ON THIS PANEL
FOR ISSUE TWO AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH DIRECTOR DAMARIS GOOD
AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. SUSAN MORRIS
, DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING. I'M PROUD
TODAY TO BE JOINED BY OUR CHIEF
DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARK BECKLEY AND
MARK AND THE REST OF THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING
TEAM DESERVES TREMENDOUS CREDIT
FOR LEADING OUR DEPARTMENT
THROUGH A PERIOD OF TREMENDOUS
GROWTH AND CHANGE OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS. BEFORE I LAUNCH
INTO THE BUDGET. I WANT TO THANK
THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
FOR THEIR CRITICAL INVESTMENTS
IN THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC
RESPONSE. THE POPULATIONS WE
SERVE. WERE AND CONTINUE TO BE
AT THE GREATEST RISK. OLDER
ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
, FAMILY, CAREGIVERS AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. SO WE
THANK YOU FOR THE RESOURCES THAT
ENABLED THE DEPARTMENT IN OUR
SISTER DEPARTMENTS TO BRING
CRITICAL RESOURCES TO OUR
COMMUNITIES. PPE VACCINES,
BOOSTERS, TREATMENTS AND LIFE
SUSTAINING MEALS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. I WANTED TO TOUCH TODAY ON
TWO THINGS. THE ROLE OF THE
DEPARTMENT AND THE MASTER PLAN
FOR AGING. AS CALIFORNIA'S STATE
UNIT ON AGING. CD A OVERSEES A
NETWORK OF 33 AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING COVERING ALL 58 COUNTIES.
THESE LOCAL AGENCIES PROVIDE A
WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES TO PEOPLE
WITH THE GREATEST ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL NEED. WHILE SEEING YOUR
NUTRITION IS BY FAR THE LARGEST
PROGRAM WE SEE OVERSEE. WE ALSO
OFFER INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE
, HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING.
FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORTS
EMPLOYMENT AND JOB TRAINING AND
MUCH MORE. IN ADDITION TO THE
TRIPLE A'S. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE
STATEWIDE NETWORK OF 11
CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTERS. THE
DESIGNATED AND EMERGING AGING
AND DISABILITY RESOURCE
CONNECTIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING
CENTERS. AND THE LONG TERM CARE
OMBUDSMAN LED BY BLANCA CASTRO.
WE ALSO COLLABORATE WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES TO PROVIDE DIRECT
SERVICES TO MEDICAL
BENEFICIARIES. CDVA OVERSEAS 271
COMMUNITY BASED ADULT SERVICES
OR SEA BASS CENTERS, SERVING
CLOSE TO 25,000 OLDER AND
DISABLED ADULTS AND THE
MULTIPURPOSE
SENIOR-SERVICES-FOOD-BANKS-AND-MORE
SIEVE IN HOME CASE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM. WITH 37 SITES. SINCE
JUNE 2019 WHEN GOVERNOR NEWSOME
TOOK EXECUTIVE ACTION TO
ESTABLISH CALIFORNIA'S MASTER
PLAN FOR AGING. THE DEPARTMENT
HAS LED THIS WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT
APPROACH ON BEHALF OF THE
ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE
DIRECTION OF CALAIS CHEETAHS,
CAL H. H S AGENCY SECRETARY, DR
MARC GALLE. I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCREDIBLE
LEADERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATURE
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY FROM
INCEPTION TO IMPLEMENTATION TO
TODAY'S HEARING IN THE
CONVERSATION THAT WE JUST HAD UM
AS YOU HEARD GOAL NUMBER ONE IN
THE MASTER PLAN FOR AGING. IS
HOUSING FOR ALL AGES AND STAGES
. THANK YOU FOR FOCUSING TODAY'S
HEARING ON THAT TOPIC GOAL TO IS
HEALTH REIMAGINED. GOAL THREE IS
INCLUSION AND EQUITY, NOT
ISOLATION GOAL FOR IS CAREGIVING
THAT WORKS. I APPRECIATE ALSO
TALKING ABOUT OUR DIRECT CARE,
WORKFORCE AND HSS AND GOAL FIVE
IS AFFORDING AGING. WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP, THE GOVERNOR AND
THE LEGISLATURE HAVE MADE
HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN ALL FIVE
BOLD GOAL AREAS. BREAKING DOWN
SILOS AND CUTTING ACROSS
MULTIPLE AGENCIES AND
DEPARTMENTS. TOGETHER WITH OUR
STAKEHOLDERS, ROBUST STAKEHOLDER
, ENGAGEMENT, PHILANTHROPY AND
THE PRIVATE SECTOR. DOZENS OF
STATES ARE NOW FOLLOWING OUR
EXAMPLE INSPIRED BY CALIFORNIA'S
WORK, AND JUST LAST WEEK, A
FEDERAL MASTER PLAN FOR AGING
WAS PROPOSED IN THE U. S.
SENATE. THE MASTER PLAN IS THE
STATE'S 10 YEAR BLUEPRINT,
PROVIDING STRATEGIC DIRECTION AS
WE MOVE TOWARD THE YEAR 2030
WHEN ONE AND FOUR CALIFORNIANS
WILL BE AGED 60 OR OLDER.
IMAGINE NEARLY 11 MILLION PEOPLE
THE EQUIVALENT OF ALL OF LOS
ANGELES COUNTY BEING 60 YEAR
OLDER. NOT JUST 60 AND OLDER BUT
MUCH OLDER BECAUSE THE FASTEST
GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC IN OUR STATE
IS ACTUALLY AGED 85 ABOVE. THE
U. S CENSUS CONFIRMS OLDER
ADULTS NATIONWIDE ARE MORE
DIVERSE THAN EVER, A POINT OF
IMMENSE PRIDE IN CALIFORNIA
WHERE OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM
OUR RACIAL, ETHNIC, CULTURAL,
SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER
IDENTITY, ECONOMIC, GEOGRAPHIC
AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY. IN
JANUARY, THE ADMINISTRATION AND
THE LEGISLATURE LAUNCHED YEARS
THREE AND FOUR OF THE MASTER
PLAN. WE RELEASED 95 NEW
INITIATIVES AND UNVEILED A NEW,
PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INITIATIVE
TRACKER TO ACCOMPANY THE DATA
DASHBOARD ON AGING. WE'RE VERY
COMMITTED TO BEING TRANSPARENT
WITH ALL OF OUR WORK. IN
CLOSING. I WANT TO LIFT UP JUST
THREE AREAS OF INTENSE FOCUS IN
THIS COMING YEAR FOR THE
DEPARTMENT. THE FIRST IS
DELIVERING MORE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SUPPORTS TO OLDER ADULTS
AS WE STRENGTHEN THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CONTINUUM CONTINUUM
ACROSS THE LIFESPAN. COMING OUT
OF THREE YEARS OF ISOLATION DUE
TO THE PANDEMIC, EXTREME WEATHER
EVENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN UP AND
DOWN THE STATE TRAGIC SHOOTINGS
IN MONTEREY PARK IN HALF MOON
BAY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO
ENSURING THAT OLDER ADULTS
RECEIVE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED WE WERE
PLEASED TO BE IN AND ALL OF ALL
OF YOUR DISTRICTS. I BELIEVE, UM
, FRESNO AND THE INLAND EMPIRE
JUST LAST WEEK. UH THIS WEEK
WE'RE HEADING TO UK AND WILL
CONCLUDE IN SAN FRANCISCO. WE'RE
MEETING WITH COMMUNITY OLDER
ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND
COMMUNITY AGING AGENCIES AND
WE'RE HEARING FIRSTHAND THE
CRITICAL NEED FOR BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SUPPORTS. SECOND
EXAMINING THE HIGH COST OF HOME
CARE AND IDENTIFYING LTS S
FINANCING OPTIONS TO HELP THE
GROWING MISSING MIDDLE OR
FORGOTTEN MIDDLE INCOME
POPULATION. AND THIRD PREPARING
OUR TRIPLE A NETWORK FOR 2030 IN
ORDER TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF A
GROWING POPULATION THAT IS OLDER
, MORE MEDICALLY COMPLEX,
COMPLEX MORE DIVERSE THAN EVER
BEFORE IN THE 50 YEAR, HISTORY
OF THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU,
MR WAKEFIELD. CHIEF DEPUTY. YOU
HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR SORRY? UH
YES. MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS. I
JUST WANTED TO LIFT UP MAYBE
FIVE ADDITIONAL AREAS OF
IMPORTANCE. WE HEARD A LOT TODAY
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE I H
S S WORKFORCE. WE ALSO HAVE
INITIATIVE UNDER WAY TO ADDRESS
THE NEEDS OF THE NINE HSS
WORKFORCE. IT'S THROUGH A
PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE CALLED CAL
GROWS. AND WHAT CALDERON DOES IS
IT CONSISTS OF TWO COMPONENTS.
ONE IS TO CREATE A STANDARDIZED
ONLINE TRAINING PLATFORM WITH
PROFESSIONAL COACHING, AND THEN
SECOND TO CREATE AN INNOVATION
FUND OF $89 MILLION, WHICH WE
RECENTLY AWARDED TO 78 COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE. THE PURPOSE AND GOALS OF
CAL GROWS IS TO UP SKILL AND
INCREASE THE SKILLS OF OUR
DIRECT CARE. NON HSS WORKERS. SO
THAT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE CAREER
MOBILITY AND HAVE ADDITIONAL
CAREER LADDERS AND LATTICES IN
THEIR CAREERS. UM THE SECOND
INITIATIVE. I JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT IS OUR DIGITAL
INCLUSION INITIATIVES. WE HAVE
TWO KEY INITIATIVES UNDERWAY.
ONE IS OUR ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY
FOR OLDER ADULTS AND
DISABILITIES PROGRAM. THIS
PROVIDES 46 MILLION TO 42
PARTICIPATING COUNTIES. UM AND
WITH US WITH US FUNDING THEY CAN
PURCHASE DIGITAL DEVICES,
SERVICE PLANS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
TO BRIDGE THAT IS ALL DIVIDE
AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN THEIR
COUNTIES, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE
THE DIGITAL CONNECTIONS PROGRAM
, WHICH PROVIDES 17,000,270
PARTICIPATING HOME AND COMMUNITY
BASED PROVIDERS, INCLUDING SEA
BASS, MSP AND PACE PROVIDERS.
AND THIS IS REALLY CRITICAL AS
WE KNOW DURING THE PANDEMIC.
OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCE HIGH
INCIDENTS OF LONELINESS AND
ISOLATION. SO THIS HELPS PROVIDE
VIRTUAL WAY OF GETTING SOCIAL
INCLUSION, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO
TELL HEALTH AND OTHER SERVICES.
UM NEXT, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT
THIS. I'M SURE WHEN MR WAKEFIELD
SPEAKS IS OUR NUTRITION
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, SO THIS
PROGRAM PROVIDES $40 MILLION IN
GRANT FUNDING TO OUR TRIPLE A'S,
WHO THEN WILL BE PASSING THE
DOLLARS THROUGH TO LOCAL MEAL
PROVIDERS SUCH AS MEALS ON
WHEELS, CALIFORNIA TO MODERNIZE
AND EXPAND THEIR FACILITIES AND
EQUIPMENT TO HELP BRIDGE THE
SENIOR NUTRITION AND HUNGER GAP
THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS THROUGHOUT
THE STATE. IN THE AREA OF
CONGREGATE CARE. CDA IS IN THE
PROCESS OF WATCHING WHAT WE CALL
OUR BRIDGE TO RECOVERY PROJECT
DURING THE PANDEMIC, AS WE KNOW
IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS. OLDER
ADULTS EXPERIENCED HIGH
INCIDENTS OF INFECTION, SICKNESS
AND EVEN DEATH. SO UNDER THIS
PROJECT, WE HOPE TO MITIGATE THE
RISK OF INFECTION THROUGH
IMPROVEMENTS TO FACILITY,
INFRASTRUCTURE TRAINING AND
STAFFING, AND THIS PROJECT IS
BEING DONE ON BEHALF AND IN, UH
, COLLABORATION WITH SEA BASS,
ADULT DAY AND PACE CENTERS. UM
AND ALL WE HAVE TO SERVE UP
221,200 SEA BASS 80 C AND PAY
SITES. UM WITH $55 MILLION IN
GRANT FUNDING. AND THEN FINALLY
, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR
COMMUNITY SERVICES, GAP ANALYSIS
AND ROADMAP INITIATIVE. SO THE
PURPOSE OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO
INCREASE ACCESS TO AND EXPAND
THE AVAILABILITY OF HOME AND
COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS STATEWIDE. AS WE KNOW
IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE STATE,
WE MAY HAVE SERVICE DESSERTS OR
SERVICE GAPS, SO WE REALLY WANT
TO HELP BRIDGE THOSE GAPS AND
PROVIDE SERVICES TO ALL
CALIFORNIANS. WE'RE
COLLABORATING ON THIS PROJECT
WITH THE H C. S D. H C S WILL BE
HANDLING THE MEDICAL, HOME AND
COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES AND
WILL BE ADDRESSING THE NON
MEDICAL SERVICES. UM SO WE'RE IN
THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THIS
PLAN AND WILL BE LAUNCHING THE
EFFORT, SAM. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR WHITFIELD. HELLO THANK
YOU, EVERYBODY FOR ALLOWING US
TO ZOOM IN FIRST AND FOREMOST.
SO CHAIR ARAMBULA. WE REALLY
APPRECIATED MEMBERS. DR. JACKSON
WAS NICE TO LEARN THAT YOU WERE
ALSO RAISED BY YOUR GRANDMOTHER
AS I WAS, AND I HAVE FRIENDS
THERE THAT I'D LIKE TO HANG OUT
WITH, LIKE SUSAN NUMEROUS. WHO'S
GOING TO BE VISITING OUR MEALS
ON WHEELS YEARLY CONFERENCE NEXT
WEEK, SO WE GET TO SEE HER AS
WELL. I AM PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
MEALS ON WHEELS, SAN DIEGO
COUNTY, BUT I'M ALSO CHAIR OF
THE BOARD OF THE CALIFORNIA
MEALS ON WHEELS, CALIFORNIA
STATE ASSOCIATION, SO WE
REPRESENT MORE THAN 50 SENIOR
NUTRITION PROGRAMS ACROSS THE
STATES WERE DIRECT SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND WE'RE OF ALL
SHAPES AND SIZES. UM, SOME OF US
ARE LARGE. VIRGIN AND URBAN
AREAS LIKE WE ARE IN SAN DIEGO,
YOU KNOW, COVERING THE ENTIRE
COUNTY BUT ALSO PROVIDING MEALS
TO ABOUT 2000 CLIENTS A DAY AND
THEN THERE ARE SMALL
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE REPRESENT
AS WELL. THAT MIGHT SERVE 40 OR
50 PEOPLE. THEY'RE VERY SMALL
THERE IN REMOTE AREAS. UM SO WE
REALLY BRING A DIVERSITY AND
ETHNIC, ECONOMIC AND GEOGRAPHIC
DIVERSITY. UM, UNDER OUR
ASSOCIATIONS UMBRELLA, AND WE'RE
REALLY PROUD OF THAT, UM SO
ACROSS THE STATE, SO WE'RE MEAL
PROVIDERS. AS YOU KNOW, I'M HOME
. HOMEBOUND SENIORS RELY ON US.
PREDOMINANTLY THERE ARE EVEN
SOME CONGREGATE SITES, BUT IN
GENERAL PEOPLE LIKE MEALS ON
WHEELS, SAN DIEGO COUNTY WE SHOW
EVERY DAY WITH A MEAL. UM THREE,
PROBABLY 3 TO 6 DAYS A WEEK. WE
DROPPED THAT MEAL OFF AND WE
ENGAGE WITH THE SENIOR. SO IN
SAN DIEGO COUNTY ALONE WE HAVE
DELIVERED IN ONE YEAR 645,000
MEALS TO SENIORS, HOMES. AND
THAT EQUATES TO OVER 333,000
INDIVIDUAL CONTACTS WITH
HOMEBOUND SENIORS JUST IN SAN
DIEGO COUNTY ALONE, SO THESE
THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY NUMBERS
SO MULTIPLY THAT ACROSS THE
STATE ARE IMPACT IS PRETTY
REMARKABLE. UM, AND SO WHAT
HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC,
RIGHT? WE ALL SAW WITHIN ABOUT A
MONTH MONTH AND A HALF SOMEWHERE
AROUND 50% EVEN SOME PEOPLE 100%
INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR OUR
SERVICES AND ABOUT A MONTH UM
AND SO YOU CAN ALL APPRECIATE
THIS. THE SENSE OF HAVING TO
KIND OF MACGYVER YOUR
INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN, RIGHT? WE DID THAT
ACROSS THE STATE WE WERE. WE
WERE USING THINGS THAT WEREN'T
INTENDED FOR THE ORIGINAL
PURPOSE IS TO GET OUT THERE AND
MAKE IT HAPPEN BECAUSE WE HAD
TO. AND SO I THINK WE WERE ALL
REALLY PROUD OF OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND THEN WE
LOBBIED. UM THE STATE, THE
GOVERNOR LEGISLATOR, AND YOU ALL
RESPONDED. AH IN 2021, WITH
$40,000 MILLION OF ONE TIME ONLY
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SENIOR
NUTRITION PROGRAMS AS SENIOR
PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE, SO
THIS WAS FANTASTIC. UH WE
APPLAUD YOU WERE VERY GRATEFUL
FOR ALL OF THIS, AND SO THEY'RE
A LITTLE A FEW ISSUES THAT I
WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
SO THESE FUNDS, AS YOU KNOW, ARE
MANAGED TO OUR AREA INFANCY IS
ON AGING. UM, THESE ARE
EXCEPTIONAL AGENCIES THAT WE BE
VERY CLOSELY. AND UM, THEY'VE
BEEN ABLE TO UP UNTIL NOW IS MY
IS MY CONNECTION. GOOD. BY THE
WAY, I SEE A STALL. YOU'RE DOING
GREAT. OKAY GREAT. UM SO SOME,
THIS IS A REIMBURSEMENT MODEL.
RIGHT SO WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU GO.
YOU PURCHASE YOUR EQUIPMENT. UM
AND THEN YOU GET REIMBURSED. UM
AND THE ISSUE WITH THAT, I THINK
FOR US ISN'T AN ISSUE BECAUSE WE
HAVE RESERVES WERE LARGER
ORGANIZATION. IF YOU LOOK AT
SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE
STATE THEY LITERALLY ARE GOING
TO GET LOANS IN ORDER TO
PURCHASE A VEHICLE TO THEN GET
REALLY BURST ONCE THEY GET THAT
VEHICLE VEHICLES TEND TO BE, UH,
THE LARGEST ITEM ON OUR TICKET
LIST. SO I YOU KNOW I HAVE HERE
THIS IS THIS IS THE LIST OF
ITEMS THAT WE ASKED FOR. FOR
THESE INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS
HERE IN SAN DIEGO ABOUT $200,000
WORTH ABOUT 140,000 OF THAT
HAPPENS TO BE VILLIANS VEHICLES.
UM AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY PAY FOR
SOMETHING AND YOU CAN'T GET AN
INVOICE FOR A VEHICLE UNTIL IT'S
BEEN PRODUCED. AND THERE'S A VIN
NUMBER, SO WE'RE ALL TRYING TO
GET ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S REALLY NOT
AVAILABLE TO A LOT OF US RIGHT
NOW. UM SO THESE VEHICLES AREN'T
AVAILABLE AND THEN IF THEY ARE
AVAILABLE, SOME OF THE SMALLER
AGENCIES ARE HAVING TO GO OUT
AND GET BANK LOANS. UM HEY FOR
THEM AND THEN GET REIMBURSED
ONCE THEY GET THESE SO IN JUNE
OF 2022. THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT ON AGING ISSUED AN
UPDATE THAT MAINTAINED THAT THE
FUNDING AH AND DATE WAS DECEMBER
31ST 2024. WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT
THAT. WE HAD TWO YEARS WE KNEW
OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES,
ETCETERA, UM THAT THAT WE'RE
GOING TO KEEP US FROM GETTING
THOSE VEHICLES IN A REAL SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME, SO WE WERE
RELIEVED TO KNOW THAT WE HAD TWO
YEARS OF SPENDING TIME. UM AND
THEN ON, UNFORTUNATELY, UM AND
DESCEND ON DECEMBER OF THIS LAST
YEAR OR ACTUALLY, IN JANUARY, WE
WERE NOTIFIED THAT WE HAD A YEAR
LESS. SO UM, WE GOT AN IMPORTANT
MEMO, AND IT SAID THAT THE
ENTIRETY OF THE H C B S SPEND
PLANT PACKAGE WILL EXPIRE
DECEMBER 31ST 2023. UM SO THAT'S
A YEAR LESS THAN WHAT WE WERE
ORIGINALLY TOLD FEDERAL GUIDANCE
FROM THE CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID SERVICES ALLOWED FOR
STATES TO EXERCISE THE ONE YEAR
TIME EXTENSION OF THE H. C. B S
PLAY SPIN PLAN. AT THIS TIME,
CALIFORNIA DOES NOT INTEND TO
EXERCISE THE TIME EXTENSION AND
PLANS TO END THE H CBS SPEND
PLAN PROGRAMS ON DECEMBER 31ST
2023, SO WE HAVE A TIMING ISSUE
HERE. UM AND SO ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS
IMPLORE THE STATE TO APPLY TO
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR AN
ALLOWABLE ADDITIONAL YEAR FOR
THE EFFECTIVE EXPENDITURE OF
THESE FUNDS, UM, OR TO FIND
ALTERNATIVE FUNDING FOR THE
PROGRAM TO MAINTAIN THE ORIGINAL
TIMELINE OF ITS INTENT. UM WE
SIMPLY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET
THESE VEHICLES SO MY EXAMPLE FOR
WAS ACTUALLY GRANTED ADDITIONAL
FUNDS FROM PRIVATE ENTITY
$300,000 GRANT. UM BACK IN
SEPTEMBER, AND SINCE SEPTEMBER
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET ELECTRIC
VANS AND SINCE SEPTEMBER I'VE
ONLY BEEN ABLE TO GET ONE AND I
MAY GET TO THIS SUMMER. SO THESE
THESE AREN'T THE INFRASTRUCTURE
DOLLARS. BUT THAT'S JUST TO SHOW
YOU THE LOGISTICS AND THE
TIMELINE. UM OTHER PEOPLE THAT I
KNOW SMALLER AGENCIES FOUND OUT
THAT SOMEBODY GOT BUMPED OFF THE
LIST. THEY GOT THEIR SPOT. UM SO
IT'S DECREASED THEIR WAITING
TIME BY ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS, BUT
THEY STILL HAVE TO GO AND GET A
LINE OF CREDIT TO PURCHASE THESE
VEHICLES. SO I THINK SIMPLE.
IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY, IF NOT
IMPOSSIBLE, THAT MOST NUTRITION
PROVIDERS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE
PURCHASES. UM AND TIME TO
UTILIZE THE STATE FUNDS FOR THIS
PURPOSE AS THEY WERE INTENDED,
AND THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE SHAME.
SO UM, WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THE
STATE EITHER ASKED FOR AN
ADDITIONAL YEAR. UM TIME
EXTENSION ALLOWED BY A CMS OR
COMMIT NOW TO APPROPRIATING
GENERAL FUND DOLLARS IN THE 23
24 BUDGET TO OFFSET ANY OF THOSE
DOLLARS LOST AND I APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. SO THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MICHAEL
KOSTA. THANK YOU, CHAIR ARAMBULA
AND COLLEAGUES. UM FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT
THE IMPACT OF CUTS IN A CBS
WAIVER FUNDING ON A NUMBER OF
PROGRAMS. THAT AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING PROVIDE DIRECTLY OR
CONTRACT OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS. IN ADDITION, WE'D LIKE
TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO ENSURE
THAT THE EXPANSION AND
SUSTAINABILITY OF HDR CS
NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THE MP A
GOAL OF NOWHERE I'M DOOR ALSO
OCCUR. AND MICHAEL COSTA,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF AREA
AGENCIES ON AGING, WHICH
REPRESENTS THE 33 TRIPLE A'S IN
CALIFORNIA, SERVING ALL 58
COUNTIES. TRIPLE A'S ARE
AUTHORIZED BY THE OLDER
AMERICANS AND OLDER CALIFORNIANS
ACT TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF
HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED
SERVICES TO CALIFORNIANS OVER 60
YEARS OF AGE, AS WELL AS
INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH
DISABILITIES. RECENTLY A GROWING
NUMBER OF TRIPOLI'S ALSO
PROVIDES SERVICES DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY TO MEDICAL
RECIPIENTS. THROUGH THE CALEN
PROGRAM. AS YOU KNOW, IT'S CBS
WAIVER, FUNDING OR PLANT IS
PLANNED TO END ON 12 31 OF THIS
YEAR. THIS WILL IMPACT A NUMBER
OF PROGRAMS BESIDES THE
NUTRITION INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
THAT BRANCH HAS TALKED ABOUT, UH
AND THESE PROGRAMS WERE IN FACT,
ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO BE
ONGOING. THEY INCLUDE FALL
PREVENTION AT HOME MODIFICATION
PROGRAMS THAT INVOLVE TRAINING,
EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE FOR
INDIVIDUALS AT RISK. 30 OUT OF
33 TRIPLE A'S PARTICIPATE IN
THESE PROGRAMS, WHICH HAS VERY
BROAD APPEAL AS OF DECEMBER.
3600 AND SIX INDIVIDUALS HAVE
BEEN ASSISTED THROUGH 312
TRAININGS. LEGAL SERVICES
INTENDED TO HELP FOLKS DEAL WITH
ISSUES SUCH AS FRAUD, LANDLORD
TENANT ISSUES AND DISCRIMINATION
THAT AROSE DURING COVID BUT ARE
ONGOING WILL ALSO BE CURTAILED.
UNEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
PROGRAM, WHICH INCREASED FUNDING
FOR SENIOR UNEMPLOYMENT UNDER
TITLE FIVE BY INCREASING SLOTS
AND ENHANCING PROGRAM
INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE
CURTAILED. AS WELL AND
INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVITIES
PROGRAM THAT IS INTENDED TO
REDUCE SOCIAL ISOLATION AND
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS
GENERATIONS. 28 OUT OF THE 33
TRIPLE A'S PARTICIPATE IN THIS
PROGRAM CURRENTLY FAMILY
CAREGIVING FUNDING THAT AUGMENTS
TRIPLE A EDUCATION, TRAINING AND
REST WITH CAROL WILL END AND THE
STATE AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP GRANT
TO BUILD TRIPLE A LEADERSHIP. IS
WILL BE ENDED AS WELL. SOCIAL
SERVICES AND NETWORK HEALTHCARE
PROVIDER NETWORK PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, WHICH IS
REALLY DESIGNED TO HELP THE
TRIPLE A'S, UH, INTERACT MORE
EFFECTIVELY WITH HEALTHCARE
COMING FORWARD. GIVEN THE IMPACT
OF WAIVER END ON THIS WIDE RANGE
OF PROGRAMS. WE'RE ASKING THAT
THE LEGISLATURE REQUEST THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION APPLY FOR A ONE
YEAR EXTENSION OF THE H. C. B S
WAIVER FOR SOCIAL SERVICE
PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE WAIVER.
HOWEVER WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
IS A FEDERAL MAINTENANCE OF
EVERY REQUIREMENT COMPLICATES
THIS REQUEST. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN
THE STATE TO ENSURE THAT
REMAINING FUNDS ARE SPENT IN A
TIMELY WAY. AND ALSO, WE'D LIKE
TO REQUEST THAT THE STATE
CONSIDER UM PURSUING OF
REGULATORY FIX IF SUCH FIXED
EXIST FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF
EFFORT ISSUE, OF COURSE, IF IT'S
A LEGISLATIVE FIX, IT WOULD BE
NECESSARY THEN THAT'S QUITE
ANOTHER THING. I WANT TO ALSO
STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF
PROVIDING SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO
SUPPORT THE EXPANSION AND ENSURE
THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AGING AND
DISABILITY RESOURCE CONNECTION
PROGRAMS. THIS THIS PROGRAM IS
BASICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP
ACHIEVE ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL
GOALS OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S
MASTER PLAN ON AGING THAT OF THE
NO WRONG DOOR. THE VISION OF A
D. R C S IS TO ESTABLISH TRUSTED
SOURCES OF INFORMATION IN EVERY
COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE
PARTICULARLY OLDER ADULTS IN
THOSE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.
CAN TURN TO ACCESS THE FULL
RANGE OF LONG TERM SERVICES AND
SUPPORTS CURRENTLY 10 MILLION IS
ALLOCATED ANNUALLY TO A TRC IS
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS VISION. AS OF
NOW, ALL 10 MILLION IS ALLOCATED
AMONG 15 DESIGNATED AND EMERGING
EIGHT YEARS. CS THERE IS NO
ADDITIONAL FUNDING AVAILABLE TO
SUPPORT TRIPLE A'S OR
INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS WHO
ARE IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING
FOR EMERGING STATUS SUCH AS
ALAMEDA, CONTRA COSTA AND L. A
COUNTY'S SEE FOR A ALSO RECENTLY
LEARNED THAT AN ADDITIONAL 7 TO
9 TRIPLE A'S ACROSS CALIFORNIA
HAVE WITHHELD APPLICATIONS TO
BECOME EMERGING HDR CS DUE TO
CONCERNS ABOUT ADEQUATE FUNDING
GOING FORWARD AND A NUMBER OF
INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS,
TRIPLE A PARTNERS IN THE DRC
PROGRAM HAVE ALSO WITHHELD
APPLICATIONS. FOR THE A DRC
PROGRAM TO CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT
AS A CRITICAL ASPECT OF THE
MASTER PLANS INTENT TO DEVELOP
NO WRONG DOOR. THE ALLOCATION
MUST INCREASE. WE'RE ASKING THAT
THE ALLOCATION BE RAISED BY
BEYOND 10 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS
WITH AN ADDITIONAL 5.9 MILLION
ALLOCATED DURING FISCAL YEAR 23
24 9.7 MILLION ALLOCATED IN
FISCAL YEAR 24 25 WE BELIEVE
THAT THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT
THE PROGRAM CAN EXPAND
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AND HAVE
ANY HOPES OF BEING A SUSTAINABLE
PROGRAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. NEXT. WE
HAVE DEBBIE TALK. GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR. ARAMBULA LAUGH COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY. MY
NAME IS DEBBIE TOÀN, AND I'M THE
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CHOICE AND
AGING AS 74, YEAR OLD NONPROFIT
THAT HAS BEEN SERVING PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES AND FRAIL
OLDER ADULTS WITH THE GOAL OF
ENSURING THEY LIVE WITH DIGNITY
AND SUPPORT IN THERE, SETTING OF
CHOICE. WE HAVE ALL THE ACRONYM
SOUP INTERAGENCY, INCLUDING
ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE, OR A THC
AND COMMUNITY BASED ADULT
SERVICES OR SEA BASS. THE
MULTIPURPOSE
SENIOR-SERVICES-FOOD-BANKS-AND-MORE
MSS P CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
TRANSITIONS OR CCT. I FEEL LIKE
I COULD COME UP WITH A RAP, BUT
WE'RE NOT THERE YET. AND
INTERGENERATIONAL PRESCHOOL
MENTAL HEALTH CASE MANAGEMENT,
CAREGIVER SUPPORT ACCESSIBLE
TRANSPORTATION. AND BUDGET AND
POLICY, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
BECAUSE THAT IS NECESSARY TO DO
ALL THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED
PROGRAMS. UM WE DO ALL OF THIS
BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS CRAZY
RADICAL NOTION THAT PEOPLE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO AGE WITH
DIGNITY AND MAYBE EVEN SOME JOY.
UM AND WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY
NOW BECAUSE OF THE MASTER PLAN
FOR AGING, BUT THE MASTER PLAN
FOR AGING IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE
MONEY WE PUT INTO IT TO MAKE
THOSE THINGS A REALITY, UM, WERE
HUGELY GRATEFUL TO THE
LEGISLATURE. I'M I'VE BEEN
COMING HERE 21 YEARS AND I'VE
NEVER FELT LIKE I'VE BEEN IN A
POOL OF FRIENDLY IS THE WAY I
FEEL LIKE IT IS NOW. I MEAN,
IT'S REAL. UM SO WE'RE HUGELY
GRATEFUL TO YOU TO THE
LEGISLATURE TO THE
ADMINISTRATION AND IN PARTICULAR
TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING.
WE COULD NOT HAVE PICKED BETTER
LEADERS WE WERE IN THE TRENCHES
TOGETHER JUST TWO YEARS AGO,
DEVELOPING THE MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING TOGETHER AND NOW HERE SHE
IS LEADING THE WORK SO IT'S A
PRETTY, UM, AMAZING KISMET KIND
OF MOMENT. UM SO NO, THAT'S WHAT
I'M TALKING ABOUT. TODAY IS NOT
ABOUT LEADERSHIP. IT'S ABOUT THE
PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING
BOOTS ON THE GROUND. UM SO WE'RE
GOING TO NEED PARTNERSHIP
CONTINUANCE WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION AND WE'RE GOING
TO NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE
LEGISLATURE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE
EVERYBODY TO MAKE THE MASTER
PLAN FOR AGING, TRULY LIVE AND
BREATHE AND BE EFFECTIVE AT WHAT
ITS INTENT IS. UM SO HERE WE GO
. HERE ARE ALL THE ASKS YOU
READY? ALRIGHT HERE WE GO. WE'RE
ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND
ENSURING THE $64.1 MILLION
BRIDGE TO RECOVERY FUNDS THAT
WERE MENTIONED FOR SEA BASS
PROGRAMS. GRACIOUS APPROVED FOR
US TO MAKE THE ADULT DAY HEALTH
CARE PROGRAMS WHOLE AND SAFE
THAT THIS FUNDING STILL COME TO
US. UM, WE KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN A
YEAR. WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR
THAT FUNDING. AND, SADLY, WE'VE
SEEN FORECLOSURES OF ADULT DAY
HEALTH CARE, COMMUNITY BASED
ADULT SERVICES PROGRAMS. IN THIS
TIME FRAME. WE CAN PREVENT
FUTURE CLOSURES IF WE ACT NOW IN
FUND AND ALLOW THE AGENCIES TO
APPLY FOR FUNDING TO KEEP OUR
CENTERS OPEN CENTERS CLOSED IN
MARIN, STOCKTON, CONTRA COSTA
AND WHEN IS PENDING IN A RURAL
AREA. SADLY EACH OF THESE
CLOSURES WERE SOLE PROVIDERS IN
THE REGION. THERE IS NOT ANOTHER
ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE PROGRAM
THAT'S GOING TO STEP IN AND
PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. WE
TALKED ABOUT ISOLATION. GUESS
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THESE FOLKS?
NOT ONLY ARE THEY ISOLATED NOW
THEY'RE NOT RECEIVING HEALTH
SERVICES AND IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES THERE ARE NOT, AND
THERE ARE SORT OF RESOURCE
DESSERTS ALL THROUGHOUT OUR
STATES, AND IT'S JUST REALLY AND
INCREDIBLY UNFORTUNATE THING TO
HAPPEN AT A TIME WHEN THE AGING
POPULATION IS RADICALLY GROWING.
WE'RE REMOVING INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO CONTINUE
LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY. SO SHOW
ME THE MONEY. MY SECOND ASK IS
FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN
REDUCTION WITH EMERGENCY REMOTE
SERVICES PROGRAM YOU MAY OR MAY
NOT KNOW ABOUT E R S. IT IS ONE
OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE THINGS TO
HAPPEN TO ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE
IN MANY, MANY YEARS THAT ALLOWS
US FLEXIBILITY IN TIMES OF
EMERGENCY. HOWEVER, IT IS HUGELY
BURDEN SOME ADMINISTRATIVELY. SO
AT OUR CENTER, UM WE HAD ONE
COVID OUTBREAK, WHICH IS NOT BAD
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN BACK IN
CENTER FOR TWO YEARS WERE PRETTY
GOOD AT THIS BUSINESS, BUT WE'VE
RADICALLY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WE'VE SERVED. WE DO
SOCIAL DISTANCING. WE REQUIRE
MASKING. IT'S ALL KINDS OF THESE
THINGS, BUT SO WE HAD A COVID
OUTBREAK. WE WERE ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO SERVE PEOPLE AT
HOME. BRING THEM THEIR MEALS.
BRING SUPPLIES CHECK IN WITH
THEIR PHYSICIANS, BLAH, BLAH,
BLAH, BLAH. BUT THEN WE HAD
POWER OUTAGES. SO WE WENT TWO
WEEKS WITHOUT POWER. BUT WE HAD
TO DO 30 HOURS WORTH OF
PAPERWORK TO REQUEST FUNDING FOR
THE SERVICES WE WERE PROVIDING
TO OUR PARTICIPANTS. THAT'S NUTS
. THAT MEANT WE WERE UP ALL
NIGHT ON OUR COMPUTERS AT HOME
TRYING TO GET THIS WORK DONE
THAT, YOU KNOW. SO ER S IS
AMAZING. LET'S GET RID OF SOME
OF THAT ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN,
PLEASE. UM ALRIGHT, SO THE NEXT
ASK, WE'RE NOT DONE YET. MY
THIRD ASKED. THIS IS THE THIRD
IF FOR THOSE OF YOU AT HOME,
KEEPING NOTES UM, SO WE HAVE THE
INCREDIBLE WERE PART OF THE
CALDERON AND WE'RE PART OF CAL
COMPASS. BOTH OF THOSE GRANTS,
CHOICE AND AGING IS INCREDIBLY
FORTUNATE TO BE AWARDED THESE
GRANTS. BUT LIKE YOU HEARD FROM
PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, UM, GOING
FROM A TWO YEAR GRANT TIMEFRAME
TO A ONE YEAR GRANT TIMEFRAME IS
NOT JUST LIKE WE CAN'T SPEND THE
MONEY LIKE YOU CAN'T GET THE
VEHICLES. BUT HOW DO YOU CREATE
SUSTAINABILITY IN LESS THAN A
YEAR? IT IS REALLY A CHALLENGE.
UM IF ANYBODY CAN DO IT, I WILL
TELL YOU, MICHELLE AT THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING
IS GOING TO HELP US FIGURE OUT
SUSTAINABILITY IN A YEAR, BUT
CAL COMPASS IS WORKING WITH THE
MOST FRAGILE POPULATION MID TO
LATE STAGE, ALZHEIMER'S AND
THEIR FAMILY CAREGIVERS AND HOW
YOU CREATE A PROGRAM AND CREATE
FUNDING STREAMS FOR
SUSTAINABILITY. IN A YEAR. IS
NOT A SIMPLE TASK, AND YOU DON'T
WANT TO PROVIDE ALL THESE
SERVICES IN THEM, PULL THEM
AWAY. AND YOU ALSO DON'T WANT TO
LEAVE THE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE EMPLOYING
ALL THESE PEOPLE IN ONE YEAR TO
TRY AND DELIVER THIS PROGRAM,
SADDLED WITH UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS
AND ALL THE THINGS THAT COME
AFTER AND EMPLOYING PEOPLE THAT
YOU SPENT A TON OF MONEY, TIME
AND RESOURCES, TRAINING AND
BRINGING ON BOARD SO IF THERE'S
A POSSIBILITY TO EXTEND THAT
ANOTHER YEAR. I WOULD ASK FOR
THAT. IF THERE'S NOT, I WOULD
ASK FOR MORE MONEY AND MORE TIME
. UM I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT
COMES FROM. BUT I'M SURE YOU'LL
FIND IT. UM I HAVE LOTS OF FAITH
IN THIS LEGISLATURE. I REALLY,
REALLY DO. OKAY. AND FINALLY, UM
I WILL SAY THE NAIL IN THE
COFFIN FOR ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE
PROGRAMS IS THIS RATE ISSUE AT A
TIME WHEN MINIMUM WAGE WENT UP
$5 PER HOUR. SEA BASS RATES
REMAIN STAGNANT WHILE INSURANCE
COSTS WENT UP OVER 50%
EMPLOYMENT CONCEPT SUPPLY COSTS
UP. LIGHT LABOR COSTS
SKYROCKETED SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
RATES REMAINED STAGNANT. WHEN
THE BENEFIT BECAME A MANAGED
CARE BENEFITS. THE STATE DID NOT
PUT ANY GUARDRAILS ON RATES
SINCE 2012 WHEN THE SETTLEMENT
PROTECTIONS AND THAT THERE HAD
BEEN NO GREAT FLOOR. PERIOD.
MEDICAL MANAGED CARE PLANS CAN
PAY WHATEVER THEY WISH. YET
TITLE 22 REGULATIONS MANDATE
THAT WE HAVE A SKILLED NURSING
STAFF, SO WE HAVE THE SAME
STAFFING IN OUR ADULT DAY HEALTH
CARE PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVEN'T
SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES AND
WE CAN GET PAID LESS. PER HOUR.
THAN AN I. H S S CAREGIVER WHO'S
NOT A DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL
THERAPIST AND OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPIST, SPEECH THERAPIST,
REGISTERED NURSES, SOCIAL WORKER
DIRECT CAREGIVER, AND WE HAVE
CAREGIVING STAFF ISSUES. SO THE
REGULATIONS FORCED THIS, BUT THE
PLANS AREN'T FORCED TO PAY THIS
IN. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT
IS PEOPLE GOING INTO SKILLED
NURSING FACILITIES AND SKILLED
NURSING FACILITIES, GET A RATE
FLOOR AND THEY GET AN ANNUAL
RATE INCREASE, AND THAT HAS
HAPPENED EVERY YEAR. WELL ADULT
A HEALTHCARE RATES HAVE REMAINED
STAGNANT. THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.
IT MUST BE ADDRESSED. UM AND WE
CAN'T CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE AND
SUPPORT INSTITUTIONAL CARE
RATHER THAN COMMUNITY LIVING. IF
WE'RE TO MEET THE TRUE DREAM OF
THE MASTER PLAN FOR AGING, I
THINK WE'VE HEARD SOME COMMON
THEMES TODAY ABOUT FRAGMENTATION
. WHY DON'T PEOPLE KNOW PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
MANDATED PARTS OF THE SYSTEM. IF
WE WERE HOME HEALTH OR WE WERE
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY.
EVERYBODY WOULD KNOW WHO WE WERE
AND WHERE, WHEN TO SEND PEOPLE
TO US, AND HOW IF WE DON'T START
PUTTING STOPGAPS IN AND SAYING
BEFORE YOU PAY FOR THIS, YOU
MUST FIRST EXHAUST THESE
RESOURCES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO
LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE NOBODY
KNOWS WHAT EXISTS TO HELP THEM.
SO FRAGMENTATION IS A HUGE
ISSUE. WE ALSO NEED TO LOVE OUR
CAREGIVING WORKFORCE AND WE NEED
TO APPLAUD THEM AND LAUD THEM
AND GIVE THEM SOME MONEY. SO
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR YOUR
CONTINUED DIALOGUE. QUÊ
ADMINISTRATION THAT WAY, UM, AND
PARTNERSHIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL. THANK
YOU NEXT WEEK. CAROL SWANSON,
SWARTZ LENDER. SORRY. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CAROL SCHWARTZ
LANDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON
AGING. THE COMMISSION IS AN
INDEPENDENT ADVISORY BODY
ESTABLISHED IN STATE STATUTE TO
SERVE AS THE PRINCIPAL ADVOCATE
FOR OLDER CALIFORNIANS BEFORE
THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE
AND STATE AGENCIES. SO AS YOU
WORK ON THE BUDGET ACT OF 2023,
I'D LIKE TO SHARE THE
COMMISSION'S TOP THREE
PRIORITIES FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. FIRST EXPANDING
THE WORKFORCE SERVING OLDER
ADULTS AND INCREASE WORKFORCE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS.
THE COMMISSION IS ENCOURAGED AND
IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH THE
INCREASING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT
AND EXPAND THE WORKFORCE THAT
SERVES OLDER ADULTS, SUCH AS CAL
GROWS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGING AND MORE AND YET WE
ENCOURAGE THE LEGISLATURE TO DO
MORE TO FOCUS ON AN UNTAPPED
RESOURCE. OLDER WORKERS. THE
GOOD NEWS IS THAT MANY OF US ARE
LIVING LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES.
BUT THE FINANCIAL LANDSCAPE OF
RETIREMENT YEARS IS CHANGING FOR
A GROWING NUMBER OF CALIFORNIA'S
SAVINGS, SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO
SUPPORT POTENTIALLY THREE
DECADES OF RETIREMENT IS NOT
ACHIEVABLE. AND WHEN COMBINED
WITH OUR CURRENT AND GROWING
WORKFORCE SHORTAGES THAT LEADS
US TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE
MUST SEE OLDER ADULTS IN IN THE
LIGHT OF THE VALUE THAT THEY
BRING. WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE OLDER
ADULTS TO RETAIN THEIR CURRENT
EMPLOYMENT WHILE RECOGNIZING
THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OR WANT
TO KEEP DOING THE SAME WORK OR
WORK AT THE SAME PACE. WE MUST
INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYERS TO
INCORPORATE GREATER FLEXIBILITY
TO ACCOMMODATE OLDER WORKERS. WE
NEED TO ENABLE ORDER ADULTS TO
TRANSITION INTO OTHER FORMS OF
EMPLOYMENT TO EXTEND THEIR
ABILITY TO REMAIN IN THE
WORKFORCE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE CAN
PROMOTE RE ENTRY INTO THE
WORKFORCE THROUGH TRAINING SUCH
AS RE SKILLING AND UPSCALING,
PROVIDING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
DEVICES AND LIVING SUPPORTS
THROUGH COORDINATION AT THE
STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. WE NOW
HAVE FIVE GENERATIONS IN THE
WORKFORCE. THE SILENT GENERATION
BABY BOOMERS, GEN X MILLENNIALS
AND GEN. Z EACH OF THESE
GENERATIONS HAS DIFFERENT
STRENGTHS, PREFERENCES AND WORK
STYLES AND BETTER DETERMINED BY
THE WORLD IN WHICH THEY GREW UP
THEIR LIFE STAGE AND THE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES. THIS
MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE
OFFERS A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY
TO FOSTER INTERGENERATIONAL
RELATIONSHIPS. THAT PROMOTE
COOPERATION AND EMPATHY BETWEEN
AGE GROUPS AND HELP DISPEL THE
MYTHS AND STEREOTYPES ASSOCIATED
WITH ANY AGE GROUP. OUR SECOND
PRIORITY IS ADDRESSING OLDER
ADULT HOMELESSNESS AND
INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPTIONS. I WON'T BELABOR THAT
POINT SINCE YOU HEARD SO
ELOQUENTLY FROM THE FIRST PANEL
, BUT I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT
THE COMMISSION IS CONVENING A
FORUM ON MAY 9TH AND GLENDALE AS
PART OF THE C FOUR A ANNUAL
CONFERENCE TO TAKE A DEEPER LOOK
AT OLDER ADULT HOMELESSNESS AND
SOCIAL MODELS OF HOUSING, SUCH
AS ASSISTED LIVING. AND I'M
PLEASED TO SHARE THAT DR KUSHELL
, WHO WAS SO WONDERFUL THIS
MORNING IS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY
SPEAKERS. OUR THIRD PRIORITY IS
IMPROVING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INCLUDES BOTH
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE ISSUES. IN CALIFORNIA.
OLDER ADULTS ARE UNSERVED OR
UNDERSERVED RELATIVE TO THEIR
NEEDS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2020,
APPROXIMATELY 27,000 OLDER
ADULTS RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, EVEN
THOUGH DATA PROJECTED THAT AT
LEAST 700,000 NEEDED SERVICES.
WE ARE PLEASED TO HEAR ABOUT THE
FOCUS OF THE DEPARTMENT ON THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND ALSO THAT
THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
COMMISSION IS PARTNERED WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGING TO ISSUE 10
GRANTS WORTH UP TO 10 $20
MILLION TO REPLICATE EVIDENCE
BASED IN EMERGENCY BEHAVIOR AND
EMERGING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS THIS
YEAR. BUT WE VIEW THESE GRANTS
IS ONLY A STARTING POINT AND
MUCH MORE URGENT ACTION AND
FOCUS IS NEEDED, SUCH AS
ESTABLISHING A LEADERSHIP
POSITION FOR GERIATRIC
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND ENSURING THAT OLDER
ADULTS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
NEEDS ARE SPECIFICALLY EMBEDDED
THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE MASTER
PLAN FOR AGING POLICIES AND
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. NEXT WE HAVE
JACKIE, BUT RATIO WITH THE L. A
CHECK. YOU PROCEED WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE. UM
THE COMMENTS THAT I JUST WANTED
TO SHARE JUST TO PROVIDE A BRIEF
OVERVIEW REGARDING THE H CBS
SPENDING PLAN THAT HAS COME UP
IN THIS HEARING, BUT MAY COME UP
IN OTHER HEARINGS AS IT FUNDS
INITIATIVES ACROSS MULTIPLE
PROGRAMS AND DEPARTMENTS AND
THEN JUST PROVIDE A AN UPDATE IN
TERMS OF WHERE EXPENDITURE
LEVELS ARE AT TODAY, UM, SO
SPECIFICALLY, JUST FOR A
BACKGROUND THE HCPS SPENDING
PLAN. CAME IT BECAME POSSIBLE
BECAUSE IN 2021 AS A PART OF THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TEMPORARILY
INCREASED THE FEDERAL MATCH FOR
MEDICAID, H CBS OR HOME AND
COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES BY 10%
POINTS AND AS A PART OF THE 21
22 BUDGET PACKAGE, THE STATE
DECIDED TO FULLY DRAWN DOWN
THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS. WHICH AS
A RESULT, FREED UP $2.8 BILLION
GENERAL FUNDS THAT OTHERWISE
WOULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON
MEDICAID HCPS PROGRAMS AND AS A
CONDITION OF DRAWING DOWN THESE
DOLLARS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
REQUIRED STATES TO SPEND AN
EQUAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO
ENHANCE AND EXPAND OR STRENGTHEN
HCPS PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY UM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRED
STATES TO COMPLY WITH AN EMMA.
WE ARE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT, UM
, WHICH INCLUDES ONE NOT
IMPOSING STRICTER H CBS
ELIGIBILITY RULES TO PRESERVING
EXISTING SERVICE LEVELS AND CBS
PROGRAMS AND THREE MAINTAINING
CBS PROVIDER PAYMENTS. AND
THESE, UM AND WHEN WE
REQUIREMENTS ARE IN PLACE FOR AS
LONG AS IT TAKES THE STATE TO
EXPEND ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL H
CBS FUNDS THAT WE HAVE DECIDED
TO DRAW DOWN. AND HAS BEEN
MENTIONED BY OTHER PANELISTS.
ORIGINALLY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT GAVE STATES UNTIL
MARCH. 31ST 2024 TO SPEND, UM,
THOSE ADDITIONAL H CBS FUNDS BUT
THEN IN JUNE 2022 THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DID ALLOW STATES TO
EXTEND THAT EXPENDITURE DEADLINE
TO MARCH 31ST 2025 JUST TWO
THINGS THAT I WANTED TO CLARIFY
REGARDING THAT EXPENDITURE
DEADLINE IS THAT ONE OUR
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, UM, FOR
THE STATE TO DECIDE TO TAKE
ADVICE. VANTAGE OF THAT ONE YEAR
EXTENSION, IT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY REQUIRE A FEDERAL
APPLICATION OR AN APPROVAL. IT'S
REALLY JUST A STATE DECISION
THAT COULD BE DONE THROUGH
BUDGET BILL LANGUAGE THROUGH
STATUTE. THROUGH THE BUDGET
PROCESS ITSELF. BUT THEN ALSO,
YOU MAY BE SEEING TWO DIFFERENT
REFERENCES TO EXPENDITURE.
DEADLINES ARE DEADLINES MARCH IN
DECEMBER, UM THE DISTINCTION
BETWEEN THOSE TWO DATES IS, UM
THE FEDERAL DEADLINE IS MARCH.
HOWEVER UM, THE STATE DEPARTMENT
EXPENDITURES ARE MAINLY TRACKED
ON IN DECEMBER JUST TO ALLOW
DEPARTMENTS TO RECONCILE COST
AND SUBMIT REIMBURSEMENT CLAIMS
FOR THOSE LAST THREE MONTHS. SO
THAT'S WHY YOU MAY SEE THOSE
REFERENCES. IN TERMS OF WHERE WE
ARE TODAY. SO OF THE $2.8
BILLION IN H CBS FUNDS THAT THE
STATE HAS DRAWN DOWN AS OF
SEPTEMBER 2023 ONLY 282 MILLION
HAS BEEN SPENT. SO THAT'S ABOUT
10. ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS AS
TO WHY THE MAJORITY OF THE CBS
FUNDS HAVE NOT BEEN SPENT, IS
THAT, UM, OF THE 26 INITIATIVES
THAT HAVE THAT ARE BEING FUNDED
WITH THESE DOLLARS? MANY OF THEM
WERE NEW ACTIVITIES. MANY OF
THEM WERE NEW EXPANSIONS AND
ENHANCEMENTS, SO IT JUST TOOK
TIME TO PLAN THOSE OUT TO RAMP
THEM UP AND TO IMPLEMENT UM,
ADDITIONALLY, AS HAS BEEN
MENTIONED UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET, THE ADMINISTRATION IS
ASSUMING THAT THESE H CBS FUNDS
WILL BE SPENT BY THE ORIGINAL
DECEMBER 2023 DEADLINE, SO THEY
ARE NOT OPTING TO REFLECT THAT
ONE YEAR EXTENSION IN THE
BUDGET. HOWEVER IT'S OUR
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION TO THE EXTENT WE
GET TO DECEMBER AND WE STILL
HAVE FUNDS LEFT OVER THEIR
INTENT IS TO THEN PROVIDE AN
EXTENSION FOR, HOWEVER LONG IS
NEEDED TO FULLY EXPEND THE
DOLLARS AT THAT TIME. IN TERMS
AS THE LEGISLATURE'S, UM,
HEARING H. CBS FUND H CBS
SPENDING PLAN ACTIVITIES, BOTH
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING, BUT
IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, JUST SOME
KEY QUESTIONS THAT WE SUGGEST
THE LEGISLATURE AS THE
ADMINISTRATION IS ONE WHAT WOULD
NEED TO HAPPEN TO FULLY SPEND
THESE FUNDS FOR EACH OF THESE
INITIATIVES BY DECEMBER, 2023
BECAUSE, AS I MENTIONED THERE
ARE MANY PROGRAMS IN WHICH
EXPENDITURES HAVE NOT HAPPENED
YET, SO THAT MEANS WHERE WE HAVE
EIGHT MONTHS LEFT TO FULLY SPEND
THESE FUNDS. TO THE EXTENT THAT
WE DON'T SPEND THE DOLLARS BY
DECEMBER, 2023. GETTING A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WILL
HAPPEN. THEN AS I MENTIONED THE
ADMINISTRATION'S INTENT, AS WE
UNDERSTAND IT IS THAT WE WILL
AUTOMATICALLY EXTEND THE
DEADLINE. HOWEVER IT'S STILL
UNCLEAR TO US. IF AT THAT TIME
WOULD WE KEEP THE UNSPENT FUNDS
IN THEIR ORIGINAL AND CURRENT
PROGRAM COMMITMENTS OR WOULD THE
DOLLARS BE SHIFTED TO OTHER
ACTIVITIES WHERE THEY COULD BE
SPENT MORE QUICKLY? AND THEN
LASTLY, EVEN THOUGH THE
EXPENDITURE DEADLINE WOULD OUR
UNDERSTANDING BE AUTOMATICALLY
EXTENDED? THE QUESTION IS, WELL
, WHAT WOULD BE THE BENEFITS AND
TRADEOFFS OF JUST MAKING THAT
DECISION EARLIER THROUGH THE
BUDGET PROCESS? UM, RATHER THAN
AT THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR,
AND ONE BENEFIT THAT WE SEE IS
THAT THIS WOULD ALLOW
DEPARTMENTS TO HAVE ENOUGH TIME
TO MODIFY CONTRACTS COMMUNICATE
WITH PROGRAM PROVIDERS. UM AND
MODIFY PROGRAM DESIGNS TO
REFLECT THIS ADDITIONAL TIME.
AND THEN POSSIBLY JUST MINIMIZE
ANY POTENTIAL SERVICE GAPS OR
DISRUPTIONS. TO THE EXTENT THAT
, UM, WE MAKE THE DECISION TO
EXTEND, BUT MORE TIME IS NEEDED
TO MODIFY THE CONTRACTS. PROGRAM
SERVICES HAVE TO SHUT DOWN AND
THEN START BACK UP ONCE THE NEW
CONTRACT IS IN PLACE. THANK YOU.
DEPARTMENT OF FINES. THANK YOU.
CHAIR HIRSCH GUPTA WITH
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I JUST
WANT TO ADDRESS A FEW OF THE
POINTS RELATED TO THE H CBS
SPENDING PLANS. WELL UM, SO, AS
ELIO NOTED, THE GOVERNMENT'S
BUDGET DOES REFLECT THAT ALL
DOLLARS FOR THIS SPENDING PLAN
WILL BE SPENT BY THE CURRENT
DEADLINE OF DECEMBER. 31ST 2023
, WITH ALL ACCOUNTING RECONCILED
BY MARCH, 31ST 2024. UM AND ALSO
JUST, YOU KNOW, REFLECTING ON
THE COMMENTS WE HEARD TODAY I
WANT TO ALSO BE CLEAR THAT IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE
ADMINISTRATION TO. I MEAN, THESE
PROGRAMS WERE DEVELOPED IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE
LEGISLATURE, AND SO WE REALLY
WANT TO SEE THIS PROGRAM
SUCCEED. UM AND TO THAT END, WE
REALLY ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR
THE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS EACH
OF THESE PROGRAMS AND ARE
WORKING DILIGENTLY TO EXPEND THE
FUNDS BY THE CURRENT EXPENDITURE
DEADLINE. UM AND JUST TO BE
CLEAR AGAIN. I MEAN, WE ARE
ANTICIPATING ALL THESE FUNDS
WILL BE SPENT BY THAT DEADLINE,
AND I KNOW ELIO MENTIONED
REGARDING REEVALUATING THAT COME
DECEMBER. I MEAN, WE'RE HOPING
THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO
EVALUATE THAT. THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS. WE HAVE SOME UPCOMING
EXPENDITURE DATA. THAT'S MORE
RECENT THAN THE SEPTEMBER 2022
PICTURE. HOPING TO GET THAT IN
THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS FROM
ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND SO ANY
SORT OF AUTO EXTENSION COME
DECEMBER, I THINK IS SOMETHING
WE WOULD DEFINITELY PREEMPTS
THROUGH CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF
THIS FUNDING PRIOR TO THAT TIME.
THANK YOU WITH THAT I'LL BRING
IT UP TO THE DIOCESE TO SEE IF
THERE'S ANY MEMBERS. QUESTIONS
WILL BEGIN WITH DR JACKSON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
UM OBVIOUSLY, ONE OF THE
GREATEST MISTAKES WE CAN MAKE IS
AH! NOT IMPLEMENTING OR MAKING
PERMANENT. SOME OF THE
INNOVATIONS. SOME OF THE CHANGES
WE ALLOW DURING COVID. TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE WERE FILLING IN
GAPS, MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE
DOING THINGS IN AN EQUITABLE
WAY. WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT
ARE DUE TO SUNSET? UM OR HAVE
ALREADY SUNSET SAID IT BUT WE
ACTUALLY SHOULD BE MAKING
PERMANENT DURING THE TIME WHEN
IT COMES TO TAKING CARE OF OUR
SENIORS, FOR INSTANCE, HOW WE
DID MILLS AND WHO WE ALLOWED TO
PREPARE AND DELIVER MILLS,
RIGHT? ALL THOSE TYPE OF THINGS
. WHAT? WHAT SHOULD WE BE MAKING
PERMANENT? AND THAT'S FOR
ANYBODY AND EVERYWHERE GIVE ME
THE MIC. ALRIGHT DEBBIE TOLD
WITH CHOICE AND AGING NUMBER
ONE. YOU CAN ALLOW OUR OLDER
ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES TO CONTINUE
PARTICIPATING IN THE GOVERNMENT
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES EVERY
KIND OF PROCESS ELECTRONICALLY.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT
WE OPENED THE DOOR AND WE HAVE
SO MANY OLDER ADULTS AND SO MANY
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WHO
ARE PARTICIPATING ON COMMISSIONS
ON AGING ON, UM, PLANNING
COMMISSIONS ON ALL THESE
DIFFERENT BODIES, AND THEY'RE
BEING TOLD THEY HAVE TO COME IN
PERSON NOW WHERE THEY CAN'T AND
BY THE WAY, ACCESSIBLE
TRANSPORTATION DOESN'T EXIST TO
GET THEM TO AND FROM THESE
MEETINGS, SO YOU ARE FORCING
ISOLATION. IF YOU DON'T TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY,
THAT'S ONE NUMBER TWO AS IT
RELATES TO ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE
PROGRAMS. WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE
PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T BEAR A FOUR
HOUR DAY MEDICAL REQUIRES US TO
HAVE SOMEBODY ON SITE FOR FOUR
HOURS A DAY. PEOPLE D CONDITION
DURING THE PANDEMIC. AND SO
PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE BEEN SERVING
AT CHOICE AND AGING FOR 10 YEARS
IN OUR ADULT HEALTHCARE PROGRAM
FIVE DAYS A WEEK CAME BACK AND
COULD NOT DO FOR HOURS, BUT THEY
COULD DO TO BUT THAT FLEXIBILITY
GOT TAKEN AWAY. PEOPLE WHO
CANNOT DO THAT LONG OR PEOPLE
WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY BECAUSE PARA
TRANSIT TAKES 2.5 HOURS TO GET
TO THE CENTER BECAUSE AN ADULT
DAY HEALTH CARE PROGRAM CLOSED,
SO THEY HAVE TO GO TO WIN.
THAT'S FURTHER AWAY. ARE NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO BEAR IT. 2.5
HOUR DRIVE A FOUR HOUR DAY AND A
2.5 HOUR DRIVE HOME LIKE THERE
WERE SOME FLEXIBILITIES THAT WE
HAD THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY
THAT WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD HAVE
IN PLACE AND THERE SHOULD BE
JUSTIFICATION FOR WHY THAT'S
HAPPENING. THERE HAS TO BE A
MEDICAL ASSESSMENT LIKE THERE
ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN PUT
TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT'S THE
CASE. WE'RE ALSO NOW TAKING AWAY
FOOD BENEFITS FROM PEOPLE RIGHT.
SO THAT IS GOING TO BE RADICALLY
REDUCED. AND WHY WERE WE
STARVING PEOPLE? WE ARE THE
RICHEST NATION. WE ARE THE FIFTH
LARGEST ECONOMY, OR MAYBE THE
FOURTH NOW. I DON'T KNOW THAT
VARIES BUT WE ABSOLUTELY MUST
CONTINUE TO FEED PEOPLE AT THE
LEVELS. WE WERE FEEDING PEOPLE
AND I WANT TO JUST SHOUT OUT TO
MARCO. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE
CAL FRESH WHEN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WITHDREW WELL STOPPED
GIVING THE ACTUAL FUNDS IT'S
AFTER TALKING ABOUT I MEAN,
WE'RE REDUCING BENEFITS. NOW WE
GOT PEOPLE UP TO A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF FOOD BENEFIT. AND NOW
WE'RE TAKING AWAY THAT FOOD
BENEFITS. SO HOW WE FUND THAT? I
DON'T KNOW. BUT BUT WE MUST. I
MEAN, THESE ARE BASIC SORT OF
THINGS, UM, USED TO SAY THE SAME
THING TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE
AND SAY, HEY, THAT'S NOT MY JOB.
YOU FIGURE IT OUT AND BE HAPPY
TO HELP YOU FIGURE IT OUT? YEAH
I THINK I'D RATHER WORK WITH HER
THAN HIM, THOUGH. JUST TO BE
CLEAR. I'M GONNA SAY I'M GONNA
SAY FRIENDLY. UM I THINK THAT WE
ALSO, UH I LEARNED THAT THERE
ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THINGS
THAT ARE MORE PERSON CENTERED IN
ASKING PEOPLE WHAT THEIR WISHES
ARE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A
RUSSIAN PROGRAM RUSSIAN AND
UKRAINIAN PROGRAM IN OUR ADULT
DAY HEALTH CENTER AND AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC THAT
COORDINATOR FOR THE PROGRAM, SO
THERE'S NO WAY MY PEOPLE ARE
GETTING ON ZOOM. GUESS WHAT?
THEY ZOOM EVERY DAY. SO SOME
THAT COME THREE DAYS A WEEK OR
ZOOMING IN THOSE OTHER TWO DAYS
A WEEK. WE CAN'T BUILD FOR THAT,
BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ALLOWED
BECAUSE WE CAN'T SERVE PEOPLE
OUTSIDE ANYMORE. BUT THEY'RE ON
ZOOM ALL DAY AND THEY'RE
EXERCISING THEIR PARTICIPATING
AND THEY'RE ENGAGING LIKE THERE
ARE SO MANY THERE ARE SO MANY
LESSONS LEARNED THAT WE ARE
MAKING GO AWAY RIGHT NOW. SO I
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
QUESTION. I'M SURE IF YOU GAVE
ME ANOTHER HOUR, I COULD KEEP
TELLING YOU ALL THE THINGS BUT
THOSE ARE TOP OF MY THANK YOU.
CAROL SCHWARTLANDER. I WOULD
LIKE THIS. SHE OPENED THE DOOR.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO ECHO THAT WE
NEED TO KEEP THE BAGLEY KI¾M
FLEXIBILITIES IN PLACE. THE
COMMISSION ON AGING IS REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABILITY OF
OLDER ADULTS. PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES. PEOPLE WHO ARE TOO
POOR TO TRAVEL PEOPLE WERE IN
RURAL AREAS PARTICIPATING ON
STATE LEVEL BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS BECAUSE REQUIRING IN
PERSON ATTENDANCE TO ESTABLISH
QUORUM MEANS THAT YOU'RE
CREATING A BARRIER. TO A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PARTICIPATE,
WHO SHOWED THEY COULD
PARTICIPATE AND DO PARTICIPATE
FULLY REMOTELY. THEN MY SECOND
QUESTION, UM, IS. AH WHILE WE'RE
IN THIS TWO YEAR CYCLE AS A
LEGISLATURE 2023 2024. WHAT DO
WE NEED? TO WHAT? WHAT MUST WE
HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THESE
TWO YEARS? TO STAY ON TRACK WITH
THE MASTER PLAN. UM, AND TO MEET
THE CURRENT NEEDS. THAT IS A BIG
QUESTION. UM. OKAY UM, I LOOKED
AROUND FOR THOSE OF YOU AT HOME
TO SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTED TO
ANSWER. UM I THINK FIRST AND
FOREMOST, I THINK WE'RE WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING IS GOING TO
BE NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY'RE THE
ONES WHO ARE WATCHING THIS PLAY
OUT AND OVERSEEING WHAT'S
HAPPENING. SO FOR EXAMPLE, YOU
HEARD DIRECTOR TUMOROUS
MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE 95 NEW
INITIATIVES. SO WE WENT FROM 134
137 SOMETHING LIKE THAT. UM
THESE 95 ARE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT
WE HAD BEFORE, AND THAT'S
BECAUSE THEY OBSERVED, THEY
LISTENED. THEY LEARNED AND
THEY'RE COURSE CORRECTING. SO IT
IS A LIVING, BREATHING BODY OF
POLICY AND IN ORDER FOR THE
LEGISLATURE DID NOT HAVE A
DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT'S
HAPPENING. I THINK WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING IS GOING TO
BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AND I
THINK THERE'S A DATA DASHBOARD.
THERE'S A TOOL THAT WE CAN USE
THAT WERE USING TO MONITOR
PROGRESS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE
REALLY GOOD MARKERS FOR HOW TO
MEASURE SUCH AS ACCESSIBLE
TRANSPORTATION IN CASE YOU GUYS
HAVE NOT HEARD ME SAY THAT, UM
WE'RE DEVELOPING THEM, AND WE'RE
ASKING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
AND WE'RE ASKING OLDER ADULTS
AND WE'RE ASKING CAREGIVERS, SO
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
INFORMATION THAT'S COMING IN. I
THINK WE HAVE TOOLS. I THINK
WE'RE DEVELOPING THEM. MY
QUESTION IS WHAT ARE WE SPENDING
AND I ASKED THAT QUESTION. ARE
YOU PAYING ATTENTION? I ASKED
THAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE HAVE SO
UNDER INVESTED IN OLDER ADULTS
AND DISABILITY PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES THAT WHAT WE'RE
INVESTING NOW CANNOT BE. JUST A
FLAT LEVEL IS THE SAME AS
SOMEBODY ELSE. WE HAVE TO INVEST
MORE. WE HAVE TO INVEST MORE. SO
WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW MUCH MONEY
YOU'RE INVESTING IN SOMETHING
THAT'S BROKEN VERSUS HOW MUCH
MONEY YOU'RE INVESTING TO KEEP
STATUS QUO. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE
TO DO SOME EXTRA WORK TO FIX THE
BROKEN SO I THINK THE INVESTMENT
LEVELS NEED TO BE HIGHER AND
MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE. YOU
UNCOMFORTABLE, UM IN ORDER, SO
COMPARING THAT WHAT ARE WE
SPENDING NOW COMPARED TO WHAT WE
WERE SPENDING BEFORE? AND ARE WE
MEETING THE MARK? WITH WHAT?
WE'RE SPENDING. WE SHOULD NOT
HAVE TO COME BACK AS THE HSS
HUMANS SAID I'M SORRY. I DON'T
HAVE HER NAME IN MY HEAD. UM WE
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COME BACK
EVERY YEAR AND BEG FOR FUNDING.
TO KEEP PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
RUNNING THAT SAVE TAXPAYER
DOLLARS. 1/5 THE COST TO PAY FOR
ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE VERSUS A
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY, AND
I'M HERE BEGGING EVERY YEAR FOR
FUNDING, SO I THINK BEING ABLE
TO FIX FUNDING STREAMS AND LOOK
AT HOW YOU ARE INVESTING MORE IN
COMMUNITY BASED SOLUTIONS OVER
INSTITUTIONAL SOLUTIONS SHOULD
ALSO BE A CALCULUS OF SUCCESS.
AND JUST BEING WELCOMING TO US
AND THESE ROOMS. THANK YOU. DR
JACKSON. I MIGHT ADD JUST 11.2.
DEBBIE'S COMMENT IN THE 95 NEW
INITIATIVES BECAUSE WE'RE NOW IN
YEAR THREE AND FOUR. IT'S LIKE A
RELAY SO ALL OF THE INITIATIVES
STARTED AT THE SAME PLACE. BUT
NOW THE WORK IS BEING STAGED.
AND WE USE THREE CRITERIA WITH
THESE 95 INITIATIVES. EVERYTHING
IS GROUPED. IT'S EITHER
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DELIVERING
. SO THAT MEANS IT'S IN
PROGRESS. IT'S IN PLACE. IT'S
BEEN AUTHORIZED OR FUNDED BY THE
LEGISLATURE. WE ARE ANALYZING,
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK IN THIS
10 YEAR PLAN THAT WE HAVE TO DO
. WE STILL HAVE TO STUDY DO
RESEARCH ARE DUE DILIGENCE,
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND THEN
THE THIRD IS COMMUNICATE, SO
IT'S EITHER DELIVER, ANALYZE OR
COMMUNICATE, WE REALIZED AND WE
HEARD THIS TODAY ALREADY IN YOUR
HEARING THAT MANY PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES THAT EXIST IN OUR STATE
AREN'T KNOWN TO THE COMMUNITIES
THAT THEY'RE INTENDED TO SERVE.
SO A LOT OF THE WORK OF THE
MASTER PLAN IS ALSO TO GET THE
WORD OUT ON WHAT IS AVAILABLE,
UM, AND TO MEET WITH COMMUNITIES
TO HEAR ABOUT WHERE THOSE GAPS
EXIST. WELL, I CAN'T. I'D LIKE
TO ADD ONE OTHER THING RELATED
TO ANY RCS. I THINK YOU KNOW WE
HAVE. WE'RE AT A CRUCIAL POINT
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HRS OF
HDR. CS IN TERMS OF HAVING THIS
, UM, CEILING OF FINANCIAL
CEILING ON THE ABILITY TO
CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND WE HAVE
ANOTHER DEMAND OUT THERE. THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF TRIPLE A S AND
I'LL SEIZE THAT WOULD LIKE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM BUT
HAVE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER
THEY WILL BE ADEQUATE FUNDING
FOR THE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD.
SO I THINK IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS
IT WOULD BEHOOVE THE STATE, THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE STATES WHO
THINK OF OUR FUNDING. ASKED
WHICH WOULD REALLY HELP FUND
THAT EXPANSION AND BUILD
SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE HDR CS
AND THUS ALLOW CONTINUED
MOVEMENT TOWARD A NO WRONG DOOR
SOLUTION. SO I DO THINK THAT'S A
VERY IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION
GOING FORWARD. GO AHEAD. THANK
YOU. I WOULD ACTUALLY AGREE WITH
BOTH MICHAEL AND DEBBIE ON
EVERYTHING THEY JUST SAID, BUT I
ALSO THINK WE NEED TO KEEP UP
BOTH THE SUPPORT FOR THE
DEPARTMENT AND PRESSURE ON THE
DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE MOVING
FORWARD. I'VE WORKED IN, UM,
AGING AND LONG TERM SERVICES AND
SUPPORTS WITH THE STATE FOR 22
YEARS NOW, AND WE NEVER WERE
ABLE TO GET OFF THE GROUND UNTIL
WE HAD AN ADMINISTRATION. COME
IN AND SAY YES, WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE THIS A PRIORITY, SO WE NEED
TO CONTINUE MAKING IT A PRIORITY
AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THE
LEGISLATURE EVERYONE NEEDS TO
SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT. MAKING
IT HAPPEN. ONE FINAL THING.
SCHOOLHOUSE ROCKS. YOU MAY BE
TOO YOUNG. I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD
YOU ARE TO KNOW WHAT SCHOOLHOUSE
ROCKS WAS, BUT, UM, I KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LIVING ON
CAPITOL HILL, SO WE NEED THAT
FOR AGING AND ADULT SERVICES IN
THE COMMUNITY. SO AN H. C. B S.
L T S S SCHOOLHOUSE ROCKS, AND I
THINK IF WE GET IT TO THE
CHILDREN WHEN THEY'RE LITTLE AND
EVERYBODY UP, THEN WE'RE NEVER
GONNA HAVE QUESTIONS. ARE WE
BECAUSE I CAN STILL SING IT 53,
YOU KNOW. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
BRING IT BACK TO THE CHAIR FOR A
FEW QUESTIONS. I'LL BEGIN WITH
DIRECTOR DAMARIS AND DEPUTY
DIRECTOR BECKLEY. IF I CAN. I
WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY
TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE
CONCERNS THAT WE HEARD FROM
STAKEHOLDERS IN PARTICULAR. WANT
YOU TO FOCUS COMMENTS ON THE
BRIDGE TO RECOVERY AND THE
FORECLOSURES THAT WE'VE SEEN AS
IT REALLY IS DECREASING ACCESS.
HOPING YOU CAN PROVIDE SOME
COMMENTS. UM MARK BECK WAY.
CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
. UM SMITH. WOW ME BACK TO WORK
FOR THE DEPARTMENT FINANCES
NICOLE, REMEMBER ONCE IN THE DAY
, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING
, UM YEAH. SO ON THE BRIDGE
RECOVERY AND ON A LOT OF THE SEA
BASS ISSUES THAT MR TOTH RAISED,
UM YOU KNOW? ABSOLUTELY YOU KNOW
THE CLOSURE OF SEE THAT SITES
GREATLY CONCERNS US. THEY'RE
DEFINITELY A VITAL PART OF THE
HCPS CONTINUUM. THEY HAVE SERVED
SO MANY OLDER ADULTS THROUGHOUT
THEIR DURATION AND JUST PROVIDE
SUCH A NEEDED VITAL SERVICE. UM
YOU KNOW WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
RATES AND THE UTILIZATION RATES
OVER TIME, WE DEFINITELY HAVE
SEEN A NET DECLINE. SO PRE
PANDEMIC THE SEA BASS SITES WERE
RUNNING AT ABOUT 70% UTILIZATION
DURING THE PANDEMIC. THERE'S AN
UPTICK TO ABOUT 85% NOW THEY'RE
DOWN AT AROUND 50. UM YOU KNOW,
PART OF IT COULD BE. I MEAN,
THERE'S A MYRIAD OF FACTORS THAT
COULD PLAY INTO IT. SOME OF IT
AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, UM,
CONCERNED ABOUT JUST INFECTION
AND RING INTO A SEA BASS SITE
POST COVID. UM DURING COVID.
THERE WAS AS DEBBIE HAD
MENTIONED, UM TEMPORARY
ALTERNATIVE SERVICES, WHICH DID
ALLOW SEE ABOUT SITES PROVIDE
SERVICES REMOTELY, WHICH MADE
ACCESS TO THOSE SITES VERY EASY.
HOWEVER THAT WAS TEMPORARY. AND
THAT WAS A SEAMAN. CMS APPROVED
FLEXIBILITY THAT FLEXIBILITY HAS
EXPIRED AND AS THE WAIVERS
CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTED SEA BASSES
IN PERSON CENTER SERVICE, SO WE,
AS THE STATE DON'T HAVE
FLEXIBILITY TO CHANGE THAT. IT
IS THE WAY THAT THE WAIVER HAS
BEEN DESIGNED, UM BUT WE DID YOU
KNOW, UM, IMPLEMENT WHAT'S
CALLED EMERGENCY REMOTE SERVICES
, WHICH DO ALLOW THE SITES TO
PROVIDE REMOTE SERVICES IN THE
CURSE. IN THE CASE OF EITHER
PERSONAL EMERGENCY WITH AN
INDIVIDUAL OR DUE TO LIKE A
STATE DISASTER, UM WE HAVE HEARD
MANY COMMENTS FROM CADS, WHICH
IS THE ASSOCIATION THAT
REPRESENTS THE CVA SITES ABOUT
THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ISSUES
, AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH CATS AS
WELL AS WITH THE HCS AND CD PH
TO BUILD IN ADDITIONAL
FLEXIBILITIES, FOR INSTANCE, NOW
ASIDE, ONLY HAS TO SUBMIT ONE
APPLICATION IF THE SITE NEEDS TO
GO DOWN, AS OPPOSED TO
INDIVIDUAL APPLICATIONS FOR EACH
PARTICIPANT. AND WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK AND YOU KNOW, I'LL ALSO
NOTE THAT PART OF THE ISSUES.
THERE ARE ALSO THE MANAGED CARE
PLANS, WHO ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN
POLICIES ABOUT, UM, ERAS
APPROVALS, BUT WE WERE
DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO WORKING
WITH SITES ON THOSE ISSUES. UM
ON BRIDGE TO RECOVERY. THAT IS A
HUGE PARTY OF OURS. IT IS A HUGE
LIFT. IT'S A GRANT BASED PROGRAM
. WE HAVE A CONSULTANT THAT
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, AND
WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY
CLOSELY WITH. UM CADS, AS WELL
AS THE PACE AND ADULT DAY
CENTERS TO DEVELOP THE REQUEST
FOR APPLICATION AND THE PROCESS
WE EXPECT BY THE MIDDLE OF THE
MIDDLE OF MAY TO SUBMIT LETTERS
OF INTENT FOR CENTERS TO APPLY
TO, UM, BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM
, AND THEN THE FORMAL
APPLICATION PROCESS SHOULD
FOLLOW EARLY JUNE. LIKE WITHIN
THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK OF
JUNE, SO THAT THAT PROGRAM WE DO
EXPECT TO LAUNCH VERY SHORTLY,
AND WE HOPE TO GET GRANT AWARDS
OUT BY SEPTEMBER. UM TO THE
SIDES, SO THAT'S THE CURRENT
TIMEFRAME ON THOSE ISSUES. IF I
MAY. THANK YOU. THAT WAS
EXCELLENT. MARK, I WOULD JUST
ADD. WE'RE HOSTING A WEBINAR.
PART OF OUR ROLE AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGING IS REALLY TO
CONVENE OUR COMMUNITY AND TO
ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS. UM, WE'RE
POINTING OUR SEA BASS PROVIDERS
TO THE DHC S. KELLY PATH CITED
OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE MORE
ACTIVELY IN CALLUM, AND EXAMPLES
OF THAT MIGHT BE ENHANCED CARE
MANAGEMENT MIGHT BE A REALLY
GOOD FIT FOR MANY OF THE 80 HC
PROVIDERS, SO WE'RE PROVIDING
SOME BRIDGE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO HELP OUR
COMMUNITY BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY THAT IT'S
THAT IS OPEN THROUGH MAY 31ST
ALONG THOSE LINES, AND IT MIGHT
BE A BETTER QUESTION FOR DHC S.
IT SEEMS THAT WERE THERE ARE
SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS FROM
DOING SEA BASS VERSUS
INSTITUTIONALIZING OUR ELDERLY
THAT I BELIEVE WE HEARD
TESTIMONY. IT WAS 1/5 OF THE
COST. SO WE HAVEN'T HAD THE
MANAGED CARE PLANS INCREASE
RATES. ISN'T AREN'T WE EXPECTING
THEN FOR MORE ELDER ADULTS TO BE
INSTITUTIONALIZED IF THEY'RE NOT
GETTING ADEQUATE RATES AND WHAT
CAN WE DO TO INCENTIVIZE AND
COURAGE OR IF I'LL USE CALAIS
NAMES, WORDS, ADVANCE AND
INNOVATE WITH MEDICAL TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF
OLDER ADULTS. MR CHAIR. I WOULD
AGREE WITH YOU THAT THAT
QUESTION IS BEST ANSWERED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES. UM, I'LL BRING IT BACK
. I'M GONNA WANT TO FOCUS A
LITTLE BIT ON THE H CBS SPENDING
DEADLINE. I'M. REALLY MOVED AND
I'LL COME BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. YOUR COMMENTS WERE
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE TRACKING
CLOSELY OVER THE NEXT COMING
MONTHS. ARE THERE ANY DEADLINES
FOR US THAT YOU WOULD MAKE A
DECISION BY HOW DO WE STAY UP TO
DATE ON? UM THE INFORMATION THAT
YOU HAVE YOU RECENTLY STATED,
THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE
INFORMATION COMING ONCE THE PLAN
TO SHARE THAT WITH THE
LEGISLATURE, AS WHEN I SEE
SPENDING 10% OF FUNDS THUS FAR,
IT DOESN'T GIVE ME CONFIDENCE
THAT WILL SPEND IT BY THE END OF
THE YEAR THAT I'D LIKE TO
UNDERSTAND. WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE
THAT ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL AS IF
WE ARE FORCED TO SPEND IT WITHIN
THE YEAR. WHAT? HOW ARE WE
EXPECTING? TO OPERATIONALIZE AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO
THIS. SURE. SO I'LL START. UM
YOU JUST BUY LIKE REITERATING
AGAIN LIKE A COUPLE COUPLE OF
POINTS. SO ONE THE EXPENDITURE
PICTURE THAT WE HAVE OF 10.
UNFORTUNATELY THE LATEST DATA
THAT WE COULD PROVIDE PRIOR TO
THE HEARING WAS JUST THE
SEPTEMBER 2022 FIGURES. SO WHILE
IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT, UM IT IS
BOTH LAGGING IN TIME AND THEN
ALSO, I'LL NOTE THAT A LOT OF
THESE PROGRAMS HAVE MONEY THAT
GOES OUT AND PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
CHUNKS. UM SO THAT NUMBER YOU
KNOW THE EXPENDITURE PICTURE
COULD CHANGE FAIRLY RAPIDLY. IN
A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME, SO
JUST TO KIND OF PROVIDE A LITTLE
BIT MORE CONTEXT TO THAT
PARTICULAR FIGURE, UM, AS FAR AS
PROVIDING UPDATES TO THE
LEGISLATURE GOES, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM FOR
THE FOR ANY CHANGES TO THE
EXPENDITURE DEADLINE OR ANYTHING
OF THAT NATURE BY STATUTE WERE
REQUIRED AND, UH, ABSOLUTELY
WILL PRACTICALLY COME TO THE
LEGISLATURE TO COMMUNICATE ANY
THOUGHTS ABOUT THOSE CHANGES AND
WHAT AND ENGAGE THE LEGISLATURE
IN THOSE DECISIONS. UM, FOR
EXAMPLE, UH, AND ALSO WHERE ELSE
REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE
LEGISLATURE OF ANY KIND OF
EXPENDITURE CHANGES AS WELL. SO
WE JUST HAD A NOTIFICATION GO
OUT TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE
BUDGET COMMITTEE IN WHICH WE
ACTUALLY HAD ALL DEPARTMENTS
PROVIDE PRETTY DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS OF EXACTLY HOW THEY
PLAN TO EXPEND ALL THESE FUNDS
BY THE CURRENT EXPENDITURE
DEADLINE. AND HAPPY TO PROVIDE A
COPY DIRECTLY TO YOUR STAFF AS
WELL, UM, FOR REFERENCE, AND I
THINK AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
UPDATE AND MONITOR. UM AS WE'RE
GETTING AN UPDATED EXPENDITURE
PICTURE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
HERE, AND WE'LL BE SURE TO SHARE
THAT WITH YOUR STAFF AS WELL. UM
AND THOSE ARE KIND OF THE
GENERAL DELIVERABLES THERE AND
HOPEFULLY GIVES GIVES A LITTLE
BIT MORE SENSE OF THE WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT. IT DOES, AND I'D
LIKE TO NOW TURN TO THE
ADMINISTRATION IF I CAN AND
BASED ON THE CONCERNS THAT WE'RE
HEARING FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS.
ARE WE ACTIVELY CONSIDERING AN
EXTENSION TO THIS TIMELINE? I
WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS
ON THAT. SO ON BEHALF OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGING, WHERE ONE
OF SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS AND A
LIST OF MANY INITIATIVES UM AND
WE'RE WE'RE ADHERING TO THE
DECEMBER 31ST 2023 DEADLINE. AND
THOSE ARE THE CONTRACTS THAT WE
HAVE IN PLACE WITH OUR AWARDEES
FOR THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT
WE OVERSEE. JUST SO WE HAVE A
LITTLE CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO CONTINUE
ON IT. BUT IS IT? THE M O E. FOR
THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE
CONSTRAINING OUR ABILITY TO UM.
SEEK AN EXTENSION BECAUSE THE
TESTIMONY HERE WAS PRETTY
POWERFUL FOR ME, AND SO I'M
TRYING TO RATIONALIZE WHY WE'RE
CONTINUING WITH THIS TIMELINE IF
WE AND TIME LOOKING TO SEE IF
THERE ARE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT
ARE ALSO RECEIVING THIS H CBS
WAIVER THAT MAY INHIBITING US
AND IF SO, WHAT? WHAT IS THAT?
YEAH SO THAT'S EXACTLY THE
CHALLENGE HERE. IT'S REALLY
WEIGHING THE NEEDS OF THESE
STAKEHOLDERS TO EXPAND THE FUNDS
BY THE DEADLINE AND ACTUALLY
EXECUTE THE GOALS OF THE
PROGRAMS THAT WE SET UP AGAINST
THIS MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT
REQUIREMENT AND JUST TO BACK UP
A LITTLE BIT. THAT MAINTENANCE
OF EFFORT REQUIREMENT ACTUALLY
APPLIES TO ALL MEDICAID H CBS
PROGRAMS. UM AND IT WHAT IT DOES
IS THAT IT ALSO IN ADDITION TO
RESTRICTING THE STATE'S ABILITY
TO KIND OF MAKE CHANGES TO THOSE
PROGRAMS ALSO HAS RESULTED IN
SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN FEDERAL
APPROVAL FOR A VARIETY OF OTHER
STATE REQUEST PENDING WITH CMS.
AND SO I THINK THE CHALLENGE
THERE IS LIKE AS ESPECIALLY AS
NEEDS ARE QUICKLY EVOLVING WITH
THE PHD, UNWINDING AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. I MEAN, THERE ARE A
LOT OF KEY CHANGES IN
INITIATIVES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE WE GET QUICK APPROVAL FROM
, UH FROM CMS ON AND SO I THINK.
BALANCING THAT WITH THE NEED TO
GET THESE PROGRAMS TO THE FINISH
LINE IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE
STRUGGLING WITH HERE AND AGAIN.
I THINK THAT'S THAT'S WHY WE
WHILE THIS IS THE DECISION THAT
GOVERNS BUDGET, WE'RE CONTINUING
TO MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
PROGRESS AND REALLY WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE PROGRAMS ARE
SUCCESSFUL AND EXPEND EVERYTHING
BY THE DEADLINE. WITH THAT I
WILL. THANKS VERY MUCH THIS
PANEL AND HOLD THIS ISSUE OPEN.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ONE
REQUEST FROM THE CHAIR IF I CAN,
AND THAT IS FOR MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF AGING AND D O F BY FRIDAY,
MAYFAIR ABOUT HOW IT INTENDS TO
SPEND THOSE FUNDS. IT SOUNDED AS
IF YOU HAD SUBMITTED IT TO JAIL.
BC AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THIS COMMITTEE RECEIVES IT AS
WELL. SURE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE
ON TO ISSUE THREE REGARDING THE
IN HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE CAREER
PATHWAYS PROGRAM. THE PHASING OF
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AGED 50
YEARS AND ABOVE AND THE
RESTARTING OF MEDICAL WE
DETERMINATIONS. WE WILL HAVE
THREE PRESENTERS ON ISSUE THREE.
AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH LEORA
PHILO SINA ADULT PROGRAMS
DIVISION DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS LEORA FILIPINA. I AM THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE ADULT
PROGRAMS DIVISION AT THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT ™SOCIAL
SERVICES. I OVERSEE THE IN HOME
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM, THE
CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR
IMMIGRANTS, THE STATE SIDE OF
SSP AND ADULT PROTECTIVE
SERVICES. UM I'M JUST GONNA ASK
QUESTIONS. YOU JUST WANT ME TO
JUMP INTO THE QUESTIONS PERFECT.
ALRIGHT ALRIGHT. SO THE FIRST
QUESTION WAS WITH REGARDS TO
CAREER PATHWAYS IS, UM PLEASE
PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE I H S S
CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM AND HOW
TO SEE THE ASSESS INTEND TO
ENSURE THAT ALL HCPS FUNDS WILL
BE SPENT WITHIN THE
ADMINISTRATION'S TIMELINE AND
WILL THERE BE A PROPOSAL TO
EXTEND THE PROGRAM EXPENDITURE
DEADLINES? CAREER PATHWAYS IS A
NEW PROGRAM WE'RE REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT
OFF THE GROUND. UM IT'S FOR HSS
PROVIDER S. W PCS PROVIDERS
THAT'S MEANT TO INCREASE THE
QUALITY OF CARE, ASSIST WITH
RECRUITING AND RETAINING
PROVIDERS AND PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER
ADVANCEMENT THROUGH TRAINING.
PROVIDERS CAN COMPLETE, UM,
CLASSES AND FIVE DIFFERENT
PATHWAYS. THERE'S A GENERAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY PATHWAY. ADULT
EDUCATION, UM, AS WELL AS THREE
SPECIALIZED SPECIALIZED
PATHWAYS, WHICH INCLUDE
COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, COMPLEX
PHYSICAL CARE NEEDS AND
TRANSITIONING TO IN HOME CARE
AND COMMUNITY BASED LIVING. UM
IN ORDER FOR US TO GET THE
PROGRAM OFF THE GROUND WE DID IN
NINE MONTHS WE COMPLETED TO
PROCUREMENTS, UM, TO BRING ON
TRAINING VENDORS WE BROUGHT ON
VENDORS TO CREATE CAREER
LATTICES AND PROVIDE COACHING
SERVICES TO ASSIST PROVIDES HER
INTERESTED IN FURTHERING THEIR
CAREER IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD.
CLASSES LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER OF
2022, OUR COUNTY PARTNERS
STEPPED UP AND PROVIDED THOSE
CLASSES. THEY WERE LIMITED, BUT
THEY WERE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH
AND SPANISH. IN MOST CASES, UM
IN JANUARY. 2023 MORE CLASSES
WERE LAUNCHED BY TWO NEW VENDORS
, HOME BRIDGE AND THE CENTERS
FOR CAREGIVING ADVANCEMENT. MORE
CLASSES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE
COURSE CATALOG AS OF MARCH, 2023
FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY
THROUGH MARCH, 2023. WE HAD A
TOTAL OF 1949 CLASS SESSIONS,
UM, OFFERED IN MULTIPLE
LANGUAGES, MOSTLY ONLINE,
DEPENDING ON THE CLASS, AND THE
VENDOR PROVIDERS WERE ABLE TO
TAKE CLASSES AND CAN STILL TAKE
CLASSES IN ENGLISH, SPANISH,
ARMENIAN, CANTONESE, MANDARIN,
RUSSIAN, VIETNAMESE AND KOREAN
WE HAVE APPROXIMATE CAPACITY AT
THIS POINT FOR 16 TO 18,000
PROVIDERS TO ATTEND TRAINING
CLASSES EACH MONTH. WE'RE SEEING
ATTENDANCE AT APPROXIMATELY 50
TO 70% OF THAT, WHICH IS WHAT
WE'VE HEARD IS NORMAL FOR
TRAINING SO ROUGHLY 8 TO 11,000
PROVIDERS ARE CURRENTLY
ATTENDING TRAINING. UM CLASSES
FILL UP EVERY TIME WE PUT THEM
OUT THERE. THERE'S A LOT OF
INTEREST ARE VENDORS DO RUN WAIT
LISTS FOR EACH CLASS SO THAT IF
THEY GET A CANCELATION, ABLE TO
REACH OUT TO PEOPLE AND GIVE
THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND.
UM WITH IT WITH ABOUT 8000 TO
11,000 FOLKS ATTENDING TRAINING
EACH MONTH. WE ANTICIPATE THAT,
AT LEAST BETWEEN 217,000
PROVIDERS WILL BE ABLE TO
COMPLETE AT LEAST ONE CLASS
BASED ON ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING
TODAY. UM AS CLASSES CONTINUED,
AND BASED ON CURRENT ATTENDANCE
RATES, WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL
EXPAND THE FUNDS BASED ON WHAT
WE SEE TODAY. UM ADDITIONALLY,
WE ARE STARTING TO RECEIVE
CLAIMS FOR INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.
SO ORIGINALLY WE WERE JUST
RECEIVING, UM, SOME SOME CLAIMS
FOR ACTUAL JUST TRAINING TIME,
BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE
INSTANCE OF PAYMENTS COME
THROUGH, PARTICULARLY FOR
COMPLETING ONE PATHWAY. UM THE
ONES FOR THERE ARE TWO OTHER
PATHWAYS, AS YOU GUYS HEARD
EARLIER. ONE IS WITH REGARDS TO
WORKING FOR SOMEBODY FOR ONE
MONTH, SO IT'S COMPLETING A
PATHWAY. AND THEN WORKING FOR
SOMEBODY FOR A MINIMUM OF 40
HOURS. WE'RE STARTING TO SEE
THOSE NOW AND, UM PEOPLE WILL BE
ELIGIBLE TO CLAIM THE SIX MONTH
INCENTIVES STARTING AT THE END
OF THIS MONTH. SO WE DO
ANTICIPATE SEEING THOSE START TO
FLOW IN. UM AND OF COURSE, WE
WILL CONTINUE TO BE LOOKING AT
ACTUAL EXPENDITURES AS WE KIND
OF GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. UM
FOR THE SECOND QUESTION WITH
REGARDS TO CAREER PATHWAYS. UM
THE QUESTION WAS HOW MANY
PROVIDERS DO CDSS EXPECT TO GO
THROUGH THE TRAININGS AND
RECEIVE INCENTIVE PAYMENTS AND
HOW CBSS WINDING DOWN THE
PROGRAM IN A WAY THAT ENSURES
PROVIDERS ARE AWARE OF THE
DEADLINES THEY MUST MEET IN
ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR VARIOUS
TRAINING INCENTIVE PAYMENTS. SO
RIGHT NOW, BASED ON WHAT WE'RE
SEEING, WE ARE ESTIMATING
ROUGHLY 15% OR ABOUT 107,000. UM
I JUST S PROVIDERS WILL COMPLETE
ONE CAREER PATHWAY. IN ADDITION
, WE'RE ESTIMATING 44,000
PROVIDERS WILL RECEIVE A SECOND
CAREER PATHWAYS STIPEND, MEANING
THEY COMPLETE TWO PATHWAYS SO
EACH ONE OF THOSE QUALIFIES THEM
FOR A $500 INCENTIVE PAYMENT.
BASED ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING, UM
60,000 WILL RECEIVE A STIPEND
FOR ONE MONTH OF EMPLOYMENT. AND
26,000 WILL RECEIVE A STATEMENT
CITED FOR THE SIX MONTHS OF
EMPLOYMENT. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
ANTICIPATING RIGHT NOW AND SHARE
NUMBERS AS OF APRIL 11TH OF 2023
WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER 26,000
CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT. UM MOST OF
THEM ARE TRAINING FOR TRAINING
TIME. UM BUT WE ARE SEEING LIKE
I SAID THE INCIDENT OF PAYMENT
REQUESTS, FOR INSTANCE OF
PAYMENTS, SO WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO WORK DILIGENTLY TO
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PAYMENTS GO
OUT AND WE'RE AND EACH ONE IS A
MANUAL PROCESS WHERE WE WORK
WITH THE TRAINING VENDORS. MAKE
SURE WE ARE VALIDATING
ATTENDANCE AND THEN ISSUING THE
PAYMENT OF THE DOOR. SO WE ARE
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING
PEOPLE PAID AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE. WE CONTINUE TO
COMMUNICATE WITH PROVIDERS, SO
AS CLASSES COME OUT, UM, WE'RE
LETTING FOLKS KNOW WE HAVE SET
UP A WEBSITE ON THE C D S S
WEBSITE FOR PEOPLE TO COME. THAT
GIVES THEM ALL OF THE
INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED WITH
REGARDS TO COURSE, CATALOGS HOW
TO RECEIVE INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.
ALL OF THAT, UM, IN ADDITION, UM
, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE TO
LET PEOPLE KNOW RIGHT OF WHEN
THOSE DEADLINES ARE SO THOSE
THOSE WILL BE OUR NORMAL,
PROACTIVE COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE
USE TODAY. WE DO A LOT OF
EMAILING, UM, TO OUR PROVIDERS.
LOTS OF BANNER MESSAGES. UM
ELECTRONIC SERVICES PORTAL, UH,
WILL BE DOING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
. ALL OF THAT, UM ALL OF OUR
NORMAL ACTIVITIES TO BE AS
PROACTIVE AS WE CAN TO LET
PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THEY NEED TO DO
THINGS HOW QUICKLY THEY NEED TO
GET THEM IN HOW TO SUBMIT THEIR
INCENSE. THE PAYMENTS. UM WE'VE
DONE THE BEST WE CAN TO MAKE
EVERYTHING ACCESSIBLE.
EVERYTHING EASY TO USE. UM AND
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WE
ALSO HAVE PROVIDED COACHING FOR
PEOPLE TO PROVIDE THAT
INFORMATION TO THEM AS WELL. SO
PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH
ACCESSING THE PROGRAM. THEY CAN
CONTACT THE COACHING SERVICES
AND GET HELP THERE. NOT ONLY
FOR, UM NOT ONLY FOR ACCESSING
THE PROGRAM AND GETTING PAID,
BUT ALSO IF THEY'RE INTERESTED
IN IN FUTURISM THEIR CAREER IN
THE HEALTHCARE FIELD, SO THOSE,
UM COACHES ALSO WORK. UM GIVING
THEM THE INFORMATION WITH REGARD
TO CAREER LATTICES AND WHATNOT.
AND WE ARE ALWAYS COMMITTED AND
CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED TO
ENSURING PROVIDERS RECEIVED THE
WAGES AND THE INCENTIVES THEY
EARN IN THIS PROGRAM, AND WE
ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
PROACTIVELY ENCOURAGING. UM HSS
PROVIDERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED AS
PART OF THIS PROGRAM, SO WE
CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT. SO
THEN THE THIRD QUESTION, UM AND
THIS IS KIND OF SHIFTING OVER TO
A DIFFERENT TOPIC IS PLEASE
PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE PHASE
IN OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS,
AGED 50 AND ABOVE AND SO WE HAVE
RECENTLY BEGUN TO SEE
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AGED 50
AND ABOVE ENTER INTO THE HSS
CASELOADS, SO WE ARE STARTING TO
SEE THAT AS PAID CASES RECEIVING
SERVICES. THIS TIMING VALIDATES
OUR PREVIOUS ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT
THE LAG BETWEEN THE EXPANSION
EXPANSION OF FULL SERVICE
MEDICAL AND THE SUBSEQUENT
INCREASE IN SIX CASES AND WE ARE
CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE RATE
AND THE COST OF THE PHASE IN OF
THE NEW CASE, LOVE SO THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
VERY PROACTIVELY. HELLO MISS
BELLA. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR,
JENNY BELLA, WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE.
THERE ARE NO MAJOR NEW PROPOSALS
IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET FOR IN
HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR 23
24, BUT THERE ARE A FEW ISSUES
THAT WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND
EXPECT SOME UPDATES ON AT THE
TIME OF THE MAY REVISION, THE
FIRST ONE IS RELATED TO ENHANCED
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HSS. AND
THIS IS NOT THE ENHANCED FEDERAL
FUNDING THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT
WITH THIS H CBS SPENDING PLAN,
BUT INSTEAD IT IS ENHANCED
FEDERAL FUNDING. THAT WAS
RELATED TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY. THAT WAS FOR ALL OF
MEDICAID AND ALSO FOR H I. H S S
SO IT WAS A 6.2% INCREASE. UM
RIGHT OF THE F MAP THAT WE
STARTED RECEIVING BACK IN
JANUARY OF 2020. SO WE'VE BEEN
RECEIVING THAT ENHANCED FEDERAL
FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN OFFSETTING
GENERAL FUND COSTS IN THE
PROGRAM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NOW
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ASSUMES
THAT THAT ENHANCED FEDERAL
FUNDING WILL END IN THE CURRENT
YEAR AND THEREFORE GENERAL FUND
COSTS WILL INCREASE IN THE
BUDGET YEAR. SINCE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET. WE'VE LEARNED THAT THERE
WILL BE SOME ADDITIONAL ENHANCED
FEDERAL FUNDING IN PART OF THE
BUDGET YEAR, SO WE EXPECT TO SEE
SOME GENERAL FUND SAVINGS WHEN
WE SEE THEM A REVISION. ANOTHER
ISSUE WE'RE CONTINUING TO
MONITOR AND WE ALWAYS DO IS THE
CASELOAD SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO
WATCH THE HSS ACTUAL CASELOAD
NUMBERS COMING IN AND COMPARING
THOSE TWO, THE ADMINISTRATION'S
ESTIMATES. ONE TREND THAT
EMERGED DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS
REALLY RELATED TO THE PERCENTAGE
OF AUTHORIZED HSS CASES THAT ARE
PAID CASES IN ANY GIVEN MONTH.
UM, HISTORICALLY, THAT NUMBER
HAS BEEN AT AN AVERAGE ABOUT
ABOUT 91% SO OF THOSE AUTHORIZED
CASES. ON AVERAGE. WE SEE 91%
GETTING PAID. DURING THE
PANDEMIC, THOUGH WE SAW THAT
NUMBER DROPPED TO 88% BUT MORE
RECENTLY THAN MORE RECENT
CASELOAD NUMBERS REALLY LOOK
LIKE IT'S STARTING TO CREEP UP
AGAIN CLOSER TO THAT PRE
PANDEMIC LEVELS, SO WE'LL BE
CONTINUING TO MONITOR THOSE
NUMBERS AND HOPE TO REPORT BACK
IN MAY AND LOOK AT THAT
COMPARISON. AND THEN FINALLY, WE
ARE MONITORING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF ENACTED NEW
INITIATIVES, UM, SUCH AS
PROVIDED PERMANENT PROVIDER
BACKUP BACKUP PROVIDER. UH FOR
SICK LEAVE AND ALSO, UM YOU KNOW
THE CAREER PATHWAYS AND
HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME
ADDITIONAL NEW DATA WE CAN SHARE
AT THE TIME OF THE MAY REVISION
AS WELL. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE,
AND I'M KIND OF PERMANENT
FINANCE NOTHING FURTHER BUT
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
BRING IT UP TO THE DIETS TO SEE
IF ANY MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS. I
WILL KEEP IT HERE AT THE CHAIR.
I'M GOING TO FOCUS IF I CAN.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR EARLIER WE HEARD
ABOUT A NEED FOR 240 MILLION IN
GENERAL FUND TO FUND THE
BASELINE. CAL FRESH COUNTY
ADMINISTRATION COSTS AND I'M
HOPING YOU CAN RESPOND TO THE S
S COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ISSUES
IF POSSIBLE. I'M SURE WE ARE
AWARE OF THE PROPOSAL. UM WE ARE
DEFINITELY TAKING A LOOK AT ALL
OF THAT, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO
HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WE
MOVE FORWARD WITH NOT ONLY
COUNTIES BUT ALSO OUR OUR
COUNTERPARTS TO, UM TO SEE WHAT
CAN BE DONE OR OR WHATNOT IN AND
SO WE DO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE
THAT. I'M GONNA ASK NEXT ABOUT
THE CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM.
WHAT ARE WE LEARNING THUS FAR
ABOUT ITS EFFECTIVENESS? AND.
WHETHER IT SHOULD OR COULD
CONTINUE PAST THE ONE TIME
INVESTMENTS THAT WE MAKE. AND
WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
STABILITY OF THE PROVIDER
WORKFORCE OVERALL, AND I. H S S
UM, SURE. SO I THINK THAT WE, UM
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT EARLY FOR US.
WE'RE LOOKING AT DATA AND SEEING
, UM, KIND OF WHAT THE IMPACTS
ARE FOR HSS PROVIDERS. WE ARE
CURRENTLY WORKING ON AN INTERIM
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE.
THAT'S DUE IN MAY, SO THERE WILL
BE SOME INFORMATION THERE.
DEFINITELY WITH REGARDS TO HOW
THE PROGRAM IS WORKING. WE ARE
LOOKING AT DOING FOCUS. GROUPS
WITH PEOPLE HAVE ATTENDED
TRAINING AND ALSO TRYING TO
FOLLOW THAT UP. WITH RECIPIENTS
AS WELL TO SEE IF THERE HAVE
BEEN SOME SOME CHANGES. YOU KNOW
IF THEY IF WHAT WE BELIEVE THE
PROGRAM DOES IT ACTUALLY DOES,
UM, SO PEOPLE ARE SO WE WILL
DEFINITELY MORE TO COME ON THAT
FOR SURE. AS FAR AS THE HSS
PROVIDER POPULATION. WE DO SEE
THAT THERE IS THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT WE HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY
FOCUSED ON. RIGHT. SO YOU KNOW,
IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE. YEAH WE
TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE MASTER
PLAN FOR AGING. AND YOU KNOW HOW
HOW THIS POPULATION IS GROWING,
AND WE DEFINITELY SEE THAT THERE
ARE SOME PRESSURES THERE SO WE
WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT HOW WE
CAN BRING MORE PROVIDERS INTO
THE INTO THE PROGRAM AND SEE HOW
WE CAN, UM LOOK AT BETTERING
THEIR THEIR EXPERIENCES AND I
JUST AS PROVIDER BUT ALSO, UM,
YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT ALL THE
THINGS THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO
FOCUS ON RIGHT AND ENSURING
QUALITY OF CARE, ENSURING THAT
PEOPLE YOU KNOW, HAVE DIGNITY IN
THEIR CARE. AND SO WE'RE
DEFINITELY FOCUSSING ON ON ALL
OF THOSE EFFORTS AT THIS POINT.
UM IN NEW YORK. TESTIMONY YOU
SAID YOU BELIEVE THEY WILL
EXPAND THE CURRENT FUNDS BY THE
END OF THE YEAR, BUT WE HEARD A
STARK CONTRAST FROM STAKEHOLDERS
EARLIER AND, UM ASKING HOW HOW
WE RECTIFY BOTH STATEMENTS. OKAY
SURE. SO I THINK FOR CAREER
PATHWAYS IN PARTICULAR IT WAS A
SLOW RAMP UP SO BECAUSE IT
REQUIRED PROCUREMENT REQUIRED
CONTRACTING. IT REQUIRED A LOT
OF THINGS. WE WERE ABLE TO MEET
THE STATUTORY DEADLINE TO
IMPLEMENT WITH COUNTY CLASSES,
BUT WE HAD LIMITED OFFERINGS. SO
REALLY, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE
HAVE DONE A LOT OF RAMPING UP OF
CLASSES AND SO BASED ON THE
ATTENDANCE RATES THAT WE'RE
SEEING TODAY, THE NUMBER OF
COURSES THAT ARE AVAILABLE THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
ATTENDING WE FEEL PRETTY
CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO EXPAND THOSE FUNDS,
PARTICULARLY FOCUSING ON
PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION TO OUR
PROVIDERS AS WELL TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY'RE AWARE THAT THIS
PROGRAM IS OUT THERE. AND WHAT
THEY NEED TO DO TO GET THOSE
THOSE PAYMENTS. WE'LL JUST
EMPHASIZE. I BELIEVE YOUR TOTAL
NUMBER WAS 96 TO 100,000 WILL
TAKE ONE CLASS EARLIER FROM S E
I U THEY STATED THEY HAD 600,000
PROVIDERS AND YOU VW HAS
135,000. YES SO WE'RE ESTIMATING
ABOUT 15% OF HSS PROVIDERS WILL
TAKE A CLASS AT LEAST ONE. SO
THAT'S ABOUT 100 AND 7000,
FOLKS. UM AS FAR AS THE NUMBERS
. I WAS TRYING TO GO BACK AND
LOOK AT WHAT I HAVE. SO UM AND
WE'VE RECEIVED ABOUT 20. A
LITTLE OVER 28,000 CLAIMS AT
THIS POINT, SO BASED ON THAT UM
AS WELL LOOKING AT THE NUMBER
JUST TO GIVE YOU KIND OF AN IDEA
OF THE NUMBER. SO WE RAMPED UP
THE TRAININGS, UM, FOR MORE THAN
5000 COURSE. HOURS IN OCTOBER TO
DECEMBER, UM TO OVER 23 COURSE I
HOPE 23,000 COURSE HOURS IN
JANUARY OF 2023. WE HAVE
INCREASED THAT NUMBER AGAIN IN
MARCH. AND AS OF APRIL 2023.
WE'VE ACTUALLY OFFERED OVER 9000
CLASSES, SO WE CONTINUE TO RAMP
UP, YOU KNOW, AND THE DEMAND IS
DEFINITELY THERE, SO WE FEEL
PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE
GOING TO EXPEND THE FUNDS BASED
ON THAT AGAIN. IT'S ANOTHER
RATIONALE FOR WHY I WAS ASKING
ABOUT ONE TIME FUNDING IF WE'VE
COVERED 15% AND THERE'S STILL
85. WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THE
PROGRAM. IT SEEMS THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONSIDER.
LOOKING TO EXTEND THIS TYPE OF
FUNDING GOING FORWARD. I'M GONNA
MOVE TO RE DETERMINATIONS IF I
CAN WITHIN HHS S, AND I'M GONNA
GET A NUANCED SORRY ABOUT IT.
OKAY, UM WE PASSED A MEDICAL
ASSET LIMIT TEST ADJUSTMENT THAT
WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY
1ST OF THE UPCOMING YEAR. AND
YET WE'RE GOING TO BE READ IT,
ERM INNING. FOR SOME, AS OF NOW.
WITH THE CURRENT MEDICAL ASSET
TEST THAT MADE THROW THOSE WHO
ARE ON H S S OFF. WHEN THEIR
MEDICAL IS BEING RE DETERMINED
THAT I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO US,
TOO. CONSIDER IS THERE AN
OPPORTUNITY AS WE'VE DONE ON THE
HEALTH SIDE TOO DEEP, PRIORITIZE
CERTAIN POPULATIONS. IF WE ARE
EXPECTING CHANGES TO COME IN THE
UPCOMING YEAR. SURE SO, UM, AS
FAR AS THE MEDICAL I BELIEVE
THAT THE HCS DID RECEIVE A
WAIVER ON THE MEDICAL ASSET
LIMITS. UM SO WE ARE A SERVICE
OF MEDICAL. SO THE WAY IT WORKS
FOR US IS THAT IF SOMEBODY LOSES
THEIR MEDICAL THAT DATA COMES TO
H S S. AND THEN THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE PUT ON THE
EXCESS RESIDUAL PROGRAM WHILE
THE COUNTIES AND NINE TIMES OUT
OF 10. THE COUNTY'S FIRST
PRIORITY IS TO GET THEM ON THEIR
MEDICAL RIGHT, SO THEY GO
THROUGH ALL THAT PROCESS. SO
WHAT WE'RE DOING AND I JUST WANT
TO ALSO POINT OUT IT IMPACTS
ABOUT 33% OF HSS CASELOADS. SO
67% ARE S S. I SO THOSE
INDIVIDUALS GO THROUGH A
DIFFERENT PROCESS, THEIR
MEDICALS HOOKED TO THEIR SSE SO
THEY DON'T ACTUALLY GO THROUGH
THEM RE DETERMINATION. NOW 33%
IS NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT NUMBER,
RIGHT? SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT
THAT IS BY FAR INSIGNIFICANT. NO
BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS REALLY
SOME PROACTIVE. SO WE CONSIDER
OURSELVES AMBASSADORS AS PART OF
THE DHC S. UM, TEAM. PUTTING
INFORMATION OUT THERE. SO WE'VE
WORKED WITH THE HDS TO CREATE
SOME H S S SPECIFIC MESSAGING
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUSHING
OUT AND WE WILL ALSO BE PUSHING
OUT THROUGH OUR NORMAL
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS THROUGH
EMAILS AND BANNER MESSAGES.
SOCIAL MEDIA WILL BE DOING ALL
OF THAT TO PROACTIVELY KEEP
PEOPLE ON. UM SO WE'RE HOPING
WITH A LOT OF THAT WE'RE NOT
RESTING ON OUR LAURELS AS THEY
SAY, RIGHT? IT'S SUCH AN OLD
THING. UM WE DO OUR AND OUR
CONTINUED TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT
ENSURING THAT PEOPLE DON'T LOSE
THEIR THEIR MEDICAL, I THINK ARE
CONCERNED AS IT WAS ON THE
HEALTH SIDE IS AS WE'RE DOING
THESE READING TERMINATIONS.
WE'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE FOR
MONTHS NOT TO FILL OUT FORMS.
AND NOW IF THEY MISS ONE FORM,
THERE'S THE CHANCE THAT THEY MAY
GET THROWN OFF THEIR MEDICAL AND
FOR THIS PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE
POPULATION WE'D LIKE TO BE UM.
KEPT ABREAST OF WHAT CURRENTLY
IS GOING ON ABOUT THE CURRENT
STATE OF AFFAIRS AND HOW THOSE
READING TERMINATIONS ARE GOING
SO WE CAN BE AS PROTECTIVE AS WE
CAN FOR THIS VULNERABLE
POPULATION. SURE AND WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH THE HCS AND WE
HAVE A COUPLE OF STRATEGIES. I
THINK PROBABLY ONE THAT'S REALLY
GOING TO BENEFIT. UM US IS,
WE'RE GONNA BE GETTING DATA FROM
THE HCS WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE
HAVING TO GO THROUGH RE
DETERMINATIONS ON A MONTHLY
BASIS, SO OUR PLAN IS TO SHARE
THAT INFORMATION WITH THE
COUNTIES BECAUSE THE COUNTIES
ALSO HAVE MECHANISMS THEMSELVES.
THEY DO. UM BLAST TEXT BLAST
EMAILS THEY IF IT'S A SMALLER
COUNTY, THEY'LL ACTUALLY CONTACT
PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY AND MAKE IT
REMIND THEM TO DO THEIR
PAPERWORK. SO DEFINITELY WE'RE
PUTTING THAT MESSAGE EVERYWHERE
. WE CAN. UM YOU KNOW, EVERY I H
S S RECIPIENT HAS TO, UH,
APPROVAL TIME SHE THREW THE
ELECTRONIC SERVICES PORTAL,
THEIR TELEPHONE TIME SHEET
SYSTEM. SO WE'RE PUTTING
MESSAGING THERE AS WELL SO THAT
THEY HEAR IT WHEN THEY WHEN THEY
LOG ON OR THEY SEE IT WHEN THEY
LOG ON. THIS IS HEY, YOU KNOW
YOU'RE GONNA GET YOUR PACKET IN
THE MAIL, DEFINITELY FILL IT OUT
AND RETURN IT. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. SO WE'RE REALLY,
REALLY DOING, UM EVERYTHING THAT
WE CAN HUMAN YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE
WITHIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN
OUR THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION
MECHANISMS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT
THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. WE
DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR
BENEFITS. LAST QUESTION ON IT.
UM. IT WOULD SEEM THAT VERY
LITTLE WOULD CHANGE WITH THEIR
FINANCIAL PICTURE. SINCE THE
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND NOW
THAT IT'S JUST A REAL CONCERN IF
WE'RE READING DETERMINING THOSE
WHO ARE ON A S S THAT THEY LOST
THEIR COVERAGE. AND SO IS THERE
A FAIL SAFE FOR A CHANCE FOR US
TO ENSURE THAT PRIOR TO
TERMINATION THAT WE HAVE ENSURED
THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING IT
SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE STATING THE
COUNTIES WILL DO THAT, AND WE'LL
MAKE SURE TO DO OUTREACH. BUT
I'M WHAT'S OUR BACKSTOP? SURE,
WE DON'T HAVE HARM HAPPENED.
SURE. UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION. SO BECAUSE WE'RE A
SERVICE OF MEDICAL RIGHT? ALL OF
THAT STUFF HAPPENS ON THE
MEDICAL SIDE OF THE HOUSE. SO
WHEN I JUST S WHEN WE GET
INFORMATION THAT COMES FROM THE
HCS. THAT SAYS SOMEBODY LOSES
THEIR MEDICAL. THEY GO INTO THE
RESIDUAL PROGRAMS SO THEY WON'T
ACTUALLY LOSE THEIR BENEFITS.
THEY WILL STILL CONTINUE TO GET
THEIR BENEFITS, BUT IT WILL BE
FUNDED STATE ONLY FUNDS THAT YOU
KNOW, WE KIND OF LOSE THAT
FEDERAL THAT FEDERAL SHARE. SO
THAT'S WHERE THE COUNTY STEP IN
ONCE THAT PERSON GOES, BECOMES
RESIDUAL. THEN THE COUNTY THEN
GETS A NOTIFICATION. HATE THIS
PERSON LOST MEDICAL AND THEN
THEY THEY WILL GO AND DO SOME
OUTREACH. AND TRY TO GET THAT
PERSON BACK ON THEIR MEDICAL.
AND SO THAT'S USUALLY THE WAY
THE PROCESS WORKS, AND THAT'S
HOW WE ANTICIPATED. IT SHOULD
WORK NOW, SO FOLKS WON'T
NECESSARILY LOSE THEIR BENEFITS
OR I JUST S SERVICES. THEY'LL GO
INTO THE RESIDUAL PROGRAM UNTIL
SOME, YOU KNOW AND THEN THE
COUNTIES WILL DO THE WORK
NECESSARY. THEY WILL LOSE THEIR
MEDICAL, POTENTIALLY AND IF
THEY'RE DISABLED AND ELDERLY AND
IN NEED OF THOSE SERVICES, I
THINK THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE DO ALL WE CAN
TO BE AS PROTECTIVE AS WE CAN.
WITH THAT WE WILL CONCLUDE THIS
PANEL. I WILL THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I WILL ASK FOR SOME
DETAILED INFORMATION IF I CAN ON
THE, UM ON HOW THE
ADMINISTRATION INTENDS TO SPEND
ITS PORTION OF THE H CBS FUNDS
AS I SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER AND IN
PARTICULAR, THE I. H S S CAREER
PATHWAYS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE AS MUCH
INFORMATION IF WE POTENTIALLY
NEED TO BE ASKING FOR AN
EXTENSION. SECOND I'D LIKE TO
ASK FOR THAT ANALYSIS IF I CAN
ABOUT THE I H S S RECIPIENTS WHO
ARE EXPECTED TO BE SUBJECT TO
THE RESUMPTION OF MEDICAL
READING TERMINATIONS AND ANY
SPECIFIC STRATEGIES. WE HAVE TO
RETAIN FULL SCOPE. MEDICAL
COVERAGE FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN
ELIGIBLE, IN ADDITION TO ANY
SPECIFIC METRICS, THE DEPARTMENT
WILL BE TRACKING TO UNDERSTAND
THE IMPACTS AND HOW AND WHEN
THIS INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED
WITH THE LEGISLATURE WOULD LIKE
TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR
THAT. ARE YOU AMENABLE TO THAT?
WE'LL DO OUR BEST. THANK YOU.
THANK THIS WHOLE PANEL AND WE
WILL MOVE ON TO ISSUE FOR ISSUE
FOR IS REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL
SECURITY, INCOME AND STATE
SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENT PROGRAM
STATUS AND THE HOUSING
DISABILITY ADVOCACY PROGRAM
IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE. INCLUDING
AGED PROPOSED TECHNICAL CHANGES.
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE WE WILL
HAVE FOUR PRESENTERS ON ISSUE
FOR AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
DANIEL MORRIS. UH, THAT'S A
SONG. OKAY HOPEFULLY YOU CAN
HEAR ME. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR
CHAIR AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S THANK
YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. MY NAME
IS DANIEL MORRIS AND I'M THE
CHIEF OVER THE FISCAL APPEALS
AND BENEFIT PROGRAMS BRANCH IN
THE ADULT PROGRAMS DIVISION OF
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, AND I'M HERE TO
PRESENT THE SSP QUESTIONS THAT
CAME OUR WAY. SO THE FIRST ONE
WAS RELATED TO GRANT LEVELS FOR
THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
AND STATE SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT.
SSP. AGAINST FEDERAL POVERTY
LEVELS AND HOW THESE GRANTS
COMPARED TO AVERAGE RENTAL COSTS
IN MOST CALIFORNIA COUNTIES. SO
AS OF JANUARY, 2023 THE FEDERAL
POVERTY GUIDELINES ARE $1215 PER
MONTH FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
$1643.33. FOR COUPLES, THE MOST
COMMON SS ISP. MAXIMUM GRANT
AMOUNTS ARE $1133.73 FOR
INDIVIDUALS. WHICH EQUATES TO
93.3% BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY
GUIDELINES. AND THEN FOR
COUPLES, IT IS $1927.06 FOR
COUPLES, WHICH IS 117% ABOVE THE
FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES. IN
TERMS OF THE GRANT LEVELS
COMPARED TO AVERAGE RENTAL COSTS
. WITHIN CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE NOT
DONE A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS, UM
TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE RENTAL
VALUE LEVELS VERSUS OTHER
HOUSING ASSISTANCE THAT THESE
INDIVIDUALS WOULD QUALIFY FOR,
BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE THE HIGH
COST OF RENT THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA AND THE BARRIERS THAT
CREATES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
LOWER INCOME POPULATIONS. ONTO
THE SECOND QUESTION. UM WHAT HAS
BEEN THE HISTORY OF THE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR TEXAS SP GRANTS
AND WHAT YEAR THE CURRENT GRANT
LEVELS. KIM MISERY IN HISTORY,
DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, SO WE DO HAVE
TO REFERENCE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE
WITHIN OUR 2023 24 GOVERNORS
BUDGET, WHICH SPECIFICALLY COVER
NUMBER ONE, THE CALIFORNIA TEXAS
SP HISTORY OF MAXIMUM PAYMENT
STANDARDS. FOR AGED DISABLED
INDIVIDUALS AND COUPLES. THIS
DISPLAYS A HISTORICAL LOOK AT S
. C S SP GRANTS AS WELL AS THE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE SSE AND SSP
COLE S THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE UP
UNTIL JANUARY OF 2023. WE ALSO
HAVE A SECOND DOCUMENT, WHICH
COVERS THE ESTIMATED SSP PAYMENT
STANDARDS IF THE COLA HAD BEEN
APPLIED BASED ON JANUARY OF 2029
WHEN THE CUTS WERE APPLIED, THIS
DISPLAYS THE PROJECTED GENERAL
FUND COST OF WHAT THE PAYMENT
LEVELS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN
JANUARY OF 2023. IF THE STATE
COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS HAD
BEEN PROVIDED ANNUALLY TO SSP
GRANTS BEGINNING IN JANUARY OF
2029 EACH YEAR THEREAFTER. SO
THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES WHICH INDIVIDUALS
COULD QUALIFY UNDER. BUT LOOKING
AT OUR MOST POPULAR PAYMENT
STANDARD, UM THERE'S A
DIFFERENCE ABOUT 100 AND $34 OF
WHERE WERE LOWER THAN WHERE WE
WOULD HAVE BEEN IF A COLA'S WERE
APPLIED EACH YEAR SINCE JANUARY
OF 2029, SO WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT
AND THEN LOOKING AT THE THIRD
QUESTION HERE. COULD THE STATE
PIVOT TO A TOTAL EXPENDITURE
METHOD REGARDING ISIS P GRANTS,
WHICH WOULD PREVENT A REDUCTION
OF GRANT LEVELS BELOW THE STATE
EXPENDITURES IN THE PRIOR YEAR
TO REFLECT CALIFORNIA'S VALUES.
SO SINCE THE MAINTENANCE OF
EFFORT HAS BEEN A REQUIREMENT OF
CALIFORNIA SINCE THE 19 EIGHTIES
WE HAVE CHOSEN THE PAYMENT
LEVELS METHOD WHERE THE STATE
MAY NOT LOWER ITS SUPPLEMENTARY
PAYMENT LEVELS FOR ANY PAYMENT
CATEGORIES BELOW THEIR MARCH OF
2000 OF SORRY 1983 LEVELS. 38
OTHER STATES ALSO CHOOSE THIS
METHOD. UM FROM OUR RESEARCH
CALIFORNIA COULD MAKE THIS
CHANGED THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE
METHOD. HOWEVER WE DON'T
CURRENTLY HAVE A PROPOSAL ON THE
TABLE OR KNOW WHAT DETAILS THIS
WOULD AND WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IT
WOULD HAVE ON A MINISTRY OF
PERSPECTIVE, AND WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING MOVING FORWARD AT THE
MOMENT TO MAKE THIS CHANGE. OKAY
AND THEN THE FOURTH QUESTION FOR
SOCIETY S P HERE IS RELATED TO
THE CASELOAD DECLINING, UM
SLIGHTLY, ARE THERE ISSUES WITH
APPLICATIONS AND RETENTION OF SS
ISP BENEFITS OR ARE THERE ANY
OTHER REASONS FOR THIS DYNAMIC?
SO THE S S I S SP CASELOAD HAS
BEEN DECLINING FOR A NUMBER OF
YEARS, EVEN PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC. UM LOOKING BACK AT
FISCAL YEAR 14 15 WHEN WE
STARTED TO SEE A DECLINE THE
PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED A NUMBER
OF SSC APPLICANTS. UM THE NUMBER
OF APPLICATIONS DECREASED
SHARPLY IN 2020 AND REMAINED LOW
IN 2021 DUE TO A NUMBER OF
PANDEMIC RELATED EFFECTS,
INCLUDING SSO OFFICES, CLOSING
AND APPLICANTS NEEDING TO
UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY TO APPLY FOR
THESE BENEFITS, WHICH CREATED
ADDITIONAL BARRIERS. IN 2022 23
23. 2020 AND 2021. IT WILL REACH
LEVELS THAT ARE MORE CONSISTENT
WITH THE LONG TERM EXPECTED
TRENDS. UM AND REMAIN ROUGHLY
THAT THEREAFTER IN TERMS OF. WHY
EITHER IT CONTINUES TO BE A
DECREASE. LEADING TO THAT. BUT
TWO OF THE MAIN FACTORS WE
BELIEVE INCREASES TO THIS
DECLINE IS DUE TO INCOME AND
RESOURCE LIMITS FOR THIS
POPULATION AND THRESHOLDS, WHICH
ARE SET FOR THEM SPECIFICALLY
SPEAKING TO THE ASSET LIMITS.
THOSE HAVE BEEN THE SAME AMOUNT
SINCE 1989 AND THEY'RE SET AT
$2000 FOR INDIVIDUALS AND $3000
FOR COUPLES. HANNAH'S MIGHTY
HIGH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT HERE
TODAY. MY NAME IS HANNAH AS
AMATI, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
DIVISION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES. I'LL BE
SPEAKING TO THE TWO SORRY I'LL
BE SPEAKING TO HD UP IN THIS
ISSUE NUMBER FOUR, BUT I'LL ALSO
BE SPEAKING TO OUR OTHER
PROGRAMS IN LATER ISSUES. SO I
KNOW YOU HEARD A LOT TODAY ABOUT
THE NEED AMONGST OLDER ADULTS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE AT RISK OF AND
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SO
I'M JUST GOING TO GO STRAIGHT
INTO TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRAMS
THAT WE DO HAVE RATHER THAN
DISCUSSING THE LEVEL OF NEED
FURTHER. SO THE AGENDA PROVIDED
A REALLY STRONG OVERVIEW OF THE
STEPS. I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A
COUPLE OF POINTS BEFORE
ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS,
SPECIFICALLY THE LAST TWO YEARS
, AS YOU KNOW, HAVE PROVIDED US
WITH SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN
OUR PROGRAMS AND HAVE ALLOWED
FOR TREMENDOUS STATEWIDE
EXPANSION AND THAT INCREASED
FUNDING HAS ALLOWED A STAB IN
PARTICULAR TO EXPAND TO 57
COUNTIES AND TO TRIBAL PROGRAMS.
MANY OF THESE LOCAL PROGRAMS ARE
CONTINUING TO RAMP UP PROGRAM
IMPLEMENTATION AND EXPANSION IN
ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY SCALE THEIR
PROGRAMS IN RESPONSE TO THIS
HISTORIC INVESTMENTS BASED ON
PRIOR PILOT IMPLEMENTATION,
TIMELINES WE ANTICIPATE AND ARE
SEEING THAT THESE NEW AND
EXPANDING PROGRAMS REQUIRE 6 TO
18 MONTHS. TO FULLY SCALE UP AND
IMPLEMENT TO SUPPORT THE
EXPANSION AND THE GROWTH OF OUR
PROGRAM STATEWIDE WITH WITH
LAUNCHED A COMPREHENSIVE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
CHANGEABLE PROJECT, WHICH HAS
ALLOWED US TO BE VERY TAILORED
IN OUR RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF
LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND
STAKEHOLDERS AND IN PROVIDING
THAT SUPPORT I'M GOING TO SPEAK
TO YOU. H STEPS OUTCOMES, WHICH
I KNOW IS A POINT OF INTEREST.
SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2018. THE
PROGRAM HAS SERVED MORE THAN
5500 CLIENTS AND HELPED
PERMANENTLY HOUSED MORE THAN
2800 PEOPLE. SIX MONTHS AFTER
EXITING THE PROGRAM THOSE THAT
HAVE BEEN HOUSED OF THOSE THAT
HAVE BEEN HOUSED 80% RETAIN
HOUSING AND FISCAL YEAR 2021 TO
2022 GRANTEES REPORTED THAT HD
APP HAD A 78% APPROVAL RATE FOR
DISPOSED DISABILITY. ITTY
BENEFIT APPLICATIONS WITH 65% OF
APPLICATIONS. APPROVED AT THE
FIRST POINT OF EVALUATION. BY
COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE RATE OF
APPROVAL SOLELY FOR INITIAL
APPLICATIONS FOR ASSESS, UM
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
BENEFITS SPECIFICALLY WAS 39% IN
CALIFORNIA IN 2020, SO WE'RE
MAKING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS
UPON THE AVERAGE RATE, BUT
ADDITIONALLY I WILL NOTE THAT
APPLICANTS FOR SSC AND SSD. I
THAT EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS ARE
ESTIMATED TO HAVE AS LOW AS 10
TO 15% INITIAL APPLICATION
APPROVAL RATES SO CONSIDERING
THE POPULATION WERE SERVING ITS
EVEN GREATER IMPACT. GRANTEES
HAVE CREDITED WITH IMPROVING
CROSS COLLABORATION AMONG SOCIAL
SERVICE AGENCIES, DISABILITY
BENEFIT ADVOCATES AND HOUSING
PROVIDERS FOR MORE HOLISTIC
APPROACH TO SORT OF, UM TO
SERVICE DELIVERY, WHICH WE
BELIEVE IS ANOTHER REALLY
IMPORTANT IMPACT THAT THIS
PROGRAM IS HAVING. YOU'VE ALSO
ASKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT
ARE ARISING AS WE'RE
IMPLEMENTING HD UP, AND I'M
GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF
THESE, AND I'LL NOTE THAT THESE
TWO SUMMIT THE TO LARGE EXTENT
APPLY ACROSS ALL OF OUR HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS, SO
I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT THEM
LATER ON, BUT, UM UH, THE FIRST
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS LACK OF
SAFE, AFFORDABLE AND PERMANENT
HOUSING OPTIONS. ALL COMMUNITIES
ARE UP AGAINST THE DEFICIT OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK. AND
YOU HEARD THE STORY EARLIER
TODAY THAT WAS STILL MOVING. OF
ONE OF THE SPEAKERS,
GRANDPARENTS AND FACING THIS
CHALLENGE. SPECIFICALLY RISING
HOUSING COSTS CAN MAKE A
CHALLENGING TO IDENTIFY HOUSING
THAT IS SUSTAINABLE FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES,
EVEN ONCE THEY SECURE DISABILITY
BENEFITS. MANY LOCAL STAFF ARE
NEW TO THE HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS FEEL THAT AS A
SECOND CHALLENGE I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT SO BECAUSE WE'RE
WORKING WITH SOCIAL SERVICE
DEPARTMENTS THAT PREVIOUSLY
DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOLS WERE
OFFERING THEM TO HELP THEIR
CLIENTS THAT ARE AT RISK OF
HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS OR
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. IT
MEANS THAT THEY ASK THE STAFF
HAVE TO BE GETTING UP TO SPEED
ON, YOU KNOW, THE HOMELESSNESS
SYSTEM AT LARGE AND WHAT AND
WHAT THE BEST PRACTICES AND
APPROACHES ARE THAT WORKS. SO UM
, OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HAS
BEEN A REALLY CRITICAL FACTOR
AND THAT THE THIRD BARRIER THAT
WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING ITS
CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS AMONGST
THIRD PARTY CONTRACTORS AND
PROVIDERS. UH THE HUGE SURGE IN
NEED, ACCOMPANIED BY THE HUGE
SURGE IN INVESTMENT, WHICH WE'RE
SO GRATEFUL FOR, HAS MEANT THAT
WE'RE REALLY RUNNING UP AGAINST
CAPACITY TO ACTUALLY RUN AN
EMPLOYMENT THESE PROGRAMS, AND
SO THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT
WE'RE CONTINUING TO INVEST IN
AND TRYING TO PROBLEM SOLVE
AROUND AND AGAIN. TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN SUPER
HELPFUL INVESTMENT TO THAT END
AS WELL. AND THEN FINALLY, A
LACK OF ROBUST CROSS CUTTING
DATA. NOTORIOUSLY DATA AND
HOMELESSNESS IS, UM YOU KNOW,
HIGHLY DECENTRALIZED, VARIABLE
AND QUALITY AND LIMITED TO DATA
ON INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT
ACCESS HOMELESSNESS WITH
APPOINTING COUNT DATA ASIDE,
WHICH HAS ITS OWN PROBLEMS, BUT
FOR HD AND PARTICULAR FINDING
WAYS TO REALLY BE ABLE TO ACCESS
AND IMPROVE THE INTEGRATION OF
DATA. IT'S CRITICAL TO
COORDINATE ACROSS DISABILITY,
BENEFIT ADVOCACY AND HOUSING
SERVICES AND FOLLOW UP ON
CLIENTS, PERFORMANCE OR OUTCOMES
. AFTER THE EXIT THE PROGRAMS SO
NOW TO THE HDR PROPOSED
TECHNICAL CHANGES, SO AS
SUMMARIZED AS IN THE AGENDA,
WE'RE PROPOSING TRADE ALONE BILL
LANGUAGE TO MAKE TWO TECHNICAL
STATUTORY CHANGES TO HD APP
RELATED STATUTE. THE FIRST IS TO
EXTEND THE SUNSET DATE FOR THE
GRANTEE MATCH EXEMPTION AND THE
WAIVER OF THE REQUIREMENT TO
COLLECT INTERIM ASSISTANCE
REIMBURSEMENT TO ALIGN WITH THE
EXPENDITURE. TIMELINE OF THE ONE
TIME FUNDS APPROPRIATED IN
FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO 2023. THE
SECOND IS TO CLARIFY THE
DEPARTMENT'S OBLIGATION AND
AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP REGULATIONS
CORRESPONDING TO THE ENTIRETY OF
THE STAFF STATUTE, RATHER THAN
JUST THE CHANGES THAT WERE
ENACTED BY A B 1 35 BY JULY. 1ST
2024 THESE TECHNICAL CHANGES
WILL SUPPORT STREAMLINED
IMPLEMENTATION BY OF H STOP
USING THE ONE TIME FUNDS
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET ACT OF
2022. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MISS BELLA WITH THE L E. OH
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. JUST ONE
TECHNICAL NOTE ON THE SSC CSP
PROGRAM. AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS A
GRANT PROPOSED GRANT INCREASE
PROPOSED FOR THE JANUARY OF 2024
. THE BUDGET INCLUDES 146
MILLION FOR THAT, AND THAT'S
REALLY THAT THAT AMOUNT IS
CERTAIN THE AMOUNT THAT IT WILL
INCREASE GRANTS IS AN ESTIMATE.
SO IT'S AN ESTIMATED 8.6%
INCREASE IN GRANTS THAT COULD BE
AFFORDED BY THAT 146 MILLION.
AND IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE DONE
GRANTS THIS WAY, THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS WORKED
TOGETHER AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GRANT
INCREASE TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY
HOW MUCH OF AN INCREASE WE CAN
AFFORD WITH THE FUNDING. AND
THEY REPORT BACK TO THE
LEGISLATURE. WE GET IT IN THE
FALL, AND WE GET A CHANCE TO
LOOK AT THAT ESTIMATE AND THAT'S
BEEN LAID OUT IN TRAILER BILL IN
THE PAST. WE WOULD JUST NOTE
THAT THIS GRANT INCREASES NOT
PROPOSED AT THIS TIME TO COME
WITH ANY TRAILER BILLS, SO YOU
MAY WANT TO CONSIDER WHETHER YOU
WISH TO ENACT SOME TRAILER BILL
THAT REALLY LAYS OUT THE
PARAMETERS OF THAT CALCULATION
AND INCLUDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE LEGISLATURE TO SEE THAT
CALCULATION PRIOR TO THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GRANT.
INCREASE AND THEN ON THE HD APP
. TECHNICAL TBL CHANGES. WE
DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS MISHCON
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE,
AND I'M KIND OF PERMANENT
FINANCE. NOTHING FURTHER. HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU. I'LL BRING IT UP TO THE
DIOCESE FOR ANY MEMBERS,
QUESTIONS. I WILL KEEP IT HERE
THEN FOR A SECOND IF I CAN. I'D
LIKE TO DIG INTO THE QUESTION
THAT I ASKED, AND I BELIEVE THIS
QUESTION IS GOING TO BE FOR YOU,
MISS MORRIS. EARLIER, I HAD
ASKED DR KUSHELL REGARDING THE
DECREASING PARTICIPATION WITHIN
S. I S P AND. SIMULTANEOUSLY THE
RISING OLDER HOMELESSNESS THAT
WE'RE SEEING. I'M HOPING YOU CAN
PROVIDE SOME COMMENTS ON HOW WE
ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE NEEDS
OR HAVING THOSE NEEDS MET. YES,
ABSOLUTELY. I THINK FROM WHAT
WAS SAID EARLIER AS WELL. IT'S A
COMPLEX ISSUE THAT I MEAN, WE
DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHY WE
CONTINUE TO SEE THE DECREASE,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE RISING EACH
OF OUR POPULATION, OUR AGING
POPULATION AS IT IS RISING, BUT
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE
TO TRACK AND WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO
SUPPORT THIS POPULATION AND
ADVOCATE THEM NOT JUST ON THE
STATE SIDE, BUT THE FEDERAL SIDE
AS WELL. SO WE CONTINUE TO LOOK
INTO IT. TERRIBLE. IF I CAN. IT
WAS YOUR TESTIMONY EARLIER THAT
. THE PAYMENTS CAN'T GO BELOW OR
1983 LEVELS AND YOU ALSO STATED
THAT IT WAS THE PREDOMINANTLY
THE INCOME AND THRESHOLD LEVELS
THAT WE'RE KEEPING PEOPLE OFF OF
THE PROGRAM. AND SO I'M NOW
GOING TO COME BACK TO IF I CAN
ABOUT THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE
METHOD VERSUS THE PAYMENT
METHODOLOGY. AND ASK. IF WHAT
WOULD WE ANTICIPATE IF WE. WERE
TO GO THROUGH AN EXPENDITURE
METHOD. WOULDN'T WE EXPECT MORE
PEOPLE TO UM, CONTINUE TO BE ON
THE PROGRAM. UM AND. IF SO, WHY
AREN'T WE TRYING TO COME UP WITH
CREATIVE STRATEGIES TO ENSURE WE
CAN HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE
PARTICIPATE AS POSSIBLE AND
UNDERSTAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
WE'VE BEEN GOING WITH THIS
OPTION SINCE WE HAD TO CHOOSE AN
OPTION TO GO WITH BACK IN THE 19
EIGHTIES. UM SO WE DON'T REALLY
KNOW FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE
PERSPECTIVE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK
LIKE IF WE CHANGED OR ENGAGED
WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS ON
WHAT KIND OF IMPLICATIONS UM,
THAT WOULD HAVE FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION, SO WE'LL
CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. UM AND LOOK INTO
THE REQUEST. YOU SAID THERE WERE
38 STATES THAT SIMILARLY DO WHAT
CALIFORNIA IS DOING. CAN WE LOOK
AT WHAT THOSE 12 OTHER STATES
ARE? AND ALLOW US TO DETERMINE
IF WE'RE MORE ALIGNED. UM
IDEOLOGICALLY WITH THOSE STATES
AS I BELIEVE IT WILL BE AN
IMPORTANT DISCUSSION FOR US TO
HAVE WHAT'S THAT? I WILL THANKS
VERY MUCH THIS PANEL AND WE WILL
HOLD ISSUE FOR.
ISSUE. FIVE IS REGARDING THE
BUDGET REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF
THE COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING
OVERVIEW AND UPDATES. WE WILL
HAVE THREE PRESENTERS ON ISSUE
FIVE, BEGINNING WITH KEVIN
GAINES, COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING
DIVISION DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
CDSS. UM, MR CHAIR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. THANK YOU. AND GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KEVIN
GAINES. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING
DIVISION. UM AS YOU MENTIONED,
I'LL PROVIDE A QUICK OVERVIEW. I
KNOW WE'RE GETTING TO THE END OF
THE AFTERNOON. UM BUT I'LL ALSO
GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON UM UM OUR
INSPECTIONS OPERATIONS. SO THE
MISSION OF THE COMMUNITY CARE
LICENSING DIVISION CCL, OUR FOR
TWO IT FROM NOW ON IS TO PROMOTE
HEALTH AND SAFETY AND QUALITY OF
LIFE FOR EACH PERSON AND
COMMUNITY CARE THROUGH THE
ADMINISTRATION OF AN EFFECTIVE
COLLABORATIVE REGULATORY
ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM. UH WE HAVE
FOUR PRIMARY PROGRAM CLUSTERS.
ONE IS OUR CHILD CARE PROGRAM.
UM WE HAVE A RESIDENTIAL CLUSTER
, WHICH INCLUDES CHILDREN'S
RESIDENTIAL AND A LARGER ADULT
AND SENIOR PROGRAMS SECTION. AND
WE ALSO HAVE A HOME CARE
SERVICES, WHICH IS OUR NEWEST
PROGRAM. UM JUST TO GIVE YOU
SOME BASIC, UM, NUMBERS AND A
LOT OF THIS IS COVERED IN THE
AGENDA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM
WE HAVE 1566 AUTHORIZED STAFF
THAT ARE OPERATING OUT OF 18
LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
COVERING 32 FACILITY TYPES, UM
AND PROVIDING LICENSING AND
OVERSIGHT SERVICES TO ABOUT
70,000 FACILITIES THAT SERVE
ABOUT 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE IN
CALIFORNIA. UM THE CORE WORK
THAT WE'RE PERFORMING. UM IT OUT
IN THOSE IS HAPPENING OUT IN
THOSE REGIONAL LOCATIONS WITH
DIRECT CONTACT WITH PERSPECTIVE
AND EXISTING LICENSES IN, UH,
THREE BIG BUCKETS OF WORK. UH
VERSUS APPLICATIONS. SECOND IS
COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS AND
THIRD IS, UH, PERIODIC
INSPECTIONS AND I'LL COVER SOME
GENERAL NUMBERS ON THOSE REALLY
QUICKLY. UH ASKED FOR A FACILITY
INSPECTIONS DURING THE LAST
FISCAL YEAR. WE COMPLETED
28,000. CASE MANAGEMENT VISITS
WHICH ARE FOLLOWING ONES UH UM,
CONCLUDING AFTER THE CONCLUSION
OF, UH A COMPLAINT OR AN
INSPECTION WITH FINDINGS THAT
THAT NEED FURTHER FOLLOW UP. WE
PERFORMED ABOUT 13,000 OF THOSE
WE INVESTIGATED 14,000
COMPLAINTS AND PROCESSED ABOUT
5600 APPLICATIONS. SO A LITTLE
MORE DETAIL ABOUT APPLICATIONS
INSPECTIONS INVESTIGATIONS, UH,
DURING FISCAL YEAR, 21 22. WE
RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 5700
APPLICATIONS. UH FOR LICENSE
URINE IN THOSE 32 FACILITY TYPES
IN GENERAL, WE HAVE TO MAKE A
FINAL DETERMINATION TO APPROVE
OR DENY, UM, ONE OF THOSE
APPLICATIONS WITHIN A SPECIFIED
TIMEFRAME, WHICH VARY IS GOING
TO VARY BY THE FACILITY TYPE. UM
BUT ON AVERAGE, WHERE WE'RE
WORKING WITH, UH, SET OF
REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN THEM ABOUT
60 DAYS. UM AFTER A COMPLETE
APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.
AND YOU KNOW WE MORE OFTEN THAN
NOT GETTING COMPLETE
APPLICATIONS. UH UM, THE AVERAGE
APPLICATION PROCESSING TIMES AS
IT TURNS OUT, BASED ON THOSE
PROGRAMS ABOUT 100 DAYS FOR
CHILDCARE. ABOUT 140 DAYS FOR
CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL AND
APPROXIMATELY 170 DAYS FOR ADULT
AND SENIOR CARE FACILITIES. UM
AS FAR AS COMPLAINTS GO THE
NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT WE
RECEIVE EACH MONTH OVER THE PAST
FISCAL YEARS CONTINUE TO BE
GREATER THAN THE NUMBER OF
COMPLAINTS THAT WE APPROVE OR
FINISH EACH MONTH. UM THIS IS
PRETTY MUCH THE INCREASE THE
TOTAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT
THAT ARE PENDING OVER 90 DAYS,
SO WE WERE HAVING SOME SOME
ISSUES THERE. UM, BUT IN ORDER
TO ENSURE HEALTH AND SAFETY ALL
COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS
REGARDLESS OF PRIORITY LEVEL,
AND WE HAVE FOUR PRIORITY LEVELS
FIRST BEING LIKE IMMEDIATE, UH,
THREATS TO HEALTH AND SAFETY,
AND YOU KNOW, GOING IN LOWER
TRIAGE FROM THERE. UM BUT
REGARDLESS OF PRIORITY LEVEL,
THEY HAVE TO BE UM THEY'RE
REQUIRED TO BE INITIATED WITHIN
10 DAYS AND OVER THE LAST FISCAL
YEAR. UH MY DIVISION HAS MET
THIS REQUIREMENT 99% OF THE TIME
. UM AS FAR AS WHAT WE ARE
SEEING AND OBSERVING IN THESE
COMPLAINTS THAT COME TO US, UM,
WE HAVE THE TOP THREE OUR LIST
THOSE FOR YOU. UM ABOUT 30% OF
THE 37% OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT
WE RECEIVE HAVE TO DO WITH
PERSONAL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. UM
ABOUT 20% OF OUR CATEGORIZED AS
NEGLECT OR LACK OF SUPERVISION
AND ABOUT 7% ARE CODED AS
PHYSICAL PLANT ISSUES. UH,
ELECTRIC SOCKET THAT NEEDS A
COVER, FOR EXAMPLE. SO THOSE ARE
THE TOP CATEGORIES OF COMPLAINTS
THAT WE RECEIVE. TO FOLLOW. UH
FINALLY, I'LL COVER SOME OF OUR
INSPECTION INFORMATION. SO UM,
BACK IN 2021. WE STARTED USING A
NEW TOOL TO ASSESS THE RELATIVE
HEALTH. OF AH, FACILITIES. WE
CALL IT A CARE TOOL. UH UM. AND
YOU KNOW, I'VE REPORTED ON ON
THE STATUS OF OUR IMPLEMENTATION
OF THIS OF THIS CHARACTER TOOL
THROUGHOUT THESE THESE PROGRAM
CATEGORIES OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS. UM UNTIL MARCH 1ST OF
THIS YEAR ADULT AND SENIOR CARE
PROGRAM FOCUSED ITS ANNUAL
INSPECTIONS ON COVID 19. THERE
THEIR, UH, THEIR CARE TOOL IS
PAST 12 DOMAINS TO IT. ONE OF
THOSE DOMAINS HAS TO DO WITH
INFECTION CONTROL. WE
CONCENTRATED OUR EFFORTS ON ON
INSPECTING WITH THE INFECTION
CONTROL DOMAIN. UM. THESE
FOCUSED INSPECTIONS WERE DUE TO
THE HIGH RISK SETTINGS OF
RESULTS, DON SCENE CARE
FACILITIES AND HAD THE MAXIMUM
EFFECT OF MITIGATING AND
PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF COVID
19. UM THE ADULTS SENIOR PROGRAM
HAS COMPLETED ITS TRANSITION TO
A FULL CARE TOOL. AS OF MARCH
1ST. SO THEY'RE NOW THEY'RE
USING THE FULL 12 DOMAINS. AND
SO WE EXPECT THAT, UM, THAT
COMPLETION TIMES WILL GET
SLIGHTLY LONGER. AS WE ACCLIMATE
TO THE TOOL AND YOU KNOW,
INTERACT WITH THE FULL TOOL
WITHOUT WITH OUR LICENSES AND
ADMINISTRATORS. THE CHILD CARE
PROGRAM IS USING THE FULL SET OF
CARE TOOLS FOR ALL THE PRE
LICENSING AND THEIR ANNUAL
INSPECTIONS. UH UM. AND WE'RE
WORKING ON THE CREATION OF A
SINGLE LICENSING TOOL TO ALIGN
WITH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. THE
MOVEMENT TO ONE SINGLE CATEGORY
OF CHILDCARE, UM, FACILITY
CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL IS USING
ITS FULL SET OF CARE TOOLS FOR
ANNUAL INSPECTIONS AND HAS BEEN
FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. UM THEY
HAVE 12 DIFFERENT FACILITY
CATEGORIES AND 11 FACILITY
CATEGORIES FOR PRE LICENSING
INSPECTIONS, THE CHILDREN'S
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS IN THE
PROCESS OF DEVELOPING CARE TOOLS
FOR THEIR REMAINING SMALLER
FACILITY, UH, CATEGORIES, BUT
THEY'RE THEY'RE ROLLING LAW
FAIRLY FAIRLY WELL. OFFER
CALENDAR YEAR 2022. THE ADULTS
SENIOR CARE PROGRAM HAS AN
ANNUAL INSPECTION, UH, ANNUAL
MANDATE. AND IN 2022 COMPLETED
ABOUT 85% OF THAT MANDATE. UM.
CHILDCARE HAS A HAS A MANDATE TO
INSPECT ALL FACILITIES FOR OVER
THREE YEARS OF TIME. AND BUT WE
HAVE AN IN AN INTERNAL GOAL TO
GET TO 100. UM IN CALENDAR YEAR
2022 CHILD CARERS INSPECTED 45%
OF ITS FACILITIES, NOT OUR
PERSONAL GOAL, BUT WE'RE AHEAD
OF OUR STATUTORY GOAL. AND
FINALLY, CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL
, UM, HAS A BIENNIAL INSPECTION
REQUIREMENT AND HAS COMPLETED UH
, SO FAR IS COMPLETED ABOUT 55%
OF THAT GOAL, SO WE'RE AHEAD OF
SCHEDULE. UM THAT'S UM THAT'S
THE END OF OUR STATUS AND
OVERVIEW. I'LL TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANT. IN THE
SHORT WITH THE ALLURE. THANK YOU
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS
ANGELA, SHORT WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE.
NOTHING TO ADD FOR THIS OVERVIEW
BUT HAPPY TO HELP WITH ANY
QUESTIONS. DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. HI DIANA DOMINGUEZ.
WHAT'S DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE? NO
FURTHER COMMENTS. BRING IT UP TO
THE DIOCESE. SEE IF ANY MEMBERS
HAVE QUESTIONS. I'LL KEEP IT
HERE JUST FOR A SECOND SURE WAS
DRAWN TO THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT
TAKES TO AUTHORIZE THE
APPLICATION. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S
100 DAYS FOR BOTH CHILDCARE AND
ADULT SENIOR FACILITIES.
ACTUALLY FOR ADULT AND SINGER.
IT'S A LOT LONGER. IT'S ABOUT
170 DAYS WHERE WE'RE ADVERTISING
, WHICH IS TOUGH THAT OUR GOAL
OR DO WE MAKE INROADS, AND WE
LIKE TO GET LIKE TO GET MORE
EFFICIENT WITH THAT, AND WE'RE
LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO
THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED OVER THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. UM A
CENTRALIZED APPLICATION BUREAU
THAT WILL HELP PROCESS THE
DOCUMENTATION. PORTIONS THERE IS
A THERE IS A PRE LICENSING
PORTION THAT HAS TO BE CONDUCTED
IN THE FIELD BY BY LICENSED
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYSTS AND
BETWEEN THOSE TWO WERE HOPING TO
GET SOME LEVEL OF EFFICIENCY. UM
AGAIN, UM, MORE THAN THE SAME
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYSTS THAT
ARE THAT ARE CONDUCTING
COMPLAINTS AND MAKING CASE
MANAGEMENT VISITS AND PERFORMING
ANIMAL INSPECTIONS ARE ALSO
DOING THOSE APPLICATIONS, IN
LARGE PART AT LEAST TOUCHING
THEM, PARTICULARLY IN ADULT AND
SENIOR CARE. SO WE'RE HOPING TO
GET SOME GREATER EFFICIENCIES IS
GOING TO TAKE US SOME MORE, SOME
MORE WORK. UM I'M TRYING TO MAKE
SURE YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
ADDRESS IT APPROPRIATELY, AND
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ASK FOR
IT, BUT I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE HOW MUCH
CHILDCARE PLAYS. AS A CENTRAL
RATIONALE FOR GETTING PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK. AND AS WE'RE UM,
IN THE CURRENT SITUATION WHERE
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FACILITIES.
I HOPE WE ARE BETTER ABLE TO
LICENSE THE FACILITIES THAT
WOULD LIKE TO COME ONLINE IN A
MORE RAPID PACE, AND WOULD LIKE
TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S
ANYTHING WE AS A LEGISLATURE
COULD DO TO IMPROVE THAT
TIMELINE SO WE CAN GET MORE OF
THESE ONLINE AND HAPPY TO FOLLOW
UP OFFLINE. RATHER THAN TODAY,
UNDERSTAND? WITH THAT? I WILL
THANK. VERY MUCH THIS PANEL AND
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ISSUE SIX.
ISSUE SIX IS REGARDING THE HOME
CARE FUND STABILIZATION BCP AND
THE TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE. WE
WILL HAVE THREE PRESENTERS ON
ISSUE SIX AND WE'LL WE WILL
BEGIN WITH KIMBERLY LEWIS, WHO
IS THE COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING
DIVISION. ASSISTANT DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR CDSS. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I'M KIMBERLY LEWIS I'M
ASSISTANT DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING
DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES. AND TODAY I WAS
ASKED TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF
THIS PROPOSAL AS WELL AS THE
TRAILER BUILD LANGUAGE, WHICH
WAS RECENTLY ADDED AH, SO THE
COMMITTEE AGENDA DOES PROVIDE A
LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION, AND I
JUST WANT TO REALLY ADDRESS SOME
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HIGH
LEVEL. THE HOME CARE PROGRAM WAS
INITIALLY ESTABLISHED IN 2016 AS
A 100% FEE FUNDED PROGRAM. THE
STRUCTURE WAS CREATED UNDER
ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT PROGRAM
REVENUES AND OPERATIONAL
EXPENSES THAT SEEMED TO PROVE
INCORRECT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
DUE TO THE LOWER THAN PROJECTED
REVENUE FROM UNLICENSED HOME
CARE ORGANIZATIONS, A CRITICAL
SHORTAGE OF PERSONNEL TO CONDUCT
INSPECTIONS WITHIN THE PROGRAM
AND INCREASED LEGAL IS EXPENSES
. THE HOME CARE PROGRAM IS NOT
CURRENTLY SUSTAINABLE AS A FULLY
FUNDED PROGRAM. THE PROPOSAL
DOES SEEK STATUTORY CHANGES TO
STABILIZE THE FUNDING WITH
GENERAL FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 23
TO 24 ALSO 24 25. IT ALSO IS
SEEKING TO DEFER GENERAL PHONE
FUND LOAN REPAYMENT IN 23 24 THE
AMOUNT OF 711,000. AND THIS
PROPOSAL ALSO SEEKS TO ADD 15
POSITIONS. NINE OF THE REQUESTED
POSITIONS THAT IS BEING
REQUESTED IS TO ADD AN
ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT THAT
WOULD ALLOW US TO CONDUCT MORE
INSPECTIONS AS WELL AS COMPLAINT
INVESTIGATIONS FOR UNLICENSED
OPERATIONS. AND THE POSITIONS
WILL ALSO INCLUDE A POLICY UNIT
, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO DO
POLICY WORK AND, UH, TO MAINTAIN
THE PROGRAM AND TO MOVE ALL OF
THE INFORMATION ALONG. THE DATA
INDICATES THAT FAR FEWER CEOS
THOUGHT LICENSURE FROM, UH, FROM
WHAT WAS PROJECTED. SO AT
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION 1217 H
CEOS APPLIED FOR LICENSURE
RATHER THAN THE EXPECTED 2000.
THIS LED TO A REVENUE SHORTFALL
OF APPROXIMATELY $4 MILLION FOR
THE PROGRAM. AND CURRENTLY THERE
ARE 1844 LICENSED H D U H. C. O
S AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE
ARE A TOTAL OF 1100 H CEOS THAT
ARE OPERATING WITHOUT A LICENSE.
WITH THE ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT
UNIT, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE
IN REGULAR INSPECTIONS AS WELL
AS THOSE UNLICENSED COMPLAINT
INVESTIGATIONS. ALSO WITH THE
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE THAT WE
ARE ADDING, WE'RE ADDING THREE
DIFFERENT AREAS WE ARE, WE WOULD
LIKE TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT
FOR CEOS TO RESUBMIT DUPLICATIVE
APPLICATION INFORMATION AT THE
TIME OF LICENSE RENEWAL, WHICH
IS BIANNUALLY. AND WE ALSO ARE
SEEKING TO ADD EXCLUSION
AUTHORITY. THIS EXCLUSION
AUTHORITY WOULD PREVENT
REGISTERED HOME CARE AIDES AND
HOME CARE ORGANIZATION LICENSES
, STAFF AND GOVERNING BODY
MEMBERS THAT HAVE ENGAGED IN
SERIOUS VIOLATIONS AND EGREGIOUS
CONDUCT FROM RE APPLYING FOR
REGISTRATION OR LICENSURE AND
ALSO FROM WORKING IN HOME CARE
ORGANIZATIONS. PART OF THIS, UM
, TRAILER BILL. LANGUAGE IS WE
WILL ALSO BE SUBMITTING A REPORT
TO THE LEGISLATURE BY JANUARY
10TH. AND WITH THE ADDITIONAL
POSITIONS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING,
THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT A WAY TO
LOOK AT THE SOLVENCY OF THE HOME
CARE FUNDS AND ALSO LOOKING AT
RECOMMENDATIONS ON A FEE
STRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS THE
PROGRAM TO BE SELF SUSTAINING,
OR TO REQUEST ANY ADDITIONAL
RESOURCE NEEDS. AND AGAIN. THAT
WAS BY JANUARY 10TH 2025. SO
THIS PROPOSAL IS NECESSARY TO
ENSURE THE STABILITY OF THE
PROGRAM, WHICH ENSURES THAT
OLDER AND DISABLED CALIFORNIANS
RECEIVE A HIGH STANDARD OF CARE
WHILE BEING ABLE TO AGE IN PLACE
AND REMAIN IN THEIR OWN HOME. SO
ANY QUESTIONS? ELLIOT THANK YOU.
YES WE'VE REVIEWED THE PROPOSAL
AND FIND IT TO BE REASONABLE AND
RESPONSIVE TO A CLEAR NEED
WITHIN THE PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR
, GIVEN THE CHALLENGES THE
PROGRAM HAS EXPERIENCED OVER THE
PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE FIND THE
REQUESTED POSITIONS TO INCREASE
THE INSPECTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT
MAKES SENSE AND COULD HELP
ADDRESS THE HIGH NUMBER OF
UNLICENSED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT FROM THE
DEPARTMENT. ADDITIONALLY THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO RE
EVALUATE THE HOME CARE FEE
STRUCTURE, UH, WE FIND WILL BE
IMPORTANT TO ENSURING ULTIMATELY
, THE FUND CAN BECOME SELF
SUSTAINING AS ENVISIONED, WHICH,
AS YOU HEARD CURRENTLY, IT IS
NOT ABLE TO MEET THAT GOAL. UM
ADDITIONALLY, THE INTERIM
SOLUTION OF PAUSING THE GENERAL
FUND LOAN REPAYMENT SEEMS
REASONABLE TO THAT GOAL. THANK
YOU. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE DIANA
DOMINGUEZ DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
NOTHING TO ADD, BUT HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I'LL BRING
IT UP TO THE DIESS THIS KEEP IT
HERE WITH THE CHAIR. THIS SEEMS
MORE THAN REASONABLE CONSIDERING
THE 1100 LICENSED FACILITIES AND
THE RISING BACKLOG OF CASES. BUT
I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND YOU SAY
STATED YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK
ON JANUARY. 10TH. HOW DO WE AS A
LEGISLATURES? STAY UP TO DATE ON
HOW WE'RE MAKING INROADS AND
UPDATES. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO
REPORT BACK TO US SO THAT WE CAN
UNDERSTAND IF FUTURE CHANGES
SIMILARLY NEED TO BE MADE. YES
WE WILL BE ABLE TO REPORT OUR.
OUR FINAL REPORT IS DUE ON
JANUARY. 10TH AND PART OF IT IS
WITH THESE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS
. WE WILL BE UTILIZING THOSE
POSITIONS TO DO A LOT OF THIS
WORK THAT'S REQUIRED, SO IT'S
KIND OF GETTING EVERYBODY ON
BOARD AND THEN LOOKING AT THE
INFORMATION. UM. I'D LIKE TO ASK
THE IF I CAN ON THIS. CAN YOU
HELP US TO DRAFT SOME POTENTIAL
BBL WITH REASONABLE REPORTING
BACK? ON OUTCOMES FOR OUR
COLLECTIVE CONSIDERATION. IF
THIS BCP HAS APPROVED LIKE TO
JUST MAKE SURE WE'RE STAYING ON
TOP OF THIS AND BELIEVE WE'RE
GOING TO NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH
SOME METRICS WITH THAT WE WILL
HOLD THIS ISSUE OPEN AND MOVE ON
TO ISSUE SEVEN. THANK YOU. ISSUE
SEVEN IS REGARDING THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO REINFORCE
THE CAREGIVER BACKGROUND CHECK
SYSTEM AND THE BACKGROUND CHECK
RESOURCES, BCP. WE WILL HAVE
THREE PRESENTERS ON THIS PANEL.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH GREG OLIVA.
WHO'S THE COMMUNITY CARE
LICENSING ASSIST DIVISION
ASSISTANT DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT
CDSS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR
MEMBERS AND STAFF. GREGOR LEVA
ASSISTANT DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING FOR
CENTRAL OPERATIONS IN COMMUNITY
CARE, LICENSING. THE COMMITTEE
DID AN EXCELLENT RIGHT UP ON THE
PROPOSAL AND THE BACKGROUND, SO
IF YOU'RE FINE, I'LL JUST JUMP
INTO THE QUESTIONS. OKAY? SO THE
FIRST QUESTION AND WHAT ARE THE
REASONS FOR AND EXTENT OF THE
CURRENT BACKLOG FOR BACKGROUND
CHECKS? SO THE CURRENT BACKLOG
WAS CREATED AS A RESULT OF THE
FOLLOWING FACTORS. SINCE
GUARDIAN IMPLEMENTATION
GUARDIANS THE NAME OF THE
SYSTEM, THE NEW DATABASE HAS
EXPERIENCED SYSTEM
INEFFICIENCIES AND TECHNICAL
CHALLENGES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE
SYSTEM IS TASK BASED AND NOT
CASE BASED, SO WE HAVE HAD TO
CREATE MORE MANUAL PROCESSES FOR
THE EXEMPTION CASES THEMSELVES.
WE ALSO HAVE HAD LIMITED ABILITY
TO CUSTOMIZE FEATURES, WHICH
CREATED CHALLENGES GIVEN THE
VOLUME OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
CHECK APPLICATIONS WE RECEIVE.
WE ALSO DEPLOYED THE SYSTEM IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC
, WHICH LIMITED OUR ABILITY TO
REDIRECT RESOURCES AND TO KEEP
UP WITH THE VOLUME OF THE CASES.
FINALLY, WE HAD CHALLENGES WITH
IMPORTED DATA, WHICH RESULTED IN
PROBLEMS LIKE DUPLICATE CASES,
WHICH TOOK ADDITIONAL WORK TO
RESOLVE FURTHER IMPACTING OUR
ABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH THE
VOLUME OF THE CASES. AH SO THESE
FACTORS HAVE RESULTED IN THE
FOLLOWING PROCESSING DELAYS.
WHICH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT
BACKLOGS AND LED TO A HIGH
VOLUME OF PUBLIC. TELEPHONE AND
EMAIL INQUIRIES. A LITTLE
INFORMATION ON THE EXTENT OF THE
CURRENT BACKLOG. SO AS OF APRIL
1ST OF THIS YEAR, THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS PENDING
INITIAL REVIEW. SO THOSE ONES WE
HAVE NOT TOUCHED IS
APPROXIMATELY 1900. THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF APPLICATION
APPLICATIONS IN PROCESS, WHICH
INCLUDES STANDARD EXEMPTIONS AND
ARREST ONLY CASES IS
APPROXIMATELY 12,300. ABOUT.
THREE QUARTERS OF THOSE ARE THE
STANDARD EXEMPTION, SO A LITTLE
OVER 9000 OF THOSE ARE STANDARD
EXEMPTIONS. AND THEN THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS PENDING
MANUAL CLOSURE, SO THIS IS DUE
TO AN APPLICANT NOT RESPONDING
FOR OUR REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION OR A DENIAL IS ABOUT
4000. SO THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY
CLOSED. BUT JUST AS A PROCEDURAL
ISSUE, WE HAVEN'T CLOSED THEM
YET, AND THEY'RE PART OF OUR
BACKLOG. UM WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD TO REDUCE THE
BACKLOG AND ENSURE WE HAVE A
WORKABLE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
CHECK SYSTEM. AND I CAN
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS AND
THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE DOING IN
THE RESPONSES TO THE NEXT TWO
QUESTIONS. SO UNLESS YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS TO NUMBER ONE JUST
HERE WE GO, OKAY? IS AN INTERIM
SOLUTION NEEDED TO TIMELY
PROCESS. BACKGROUND CHECKS UNTIL
A NEW BACKGROUND SYSTEM IS
OPERATIONAL. SO THE DEPARTMENT
CONSIDERS GUARDIAN AS THE
INTERIM SOLUTION. THE BCP
RESOURCES WILL ENSURE THAT WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE A FUNCTIONAL
BACKGROUND SYSTEM WHILE ALLOWING
US TO PLAN FOR REPLACEMENT
SYSTEM TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS
OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, AS WELL AS
THE DEPARTMENT. ADDITIONALLY WE
ARE CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTING A
NUMBER OF IMPORTANT SOFTWARE
DEVELOPMENT ITEMS TO THE
GUARDIAN SYSTEM TO IMPROVE ITS
EXISTING PERFORMANCE. THESE ARE
AIMED AT BOTH INTERNAL
EFFICIENCIES FOR OUR STAFF WHO
WORKED THE SYSTEM AS WELL AS
EXTERNAL PROCESSES FOR
APPLICANTS WHO SUBMIT INTO THE
SYSTEM. TWO SETS OF THAT
DEVELOPMENT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
COMPLETED AND THE REST OF THOSE
DEVELOPMENT CHANGES IN OUR
CURRENT CONTRACT WE EXPECT TO
HAVE DEPLOYED BY JULY 2023. I'LL
MOVE ON TO THE THIRD QUESTION.
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL OUTCOMES
FOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IF AN
INTERIM SOLUTION IS NOT ADOPTED?
SO, AS I STATED, WE SEE GUARDIAN
AS THE INTERIM SOLUTION AND
WE'RE FOCUSING ON THREE AREAS.
WE'VE BEEN INCREASING THE NUMBER
OF OVERALL STAFF HOURS DEDICATED
TO REDUCING THE BACKLOG BY
REDIRECTING STAFF, OFFERING
OVERTIME TO CURRENT STAFF AND
HIRING TEMPORARY STAFF TO WORK
ON CASE PROCESSING. AS I
MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, WE'RE ALSO
IMPLEMENTING A NUMBER OF
IMPORTANT SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM
PERFORMANCE. AND FINALLY, WE ARE
LEVERAGING THE CHANGES ENACTED
IN A B 17 20. THANK YOU
LEGISLATURE, WHICH ALLOWS US A
GREATER NUMBER OF CASES TO GO
THROUGH THE SIMPLIFIED
BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESS RATHER
THAN THE STANDARD, WHICH IS A
VERY SIGNIFICANT TIME
DIFFERENCE. CURRENTLY THE
GUARDIAN SYSTEM IS PROCESSING
96% OF BACKGROUND CHECKS WITHIN
APPROXIMATELY 7 TO 10. DAYS
AFTER WE RECEIVE INFORMATION
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
THIS INCLUDES BOTH AUTOMATICALLY
CLEARED CASES WHERE THERE'S NO
CRIMINAL RECORD FOR THE
APPLICANTS. AS WELL AS
SIMPLIFIED EXEMPTIONS WHERE
THERE ARE RELATIVELY MINOR
CRIMES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
APPLICANT. THOSE ARE. MY
RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
MISS SHORT WITH YOU, LEO. YES,
THANK YOU. UM WE RECOGNIZE AS
YOU JUST HEARD, THERE IS QUITE A
BACKLOG CURRENTLY WITHIN THE
GUARDIAN SYSTEM THAT IS HAVING
SOME REAL SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS
FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
SEEKING CLEARANCES AS WELL AS
FOR THE FACILITIES THAT ARE
HOPING TO HIRE THOSE INDIVIDUALS
AND THEN ULTIMATELY FOR THE
USERS, UM, SERVED BY THESE
FACILITIES, SO CLEARLY, THERE IS
A NEED FOR SOME LEVEL OF
INTERVENTION OR INTERIM
SOLUTION. REGARDING SPECIFICALLY
THE DEPARTMENT'S BCP, WHICH
INCLUDES 300,000 ANNUALLY FOR
THREE YEARS AS AN INTERIM
MEASURE TO HELP ADDRESS THIS,
THIS CURRENT BACKLOG, ANOTHER
CHALLENGES THAT WE JUST HEARD
ABOUT. WE SUGGEST THE
LEGISLATURE MAY WISH TO ASK THE
DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE SOME
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AROUND
THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES OF
THOSE FUNDS. IN TERMS OF
REDUCING THE BACKLOG, FOR
EXAMPLE, IS THE EXPECTATION THAT
WITH THOSE FUNDS WILL SEE THE
BACKLOG REDUCED BY 10% BY 50% DO
WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT AVERAGE
PRODUCT PROCESSING TIMES FOR
EXEMPTION CASES WILL IMPROVE,
ETCETERA, AND WE THINK, KNOWING
THIS WOULD JUST HELP CLARIFY
LEGISLATIVE EXPECTATIONS IN
TERMS OF, UH, THE INTERIM
SOLUTION AND IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN
SEE. THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. DIANA DOMINGUEZ
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE NOTHING
FURTHER TO ADD AT THIS TIME,
BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DIOCESE
SEEKING MEMBERS QUESTIONS. I'LL
KEEP IT HERE AT THE CHAIR. I'M
GONNA FOLLOW UP ASSISTANT DEPUTY
DIRECTOR IF I CAN. WHAT ARE OUR
EXPECTATIONS WITH THESE FUNDS?
WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE WILL
HAPPEN IN TERMS OF BOTH THE
BACKLOG AND TIMELINE FOR
APPROVAL, SO THE FUNDS ARE
REALLY TO BEGIN TO DO A COUPLE
OF THINGS RIGHT. IT'S TO
MAINTAIN THE EXISTENCE OF THAT
INTERIM SOLUTION, WHICH IS
GUARDIAN. THERE'S THREE YEARS OF
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION
FUNDING TO KEEP THE SYSTEM
MOVING FORWARD WHILE WE BEGIN
STAGE TO THE STAGE TWO
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS OF THE
PROJECT APPROVAL LIFECYCLE. SO
THOSE ARE THE $600,000 IN
CONSULTANTS VANS TO SUPPORT THAT
EFFORT, SO THAT THAT'S REALLY
KIND OF LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
RIGHT OF MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM
AND BEGINNING THE PROCESS TO
LOOK INTO THE BUILDING OF THE
POTENTIAL BUILDING OF A NEW
SYSTEM. THE JUST JUMP IN HERE,
THOUGH, JUST FOR A SECOND
BECAUSE IF WE'RE MAINTAINING,
ARE WE GOING TO GET MORE OF THE
SAME AND IT WASN'T THE SAME. THE
RATIONALE FOR WHY WE HAVE SUCH A
BACKLOG AND YOUR COMMENT WAS,
THIS IS THE INTERIM SOLUTION.
BUT IF MORE OF THE SAME GOT US
HERE. IS THIS REALLY THE INTERIM
THAT WE SHOULD BE HOPING FOR? SO
I THINK WE'VE ACTUALLY MADE
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS
RECENTLY. IN TERMS OF I HAD
MENTIONED THAT SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES DEPLOYING DURING THE
PANDEMIC, NOT HAVING THE ABILITY
TO REDIRECT SOME OF THE SYSTEM.
FUNCTIONALITY WASN'T WHAT WE HAD
EXPECTED IT TO BE IN TERMS OF
REQUIRING WHEN WE INITIALLY
DEPLOYED IT, WE THOUGHT THERE
MIGHT JUST NEED TO BE SMALL
CONFIGURATIONS. THERE NEEDS TO
BE ACTUAL CUSTOMIZATION TO IT TO
MAKE THE KIND OF CHANGES TO MAKE
IT A BETTER CASE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM. UM BUT WE'RE GETTING
BETTER AT WORKING THE SYSTEM AND
I WOULD JUST GO BACK TO, UM I
PROVIDED SOME OF THE BACKLOG
DATA EARLIER, SO I HAD STATED
THAT OUR CURRENT NUMBER OF
APPLICATIONS THAT ARE PENDING.
INITIAL REVIEW IS AT 1900. SO
AND AS A FEBRUARY IT WAS AT 4800
. SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY REDUCED
THAT BY 60% I'M NOT SAYING THAT
IT'S PERFECT OR THAT OUR EFFORTS
ARE PERFECT. BUT WE'RE THROUGH
THE SOME OF THE SOFTWARE
DEVELOPMENT CHANGES THAT WE
STILL HAVE SEVERAL SETS OF
DEPLOYMENTS FOR THOSE TO IMPROVE
THE SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY AS WELL
AS THE HIRING OF SOME TEMPORARY
STAFF. IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO GET
THOSE STAFF ON BOARD. WE'VE
HIRED NINE OF THE 12 STAFF. THEY
HAVE TO BE TRAINED. THEY HAVE TO
BE ON BOARDED BEFORE THEY CAN
REALLY BEGIN PROCESSING CASES.
BUT WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'RE
GOING TO MAKE STEADY PROGRESS
WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND, UM
, BECAUSE, UH, THE PROCESS TO
ACTUALLY BUILD NEW I T SYSTEMS
WITHIN THE STATE IS ARDUOUS.
IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT'S
IMPORTANT TO DO IT CORRECTLY. UM
BUT THAT'S A VERY TIME CONSUMING
PROCESS THAT YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT
WE WHAT OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE
TO MAKE PROCESS. UM, SLOWLY
CHIPPING AWAY AT OUR BACKLOGS
AND GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE
WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT HAVING A LOT
OF OVERTIME. WE'RE NOT HAVING,
YOU KNOW A LOT OF REDIRECTION OF
STAFF, BUT WE'RE USING OUR
EXISTING RESOURCE IS TO TIMELY
MEET THE NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THESE
APPLICATIONS. PROCESSED YOUR
WORDS RIGHT? THERE WERE TWO
SLOWLY CHIP AWAY AT THIS AND SO
I WILL. POINT WHAT THE
STAKEHOLDERS HAVE STAYED IN. UM
THE ADVOCATES HAVE PROPOSED $2
MILLION IN GENERAL FUNDS TO HIRE
STAFF TO ADDRESS IT. CAN YOU
COMMENT ON WHAT EFFECT THAT $2
MILLION WOULD HAVE IN TERMS OF
THE BACKLOG AND TIMELINE IN
COMPARISON TO THE PROPOSAL
THAT'S BEFORE US RIGHT NOW? UH
THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE A
POSITION ON THAT PARTICULAR
PROPOSAL, BUT, UM, PUT IN
ADDITIONAL STAFF TOWARD CASE
PROCESSING. OBVIOUSLY SORRY, I
DON'T MEAN TO SAY, OBVIOUSLY,
BUT PUTTING MORE STAFF TOWARD
IT. DOES CHIP AWAY AND VERY
LIKELY CONTINUE TO REDUCE THAT
BACKLOG. SOUNDS LIKE WE MIGHT
GET THERE A LITTLE FASTER FROM
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. CERTAINLY
OUR INTEREST DR JACKSON. I USED
TO BE A CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS FOR
THE DOJ SYSTEM. AND WHAT DO WE
CALL THE DOJ SYSTEM? I WOULD
HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT
LIFE'S CON OR SO OKAY. LIVE
SCAN. I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT YOU
WERE THINKING OF SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, RIGHT? BUT YEAH, SO
WE CHOSE NOT TO USE THAT. BUT WE
ARE TRYING TO BUILD. IT SEEMS
WHY IS THE STATE SO BAD AT
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY? SO LIVE
SCAN. UM SER LIVE SCAN IS THE
SYSTEM THAT INDIVIDUALS SO AN
INDIVIDUAL GOES IN APPLIES FOR A
JOB. YAHOO GET AN OFFER THEY GO
GET LIVE, SCANNED AND IT AT A
LOCATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THOSE RESULTS GO TO DOJ. MM DOJ
HAS 14 DAYS TO GET US THE
INFORMATION NEEDED TO SEE IF
THERE'S A HIT ON THEIR CRIMINAL
RECORD CAN IS USED. YES OKAY,
BUT BUT IT IT DOESN'T START
NECESSARILY WITH US. BUT THE
WHAT THE EVENTUALLY GETS TO YOU
. YES, THE RESULTS OF THE LIVE
SCAN POPULATE WITHIN OUR
GUARDIAN SYSTEM AND THAT THAT'S
WHEN OUR CLOCK STARTS AND THAT'S
WHEN WE START PICKING UP THE
PROCESS. GOT IT. AND SO YOU'RE
ASKING FOR FUNDS TO CONTINUE TO
WORK ON GUARDIAN. TO CONTINUE TO
MAINTAIN IT TO CONTINUE TO
MAINTAIN THAT JUST THE SIMPLE
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OKAY?
AH, WITHOUT THAT SYSTEM, THERE'S
NO ABILITY TO APPROVE. UM THE
CHECKS TO GIVE CLEARANCES TO
INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY CAN GO
AND GET THOSE JOBS. AND.
OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS
NOT SUFFICIENT FROM WHERE WE'RE
EXPECTING PEOPLE TO DO OUT IN
THE FIELD. RIGHT? AND. WE SEEM
TO BE. WHAT I SEE. HERE IS AN
ADDITIONAL UH UM 600,000 FOR TWO
YEAR LIMITED TERM FUNDING TO
INITIATE PLANNING ACTIVITIES TO
DEVELOP. A REPLACEMENT TO THE
GUARDIAN SYSTEM. RIGHT? SO WHAT
IS GOING WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT
IT TAKES IT WILL TAKE TWO YEARS
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REPLACE
THIS THING. UH IT COULD TAKE
LONGER THAN THAT, SIR, SO STAGE
THAT THE FUNDING WOULD SUPPORT
THE SECOND STAGE OF THE PROCESS
, DOESN'T IT? IN ADDITION TO
LAYING A ROADMAP FOR STAGES
THREE AND FOUR, SO THERE'S FOUR
STAGES TO THE PROJECT APPROVAL
LIFECYCLE. WHY IS THIS SO HARD?
AYE. I CAN'T ANSWER THAT
QUESTION. I MAY JUST INTERJECT
AND OFFER THAT THE STATE HASN'T
HAD A GOOD TRACK RECORD OF
ALWAYS CHOOSING THE BEST
TECHNOLOGY TO INVEST IN AND
LOOKING TOWARDS THE L HAS BEEN A
BETTER METHOD FOR US TO SPEND
THE TIME TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
SELECTING THE RIGHT PRODUCT FROM
THE START AND STAGE TWO IS THE
IS THE IS THE ALTERNATIVES
ANALYSIS, SO WE LOOK AT MARKET
RESEARCH. WE LOOK AT A REQUEST
FOR INQUIRY THAT WE SEND OUT TO
THE VENDOR COMMUNITY TO SEE WHAT
AND WE HAD IN THAT INQUIRY WERE
STATING OUR BUSINESS
REQUIREMENTS AND FOLKS ARE
COMING BACK TO US. OUR VENDORS
ARE COMING BACK TO US AND
SHARING WHAT IS WHAT IS POSSIBLE
ON THEIR PART TO DELIVER THAT
SORT OF SYSTEM. THANK YOU. WITH
THAT WE WILL THANK VERY MUCH
THIS PANEL AND WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO ISSUE EIGHT. THANK YOU.
ISSUE EIGHT IS REGARDING THE
COMMUNITY CARE EXPANSION AND
HOME SAFE IMPLEMENTATION UPDATES
, INCLUDING HOME SAFE PROGRAM,
TECHNICAL CLEANUP, TRAILER BUILD
LANGUAGE. WE WILL HAVE THREE
PRESENTERS ON ISSUE EIGHT AND WE
WILL BEGIN WITH HANNAH AS MAORI
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
DIVISION. DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
CDSS. HI AGAIN. HANNAH HAS A
MATTHEW, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
DIVISION WITH CDSS. SO HERE
AGAIN, THE JEDDAH PROVIDED A
REALLY GREAT OVERVIEW OF
COMMUNITY CARE EXPANSION IN THE
HOME SAFE PROGRAM, SO I'M GOING
TO JUST START WITH A BRIEF
OVERVIEW UPDATE ON C C AND HOME
SAFE. AND THEN, AS PART OF THAT
TRIED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
THAT WERE IN THE AGENDA AS WELL.
INCLUDING HIGHLIGHTING OUTCOMES
, AND THEN I'LL DISCUSS
IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES FACING
THOSE PROGRAMS AND HOW OUR
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS BEING
EMPLOYED TO OVERCOME THOSE
CHALLENGES. AND THEN FINALLY,
I'LL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
TBL FOR HOME SAFE. SO THE
COMMUNITY CARE EXPANSION PROGRAM
, WHICH IS MANAGED BY DSS,
PROVIDES CAPITAL FUNDING AND
OPERATIONAL SUBSIDIES TO
PRESERVE AND EXPAND ASSISTED
LIVING SETTINGS THAT CAN SERVE
PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT
RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. THE 2021
BUDGET APPROPRIATED $805 MILLION
IN FUNDING FOR THE CC EXPANSION
AND PRESERVATION PROGRAMS, AND
IN 2022, THE BUDGET APPROPRIATED
AN ADDITIONAL 55 MILLION. TO
FUND OPERATING SUBSIDY PAYMENTS
FOR LICENSED, UM, FACILITIES
THROUGH THE CCP PRESERVATION
PROGRAM. THE INVESTMENT IN C C E
FORMS A KEY PART OF THE STATE
STRATEGIC MULTI AGENCY EFFORT TO
INCREASE THE STATE'S PORTFOLIO
OF HOUSING OPTIONS, WHILE
REDUCING THE INFLOW TO THE
HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AND
PREVENTING UNNECESSARY
INSTITUTIONALIZATION. FOR THE CC
CAPITAL EXPANSION PROJECT. $570
MILLION HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE
THROUGH A JOINT R F A WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES, UM, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
INFRASTRUCTURE. UM UH, A
CONTINUUM INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECT, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN
JANUARY OF 2022. AS ARE, AS
DIRECTOR KIM JOHNSON NOTED
EARLIER AS OF FEBRUARY OF 2023
C. D. S S HAS ANNOUNCED A TOTAL
OF 207 MILLION IN AWARDS 2 32
PROJECTS FOR CAPITAL EXPANSION
ACROSS THE STATE, AND WE
CONTINUE TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS
AND WILL BE POSTING NEW AWARDS
ON OUR DASHBOARD ONLINE. NOW TO
THE CCP PRESERVATION PROJECTS.
TO DATE, WE HAVE AWARDED A TOTAL
OF JUST JUST UNDER 250 MILLION
IN NONCOMPETITIVE ALLOCATIONS TO
35 COUNTIES TO PRESERVE EXISTING
LICENSED RESIDENTIAL, ADULT AND
SENIOR CARE FACILITIES THAT
SERVE RESIDENTS AND SSE, SSP AND
CAPPY, INCLUDING THOSE AT RISK
OF HOMELESSNESS OR EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. UM THIS FUNDING
ENABLES COUNTIES TO PREVENT
CLOSURE OF LICENSED RESIDENTIAL
FACILITIES BY SUPPLANT
SUPPORTING CRITICAL FACILITY
UPGRADES AND REPAIRS THAT ARE
NEEDED TO STAY COMPLIANT WITH
LICENSING STANDARDS AND ALSO TO
COVER OPERATING DEFICITS.
THROUGH BOTH THE EXPANSION AND
THE PRESERVATION PROGRAMS. CC
AIMS TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND 7000
BEDS AND UNITS IN TOTAL
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I'LL NOW
TALK ABOUT THE HOME SAFE AND
PROGRAMS. SO THE HOME SAFE
PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING AND
SUPPORTS TO THOSE IN THE ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES SYSTEM.
THESE INDIVIDUALS CAN BE
CONSIDERED AMONGST THE MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THE
STATE GRANTEES OPERATING LOCAL
HOME SAFE PROGRAMS UTILIZE A
RANGE OF STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT.
HIS MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE, LEGAL SERVICES DEEP
CLEANING TO MAINTAIN SAFE
HOUSING, AS WELL AS MOBILITY
RELATED MODIFICATIONS TO THE
HOME EVICTION PREVENTION AND
LANDLORD MEDIATION. BOTH THE
BUDGET ACT OF 2021 THE BUDGET
ACT OF 2022 APPROPRIATED 92.5
MILLION AND MATCH EXEMPT FUNDING
AVAILABLE OVER MULTIPLE YEARS.
58 COUNTIES ARE PARTICIPATING AS
OF FISCAL YEAR 2021 TO 2022,
WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 33
COUNTIES. FROM THE PILOT, UH IN
2020 RENDING IN 2021. SO WITH
THIS SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION, AS I
NOTED, WITH HD UP AS WELL
EARLIER, LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE
CONTINUING TO RAMP UP PROGRAM
IMPLEMENTATION AND SCALING THEIR
PROGRAMS, UM TO MAINTAIN
EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPACT IN
RESPONSE TO THESE HISTORIC
INVESTMENTS AND, AS ALSO NOTED
EARLIER, WE EXPECT THAT TO TAKE
ABOUT 6 TO 18 MONTHS FROM WHEN
COUNTIES ARE RAMPING UP PROGRAMS
FIRST. AND NOW LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT
SOME OF THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'VE
SEEN WITH HOME SAFE SENTENCE.
INCEPTION IN 2018, THE PROGRAM
HAS SERVED MORE THAN 5600 PEOPLE
AND SIX MONTHS AFTER EXITING THE
PROGRAM, THOSE THAT WERE PLACED
IN HOUSING OR IN HOUSING. UH 85%
OF THOSE HAVE RETAINED THAT
HOUSING GRANTEES HAVE ALSO
REPORTED BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE
HOUSING SUPPORTS THROUGH HOME
SAFE THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THE
SAFETY OF SENIORS AND ADULTS
WITH DISABILITIES, BUT WERE
PREVIOUSLY NOT AVAILABLE TO APPS
APARTMENT SO AGAIN GIVING THEM
TOOLS. THAT THEY PREVIOUSLY
DIDN'T HAVE TO ADDRESS THE
FOUNDATIONAL CHALLENGES OF
HOUSING THAT THEY WERE FACING.
UNDER ISSUE FOUR. I HIGHLIGHTED
SOME OF THE LOCAL AND STATEWIDE
BARRIERS FOR HD APP, WHICH
APPLIED TO HOME SAFE, SO I'M
JUST GOING TO ADD BY SHARING
SOME OF THE UNIQUE BARRIERS THAT
ARE FACING C C IMPLEMENTATION.
THE FIRST IS BRIDGING LOCAL
PARTNERSHIPS. THAT'S A REALLY
CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION OF C. C THE
SECOND IS RISING CONSTRUCTION
AND LABOR COSTS. RISING COSTS
MAKE IT REALLY HARD FOR PROPOSED
PROJECTS TO ADEQUATELY ESTIMATE
PROJECT COSTS IS ESPECIALLY THE
CASE FOR THE CAPITAL EXPANSION
SIDE. AND THEN FINALLY FOR SMALL
NONPROFITS AND TRIBES. IT CAN BE
HARD TO FIND THE TIME RESOURCES
AND ALSO THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
NEEDED TO PRODUCE COMPETITIVE
APPLICATIONS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT
SUPPORT. SO AND I SPOKE EARLIER
ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH
CHANGEABLE PROJECT WHICH IS
PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OUR
GRANTEES. UM, UH, WITH REALLY
EXTENSIVE AND RESPONSIVE
SERVICES AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES
AND NEEDS FOR CC. OUR INVESTMENT
IN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HAS ALSO
BEEN REALLY CRITICAL TO MITIGATE
EACH OF THE CHALLENGES THAT I
MENTIONED, BUT ALSO ENSURE
EFFECTIVE AND THOUGHTFUL
IMPLEMENTATION. SO FOR INSTANCE
, I KNOW THAT THE CHALLENGE IN
DEVELOPING STRONG APPLICATIONS
FOR A SMALL OPERATORS,
NONPROFITS AND TRIBES WHAT WE
HAVE INCLUDED AS PART OF OUR
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ONE ON ONE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT
INCLUDES UP TO 20. WE'VE HAD
ALMOST 1700 PRE APPLICATION
CONSULTATIONS, WHICH REALLY
HELPS APPLICANTS AS THEY'RE
CRAFTING THEIR APPLICATIONS IN
THE VERY EARLY STAGES. BE ABLE
TO GET THE SUPPORT NEEDED AND
HAVE THE CONTACT TO OUR
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AT HAND TO
BE ABLE TO PRODUCE STRONG
APPLICATIONS AND THEN THROUGHOUT
THE APPLICATION PROCESS WHEN WE
NOTE MISSING OR INCOMPLETE OR,
YOU KNOW, UNCLEAR INFORMATION
AND APPLICATIONS RATHER THAN
REJECT AN APPLICATION, AS YOU
WOULD IN A COMPETITIVE, YOU
KNOW, TYPICAL COMPETITIVE
PROCUREMENT WERE REALLY
INVESTING TIME TO CLARIFY
INFORMATION PROVIDES SUPPORT TO
GET APPLICANTS ACROSS DIFFERENT
FINISH LINE, ESPECIALLY THOSE
THAT WE NO NEED EXTRA SUPPORT.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF
TAILORED HANDS ON TA CAN REALLY
HELP SMALL AND DIVERSE FACILITY
OPERATORS. AND THAT'S SO
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE THINK THEY
KNOW THEIR COMMUNITIES THE BEST
, UM AND THEREFORE ARE GOING TO
PRODUCE THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR
THEIR COMMUNITIES, SO WE REALLY
WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN
SUCCESSFULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE
OPPORTUNITY THAT SISI PRESENTS.
UH, HERE. SO FINALLY, I'D LIKE
TO JUST PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF
THE HOME SAFE TRAILER. BUILD
LANGUAGE AGAIN. GREAT SUMMARY,
SO JUST HIGHLIGHTING FOR CHANGES
BEING REQUESTED. THE FIRST IS TO
CLARIFY TRIBAL ELIGIBILITY
LANGUAGE IN THE TRIBAL HOME SAFE
PROGRAMS. UM AS YOU KNOW THAT
OUR TRIBES DO NOT ADMINISTER
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND
INSTEAD HAVE UNIQUE LOCALLY
RESPONSIVE ELDER ADULTS SERVICES
. UM PROGRAMS AND SYSTEMS AND SO
THE REQUIREMENT TO SERVE ONLY
THOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE
ELIGIBLE FOR APES DOESN'T QUITE
TRANSLATED, SO WE NEED TO ADJUST
THAT SECOND. WE'RE ADDING THE
DEFINITION OF SENIOR, WHICH
MEANS THE SAME AS THE TERM. UH,
ELDER AS CODIFIED IN THE A P S
PROGRAM AND IS INCLUSIVE OF
PERSONS WITHIN THE H RANGE
ESTABLISHED BY TRIBAL LAW AND
CUSTOM FOR TRIBAL PROGRAMS, AND
THEN THIRD, WE'RE ADDING
APPROPRIATE CROSS REFERENCES TO
CODIFY DEFINITIONS USED IN THE A
P S PROGRAM TO DEFINE DEPENDENT
ADULT AND OLDER AND THEN FINALLY
WERE EXTENDING THE SUNSET DATE
FOR THE GRANTEE MATCH EXEMPTION
FOR THE ONE TIME FUNDS FROM JUNE
30TH 2024 TO JUNE 30TH 2025
AGAIN TO ALIGN WITH EXPENDITURE
TIMELINE OF THE ONE TIME FUNDS.
AND APPROPRIATED AS PART OF THE
BUDGET ACT OF 2022. THESE
CHANGES ARE IMPORTANT FOR US TO
BE ABLE TO EQUITABLY SERVE OUR
TRIBAL MEMBERS FOR HOME SAFE AND
ALSO REACH ELIGIBLE, OLDER AND
DEPENDENT. OLDER ADULTS,
INDEPENDENT ADULTS WHO ARE BEING
SERVED BY THE A P S PROGRAM. UH
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAPPY
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, MISS BELLA
ELIO. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. JENNY
BELLA, WITH THE L A. OH WE'VE
REVIEWED THE TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE AND WE HAVE NO CONCERNS
TO RAISE FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. NO COMMENTS AT THIS
TIME. BRING IT UP TO THE DIESS.
SEE IF ANY MEMBERS HAVE
QUESTIONS. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
RAMOS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND
ON THE TRIBAL COMPONENT AND THE
OUTREACH HAVE YOU IN MAKING SURE
THAT THE COMMUNITY, UM, COMES
FORWARD AND GIVES THEIR INPUT AS
FAR AS ELDERS, UM, AND
DEFINITIONS MOVING FORWARD AND
HOW TO REACH SOME OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE AREAS, AND IS THERE A
COMPONENT THAT'S MEASURING, UM,
THE DATA? AND HOW THE OUTREACH
IS HAPPENING AND MAKING SURE
THAT IT IS REACHING THOSE THAT
DRASTICALLY NEED IT. YES IN FACT
, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS ACTUALLY
FOR, UM FIVE OF OUR SEVEN
PROGRAMS ARE OPEN TO TRIBAL
ENTITIES TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE
THOSE. THE OTHER TWO ARE CALLED
WORKS RELATED PROGRAMS, AND FOR
THREE OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE
ACTUALLY HAVE A SET ASIDE THAT
WE HAVE CREATED FOR TRIBES TO BE
ABLE TO PARTICIPATE EXCLUSIVELY
IN THOSE AND THEN AS PART OF
BOTH CREATING THAT SET ASIDE,
THE ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED FOR
TRIBES TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE
AND THE SORT OF STRUCTURE FOR
HOW THEY HOW THEY CAN, HOW WE
WOULD ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS AND
AWARD THEM WITH ACTUALLY CREATED
CONDUCTED SIGNIFICANT AND VERY
IN DEPTH ENGAGEMENT WITH, UM
WITH TRIBAL ENTITIES AND TRIBES,
INCLUDING UM, A ONE ON ONE ON
ONE, UM, SORRY. ONE ON ONE
MEETINGS AND BI WEEKLY OFFICE
HOURS, BUT BEYOND THAT ALSO
TRIBAL FORMAL TRIBAL
CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION
WITH OUR OFFICE OF TRIBAL
AFFAIRS, AND SO HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO REALLY SHAPE AND PLAN OUR
APPROACH FOR HOW WE'RE REACHING
TRIBES THROUGH THAT DIRECT
ENGAGEMENT AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING
THROUGH THAT. DO YOU BELIEVE
THAT THE FUNDING THAT'S
CURRENTLY THERE IS ADEQUATE? SO
WE ACTUALLY DOUBLED THE TRIBAL
SET ASIDE WITH THAT IN MIND.
INITIALLY WE HAD ALLOCATED $17.5
MILLION ACROSS THE THREE
PROGRAMS, EACH DAB HOME SAFE AND
BRINGING FAMILIES HOME THAT WERE
PART OF THAT SET ASIDE AND UPON
SEEING THE TREMENDOUS INTEREST
FROM TRIBES, WE HAD RESPONSES
FROM 24 TRIBES, UM, AND FIVE
LETTERS OF INTEREST THAT FAR
EXCEEDED THAT AMOUNT. WE DOUBLED
THAT AMOUNT OF 35 MILLION AND
WE'LL BE MAKING THOSE AWARDS.
QUITE SOON. WELL, THANK YOU.
WE'LL KEEP MONITORING THAT
BECAUSE I THINK THERE STILL IS A
NEED TO EVEN DOUBLE THAT. UM AND
THE OUTREACH TO THE TRIBES AND
SEEING THE, UM, THOSE COMING
FORWARD JUST SHOWS THE NEED THAT
STILL NEEDED, UM, HERE IN
CALIFORNIA WITH CALIFORNIA'S
FIRST PEOPLE. THANK YOU.
RECOGNIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
JUST FIRST, EVEN HELP ESTABLISH
THESE PROGRAMS TO BEGIN WITH AND
THEN IN FUTURE YEARS RAMP UP
THAT CAPACITY AND, UM, UH,
SERVICE DELIVERY. THANK YOU. AND
IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT MY
OFFICE OR MYSELF CAN DO TO HELP
THAT FURTHER ALONG BY ALL MEANS
REACH OUT. THANK YOU. AND ALONG
THOSE LINES, I'M HOPEFUL THAT
YOU CAN KEEP US UP TO DATE ABOUT
THE NEED VERSUS WHERE THE
FUNDING IS. I UNDERSTAND.
APPRECIATE THE DIRECTION THAT
WE'RE MOVING IN, AS WELL AS ALL
OF THE OUTRAGE THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION IS DOING. IT'S
ABOUT TIME FOR US TO TAKE CARE
OF ALL PEOPLE WHO RESIDE WITHIN
OUR STATE AND I'M APPRECIATIVE
OF THE ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL OF
ITS EFFORTS, TAKE CARE OF THE
ORIGINAL STEWARDS OF OUR LENS.
WITH THAT WE WILL, UM, THANKS
VERY MUCH THIS PANEL AND MOVE ON
TO ISSUE NINE. THANK YOU. AND I
THINK I'M STAYING UPSIDE. GREAT
YEAH, ISSUE NINE IS REGARDING
THE HOUSING, INVESTMENT, POWER
AND DUTIES, TECHNICAL CHANGES
TBL AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH MRS
MAHDI DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AT CDSS
. SO I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT
THREE CHANGES BEING REQUESTED AS
PART OF THE HOUSING, INVESTMENT
POWERS AND DUTIES. TECHNICAL
CHANGES TBL. THE FIRST IS THAT
THE TECHNICAL CHANGE CLARIFIES
THAT CDSS HAS AUTHORIZED TO
EXPAND AND AN ADDITIONAL 10.5
MILLION IN GENERAL FUNDS OF THE
TOTAL FUNDS THAT WERE INCLUDED.
IN THE 2022 BUDGET ACT FOR OUR
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
PROGRAMS ON EACH DATA TRACKING
AS WELL AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
, SO THIS WOULD REALLY GET US TO
ALIGN WITH THE PARALLEL
INVESTMENTS THAT WERE MADE
THROUGH THE 2021 BUDGET ACT,
WHICH ARE THE SAME ESSENTIALLY,
SO WE THINK THESE INVESTMENTS
ARE REALLY CRITICAL TO MAXIMIZE
THE IMPACT OF OUR SPENDING ON
THE DIRECT SERVICE DELIVERY
PROVIDED THROUGH THE PROGRAMS.
SECOND THE TPL AUTHORIZES CDSS
TO MODIFY OR WAVE AT ITS
DISCRETION ANY CDSS HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS THAT CONFLICT WITH
TRIBAL LAW OR CUSTOM IN LINE
WITH EQUITY FOCUSED BEST
PRACTICES ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THEN
FINALLY, THE TBL AUTHORIZES THE
C. D. S S TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAM
GUIDANCE THROUGH THE ALL COUNTY
LETTER PROCESS. THESE CHANGES
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR
PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY ENSURE
THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO
ADMINISTER EQUITABLE DATA DRIVEN
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
PROGRAMS TO MAXIMUM EFFECT.
HELLO. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. NO
ISSUES TO RAISE AT THIS TIME OF
FINANCE. NO COMMENTS AT THIS
TIME. BRING IT BACK UP TO THE
DIESS. I'M JUST GONNA MAKE SURE
I HEARD IT CORRECTLY. THESE ARE
NOT FOR THE CURRENT AUTHORITY.
THESE ARE FOR THE ADDITIONAL
FUNDS. IS THAT CORRECT? I'M
SORRY. COULD YOU CLARIFY? IT'S
THE FIRST QUESTION THAT WE HAVE
ON THE AGENDA. UH OH. OKAY. SO,
UM YES, SO IT IS TO AUTHORIZE AN
ADDITIONAL 10.5 MILLION. THAT'S
RIGHT, SO IT'S 10.5 FOR EACH FOR
THE DATA SIDE AND THEN 10.5 FOR
THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WAS DONE FOR
BUDGET ACT OF 2021. UM THAT WAS
UNCLEAR TO US INITIALLY AND SO
WE WILL NEED TO BE CONSIDERING
THAT IS THAT GOES FORWARD BUT
LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE
DISCUSSIONS. SURE, HAPPY TO TALK
FURTHER. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON. WE
WILL THANK THAT PANEL AND MOVE
ON TO ISSUE 10 REGARDING THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL ON THE
MASTER PLAN OF AGING PHASE THREE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY BCP
. WE WILL HAVE THREE PRESENTERS
ON THIS PANEL AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH MARK BECKLEY, CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING. GOOD
AFTERNOON AGAIN. MARK BECKLEY,
CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING
THE DEPARTMENT RIGHT THIS TIME
I'M AH, I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT
THE M P A PHASE THREE, UM,
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSAL. THE
ASSEMBLY AGENDA DID AN EXCELLENT
JOB OF SUMMARIZING THE PROPOSAL
, SO I'LL LIMIT MY COMMENTS TO
HOW THIS PROPOSAL INTERFACES
WITH THE MASTER PLAN FOR AGING
AND IMPLEMENTING, UM OR
INITIATIVES AS WELL AS THE
EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS ALSO
RAISED QUESTIONS. SO THE MP A
PHASE THREE PROPOSAL REQUEST 10
POSITIONS AND 1.7 MILLION
GENERAL FUND TO PROVIDE NEEDED
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
TO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE
MASTER PLAN FOR AGING,
SPECIFICALLY REQUESTING TO IT.
PROJECT MANAGERS THAT WILL OVER
THREE OVERSEE THREE KEY PROJECTS
TO IMPLEMENT THE M P A. THESE
INCLUDE THE MIGRATION OF THE M P
A DATA DASHBOARD FROM CDP H TWO
C D, A THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
STATEWIDE LEARNING MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM THAT WILL BE USED BY
SYRIA AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL AGING
NETWORK STAKEHOLDERS. UM THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ENTERPRISE
CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM, WHICH WE CALL OUR CHARM
SYSTEM WILL GET ALL OF OUR
PARTNERS ON ONE COMMON PLATFORMS
SO THAT WE CAN REALLY LOOK AT
THE DATA ON A STATEWIDE HOLISTIC
BASIS AND THEN FINALLY, THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A CUSTOMER FACING
WEB PORTAL WHICH WE THINK WILL
REALLY BE INSTRUMENTAL IN
ENABLING PEOPLE TO EASILY ACCESS
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS IN THEIR
AREAS. RIGHT NOW. YOU HAVE TO
CALL MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PHONE
NUMBERS. IF YOU HAVE ONE WEBSITE
THAT CONTAINS ALL OF YOUR LOCAL
RESOURCES THAT WOULD BE MUCH
MORE EFFICIENT. THE PROPOSAL
ALSO REQUEST TO ESTABLISH
ADDITIONAL 80 SECURITY DATABASE
AND SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION STAFF
TO STORE AN ADEQUATELY SAFEGUARD
DATA ACQUIRED FOR THE MASTER
PLAN OF AGING CDVA IS IN THE
PROCESS OF REQUIRING ADDITIONAL
DATASETS OVER AND BEYOND WHAT WE
NORMALLY COLLECT, INCLUDING, UM
, DATA ON HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING,
TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH.
CAREGIVING AND SEVERAL OTHER
AREAS SO THAT WE CAN BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS, SERVICE
GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OLDER
ADULTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AS
WE CONTINUE TO ACQUIRE THESE
DATASETS ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE
ADEQUATE STORAGE AND SECURITY,
SO THAT WERE, UM, ADEQUATELY
PROTECTING THE ADDITIONAL DATA
THAT WE'RE COLLECTING. THE
RESOURCE. ALSO THE REQUEST ALSO
REQUESTS THREE VIÆT CONTRACT
ANALYST POSITIONS SO THAT WE
THEY CAN HELP US CONTINUE TO
CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES AND
EQUIPMENT. TIM IMPLEMENT OUR
INITIATIVES. SO TO PUT THE BCP
AND CONTEXT THESE ARE REALLY
FOUNDATIONAL RESOURCES THAT OUR
I T DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO, UM, SET
US UP TO DO ADDITIONAL DATA AND
RESEARCH ON THE MPA GOING
FORWARD. UM I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT
IN THE CURRENT ERA WE HIRED OUR
FIRST EVER EXECUTIVE LEVEL CHIEF
INFORMATION OFFICER POSITION AND
THE ENTERPRISE DATA ARCHITECT
POSITION THAT WILL OVERSEE THE
ARCHITECTURE OF ALL OF OUR
SYSTEMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE GOING
FORWARD AND THE CHIEF DATA
OFFICER THAT WILL GUIDE OUR DATA
STRATEGIES GOING FORWARD AND
WITH REALLY AN ENTERPRISE VIEW
OF SYSTEMS. UM AND THEN WE ALSO
ESTABLISHED RESEARCH STAFF AND C
D IN THE CURRENT YEAR, THANKS TO
THE LEGISLATURE, UM, WE HIRED
OUR FIRST EVER. UH CHIEF DATA
MANAGEMENT OFFICER AND, UM HE'S
IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING HIS
TEAM OF STAFF AND AGAIN. WHAT
THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS THEY'RE
GONNA ONLY REALLY GOING TO
LEVERAGE ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL
DATA AND DATA SETS THAT WE'RE
REQUIRING THAT OUR DATA TEAM
WILL BE ASSISTING US WITH, UM
AND REALLY DELVING INTO THE DATA
AND RESEARCH TO REALLY
UNDERSTAND AGAIN. GAPS
OPPORTUNITIES AND NEEDS FOR
OLDER ADULTS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE
WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE
NEWLY ESTABLISHED, UM,
CONSORTIUM OF ACADEMIC, STATE
AND LOCAL RESEARCH EXPERTS
CALLED THE CALIFORNIA AGING AND
DISABILITY RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP
. UM AND WE ALSO HIRED OUR FIRST
EVER EQUITY OFFICERS. SO AS
WE'RE LOOKING AT DATA DATA SETS
, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IT ALL
THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE SERVING ALL
CALIFORNIANS. UM AND THEN THE
OTHER PIECE OF WORK THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO BE DOING IS IDENTIFYING
PERFORMANCE METRICS AND OUTCOMES
FOR EACH OF OUR DATA SETS AND
ALL THE KEY DOMAINS OF AREAS OF
SERVICE THAT PERVERT PROVIDING
THE OLDER CALIFORNIANS. SO UM,
LOTS OF GREAT WORK THAT WE HAVE
UNDERWAY WITH, UM, DATA AND
RESEARCH. UM ALL ALSO JUST
MENTIONED THREE KEY EFFORTS AND
WE HAVE UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW,
WHICH IS REALLY TOO LOOK AT
SENIOR NUTRITION. UM ARE WE
PROVIDING THESE SERVICES
EFFECTIVELY? HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
WE SERVING? UM, WHAT'S THE
DIVERSITY OF POPULATIONS THAT
WE'RE SERVING? WE'RE DOING A
SIMILAR STUDY ON OUR DIRECTOR
CARE WORKFORCE AS WELL AND WILL
ALSO BE LAUNCHING AN L G B T Q
STUDY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
NEEDS OF THE STATE'S OLDER ADULT
LGBT Q POPULATIONS. UM SO THAT'S
AN OVERVIEW OF THE BCG ELIO.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. WE'RE STILL
IN THE PROCESS OF CONDUCTING OUR
REVIEW OF THIS PROPOSAL, BUT WE
DON'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR
CONCERNS TO RAISE AT THIS TIME
OF FINANCE. ENDED UP THE FINANCE
NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD HERE TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. BRING IT
UP TO THE DIOCESE. WE'LL START
WITH DR JACKSON. OBVIOUSLY WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY, WE ARE
SEEING SOME PROFOUND
DISPROPORTIONALITY, ESPECIALLY
WHEN IT COMES TO AFRICAN
AMERICANS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. MHM. REPRESENTING
OVER 30% OF HOMELESS FOLKS, AND
ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF OUR
SENIORS, RIGHT BUT MAKE A VERY,
VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE
POPULATION. UM AND SO AS WE
BEGIN TO BUILD OUT EQUITY
COMPONENTS, YOU KNOW NOW THIS IS
OUR ALSO A HARD POPULATION TO
GET TO THE COMMUNICATE SERVICES
TO WRITE TO BUILD TRUST WITH AH
, AND SO WHAT? WHETHER WHAT IS
THE VISION IN TERMS OF READING,
REACHING THAT POPULATION? YEAH I
THINK YOU KNOW OUR TRIPLE A,
ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC
WITH THE INFUSION OF NEW FEDERAL
COVID RELIEF FUNDS, THEY'RE ABLE
TO RAPIDLY EXPAND THEIR SERVICE
AND REALLY INVEST IN CULTURALLY
COMPETENT, APPROPRIATE SERVICES
. SO I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN
DOING A GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF,
UM, CREATING NEW MESSAGING
WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES TO, UM,
REALLY MAKE INROADS. UM YOU KNOW
, TRANSLATE MATERIALS AND MAYBE
YOU KNOW LANGUAGES THEY HADN'T
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
PREVIOUSLY, BUT I KNOW THAT
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE
LOCALLY TO REALLY EXPAND OUT
INTO DIFFERENT POPULATIONS AND
REALLY THE INTENTIONAL ABOUT
EQUITY INITIATIVES. UM, SO
THAT'S THAT'S SOME OF THE WORK
THEY'VE DONE TODAY AT THE STATE
LEVEL THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE
TO BE FOCUSED. LIKE I SAY ANY OF
OUR RESEARCH EFFORTS WHERE WE'RE
SEEING WHERE THERE'S GAPS IN
SERVICE OR WHERE WE'RE SEEING.
CERTAIN POPULATIONS THAT ARE
UNDERREPRESENTED THAT'S REALLY
GOING TO BE A KEY FOCUS OF OURS
IS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
BARRIER IS SO THAT WE CAN
DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO REALLY GET
AT THOSE POPULATIONS. AND IT
MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, JUST LACK OF
AWARENESS ABOUT THE SERVICES
THAT WE OFFER HOW TO CONTACT US,
BUT IT COULD ALSO BE JUST
COMMUNICATING APPROPRIATELY.
AND, UM YOU KNOW? BEING
INTENTIONAL ABOUT OFFERING THE
SERVICES PROACTIVELY ANTICIPATE
SPECIFIC. STRATEGIES BEING
DEVELOPED FOR SPECIFIC
POPULATIONS. YES, ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH. I MEAN AGAIN IF WE SEE
SERVICE GAPS, UM, FOR CERTAIN
POPULATIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL,
YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL
PROVIDERS AND PARTNERS WHO
ADDRESS UM I THI YES. YOU'RE
GONNA BE OKAY. AH UM YOU KNOW, I
CAN SAY I FEEL I FEEL GOOD. WE
HAVE A WONDERFUL CEO THAT WE
HIRED THIS YEAR AS WELL AS UM,
REALLY SKILLED IT STAFF WERE
REALLY FAMILIAR WITH THE PRIVATE
PROJECT APPROVAL LIFECYCLE
PROCESS. UM AND SO, YOU KNOW, I
THINK THAT YOU KNOW I T THERE.
THERE IS A STAGE GATE PROCESS.
IT DOES TAKE TIME, AND YOU KNOW
AS CHAIR, AMBULANCE SAID,
THERE'S GOOD REASONS FOR IT. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
MAKING Y SELECTIONS OF OUR IT
SYSTEMS AND WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW
, INVESTING IN SYSTEMS THAT
MIGHT EITHER BE A DEAD END OR
MIGHT NOT BE THE APPROPRIATE
SOLUTIONS. SO IT MAKES SENSE TO
THINK THESE SOLUTIONS THROUGH
BUT LIKE I SAID, I THINK WE'VE
GOT A REALLY GOOD TEAM OF
SUPPORT TO HELP US GUIDE US
SKILLFULLY THROUGH THE PROCESS,
LET THEM KNOW I'LL BE PRAYING
FOR HIM. AND I SHOULD ALSO NOTE
THAT WE'RE WE REALLY WORK
CLOSELY WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS. I
MEAN, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US
WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT.
SYSTEMS ARE LAUNCHING SYSTEMS IS
THAT WE ENGAGE WITH OUR LOCAL
PROVIDERS AND ALSO TO THE EXTENT
THAT WE CAN INVOLVE OUR
PARTICIPANTS IN THE TESTING AND
THOUGHTS ABOUT DATA SYSTEMS LIKE
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO THEM.
WOULD THEY USE THESE SYSTEMS? SO
YEAH. UM I'D LIKE TO ASK AS THE
AGENDA STATES THAT WE HAVE
BUDGET BILL LANGUAGE PRESENTED
BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT WILL
ALLOW US TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU
PLAN ON CAPTURING AND
IMPLEMENTING THE UM. BCP AND HOW
THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY ALLOW US
TO FURTHER OUR EQUITY GOALS. I'D
LIKE TO UNDERSTAND AND TRACK
THAT POSSIBLE. UM WITH THAT WE
WILL HOLD THIS ITEM OPEN AND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS
PANELIST AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR
PANELISTS TODAY. IF THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS, COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS, WE WILL NOW BEGIN
PUBLIC COMMENT.
APOLOGIES FOR THAT. WE WILL MOVE
ON TO ISSUE 11 REGARDING HEALTH
INSURANCE COUNSELING AND
ADVOCACY PROGRAM MODERNIZATION
BCP. WE WILL HAVE THREE
PRESENTERS AND BEGIN WITH NICOLE
OSAKA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
ADMINISTRATION SERVICES,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAIR AND
THANK YOU MEMBERS. UM HERE TODAY
TO PRESENT ON OUR HEALTH
INSURANCE COUNSELING AND
ADVOCACY PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS
HIGH CAP, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED
STATEWIDE BY 26 AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING. HI CAP OFFERS MEDICARE
AND RELATED HEALTH, INSURANCE,
COUNSELING AND EDUCATION AND
PROVIDE SERVICES TO
APPROXIMATELY 51,000 MEDICARE
BENEFICIARIES ANNUALLY. THE HIGH
CAP SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL IS
DEPENDENT UPON THE ABILITY TO
RECRUIT, RETAIN AND TRAINED
VOLUNTEER COUNSELORS. VOLUNTEERS
CONSTITUTE 74% OF THE OVERALL
HIGH CAP COUNSELOR WORKFORCE. IN
JULY, 2021 C D. A WAS PROVIDED
WITH TWO YEARS OF FUNDING EFFORT
AUTHORITY FROM THE HIGH CAP
SPECIAL FUND. THIS FUNDING WAS
TO SUPPORT ONE FULL TIME
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR AT EACH
LOCAL HIGH CAP AND THEN THREE
LIMITED TERM POSITIONS AT C. D A
TO OVERSEE THE HIGH CAP FUNDING
AND FINANCIAL REPORTING,
TRAINING AND RESEARCH AND DATA.
THIS REQUEST IS A ONE YEAR
EXTENSION OF THESE POSITIONS.
THE RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF
HIGH CAP VOLUNTEERS IS CRITICAL
TO DELIVERING HIGH CAP SERVICES
STATEWIDE AS VOLUNTEERS DO MAKE
UP THAT 74% OF THE OVERALL HIGH
CAP WORKFORCE. AND OVER THE PAST
SIX YEARS WE'VE SEEN THE HIGH
CAP COUNSELOR WORKFORCE DECLINED
BY 26. AT THE SAME TIME WE'VE
SEEN THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS
COUNCIL DROPPED BY ALMOST 30.
CURRENTLY THE HIGH CAP PROGRAM
SERVES LESS THAN 1% OF MEDICARE
RECIPIENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THE RESOURCES REQUESTED IN THIS
, BCP WILL CONTINUE TO HELP
LOCAL HIGH CAP PROGRAMS, RECRUIT
AND TRAIN NEW VOLUNTEERS IN THE
STATE STAFF WILL PROVIDE THE
NEEDED SUPPORT TO LOCAL PROGRAM
FOR TRAINING, RESEARCH AND
BUDGETING. AT THIS TIME. WE ARE
JUST REQUESTING THE LIMITED TERM
POSITIONS AS WE HAVE AN ACTIVE
EFFORT UNDERWAY TO DEVELOP A
STRATEGIC PLAN TO MODERNIZE AND
EXPAND HIGH CAP SERVICES. WE
HAVE CONTRACTED WITH A
CONSULTANT TO HELP US CONDUCT A
SWAT ANALYSIS AND DEVELOP GOALS
AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE PROGRAM
GOING FORWARD. SOME OF THE KEY
STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING
AT, INCLUDING INCREASING THE
PUBLIC AWARENESS OF HIGH CAP
SERVICES THROUGH INCREASED
MARKETING AND OUTREACH,
ENHANCING THE HIGH CAP TOOLS AND
INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES AND
CONTINUALLY UPDATING THE HIGH
CAP TRAINING FOR CHANGES AND
INCREASING COMPLEXITY IN
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, LONG TERM
CARE INSURANCE AND OTHER PLAN
OFFERINGS. WILL BE WORKING WITH
A COALITION OF STAKEHOLDERS TO
INFORM AND FINALIZE THIS PLAN.
THE APPROVAL OF THIS BCP
REQUESTS WILL HAVE A DIRECT
IMPACT ON LOCAL HIGH CAP
PROVIDERS AND THE OLDER ADULTS
THAT THEY SERVE. PRIOR TO THE
FIRST PCP IN JULY, 2021 58% OF
LOCAL HIGH CUP SERVICE PROVIDERS
REPORTED INSUFFICIENT STAFFING
TO MANAGE EXISTING WORKLOAD,
WHICH CONTINUES TO GROW WITH THE
INCREASING NUMBER OF MEDICARE
BENEFICIARIES AND INCREASED
COMPLEXITY OF MEDICARE AND LONG
TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORT
PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY MANY
LOCAL HIGH CUT PROGRAMS ONLY HAD
A PART TIME VOLUNTEER
COORDINATOR AND NO OTHER
DEDICATED STAFF. THE NUMBER OF
ANNUAL CLIENTS DROPPED FROM
66,000 AND FISCAL YOUR 2016 17
TO 51,021 22. WITHOUT
APPROPRIATE VOLUNTEER STAFFING
TO DELIVER SERVICES. HIGH CAPS
ARE LIMITED IN THE AMOUNT OF
SERVICES THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR
MEDICARE COUNSELING, INFORMATION
, EDUCATION, LEGAL REFERRAL AND
ASSISTANCE AND INFORMAL ADVOCACY
. NEEDED TO NOT ADVOCATE EXCUSE
ME NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX MEDICARE
SYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDES BUT IS
NOT LIMITED TO MEDICARE PARTS A
AND B MEDICARE PART D
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS.
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS.
MEDICARE, SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE
AND LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE
PLANS. WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE
LACK OF COVERAGE INCREASED OUT
OF COST POCKET TO SOME OF
CALIFORNIA'S MOST UNSTABLE
CONSUMERS AND A LACK OF CRITICAL
CRITICAL SERVICES. WE ARE ONLY
REQUESTING A ONE YEAR EXTENSION
SINCE THE HIGH CAP MODERNIZATION
UM, AND OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE
UNDERWAY. WE ARE REQUESTING THIS
EXTENSION TO ALLOW FOR SUSTAINED
RESOURCING WHILE WE CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO FINALIZE
THE BLUEPRINT FOR HIGH CAPS
MODERNIZATION EFFORTS. THERE ARE
CURRENTLY SEVERAL COUNTIES THAT
CONTINUE TO REPORT CHALLENGES
WITH REESTABLISHING THEIR PRE
COVID VOLUNTEER RIGS. UM KING
SOLANO, PLUMAS, SAN BERNARDINO,
RIVERSIDE AND IMPERIAL ARE ALL
REPORTING PENETRATION RATES
BELOW THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE.
THIS REQUEST PROVIDES A PIVOTAL
FOUNDATION FOR LOCAL HIGH CAP
MODERNIZATION EFFORTS AND TO, UM
CONTINUE ADDRESSING VOLUNTEER
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ISSUES
TO EXPAND SERVICES THROUGHOUT
THE STATE. ELIO WE HAVE NO
CONCERNS WITH THIS PROPOSAL.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. NOTHING
FURTHER BRING IT UP TO THE
MEMBERS SAYING NO QUESTIONS. WE
WILL THANKS VERY MUCH THIS
PENALTY. WE WILL NOW BEGIN
PUBLIC COMMENT AS A REMINDER WE
WELCOME PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY
ISSUE ON THE AGENDA. WE HAVE A
SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND I WANNA THEREFORE
URGE YOU TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS
AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE
CAN HEAR FROM EVERYONE. WE WILL
START WITH ANY IN PERSON. PUBLIC
COMMENT IN THE HEARING ROOM. IF
YOU CAN PLEASE COME FORWARD TO
MAKE YOUR COMMENT. PLEASE BEGIN.
MY NAME IS JUDY JACKSON. AND I'M
SOMEBODY YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM
YET. I RECEIVE ALL THESE KINDS
OF SERVICES. I MOVED FROM
ALAMEDA COUNTY TO SEM, BENITO
COUNTY, AND IT'S A DISASTER. MY
CAREGIVER. WENT FROM 100 AND 55
HOURS TO 128 HOURS AND I DIDN'T
CHANGE AT ALL. MY CAREGIVER GETS
$2 LESS AN HOUR IN THE NEW
COUNTY. THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME
WAY TO MAKE THESE THINGS MORE
STANDARDIZED. SO THAT I DON'T
HAVE TO. BE PUT OUT BECAUSE I
MOVED. I HAD TO MOVE. THEY WERE
BUILDING A BUILDING ACROSS FROM
ME AND THE DIRT AND DUST WAS
MAKING ME SICK. THANK YOU,
MA'AM. HIGH CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS GABBY DAVIDSON WITH
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
FOOD BANK, A MEMBER OF THE
CALIFORNIA FOR US AS I COALITION
JUST URGING SUPPORT FOR REVIVING
THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
PROGRAM AND TRAIN, UM, PARODY
BETWEEN S AND B AND T AND BEING
CAL, FRESH PROTECTING THE
INCREASES TO ASSESS SCIENCE, SSP
AND THE JANUARY PROPOSAL AND
CONTINUING TO INVEST IN THEM TO
BRING INDIVIDUALS UP TO THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. 1.1
MILLION CALIFORNIANS RELY ON S S
I WE MUST ENSURE RECIPIENTS
REMAIN HOUSE. DO NOT GO HUNGRY
AND CAN LIVE WITH DIGNITY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
LINDA WAY WITH WESTERN CENTER ON
LAW AND POVERTY AS PART OF THE
CALIFORNIANS FOR SSC COALITION.
WE ALIGN OUR COMMENTS WITH THE
PREVIOUS SPEAKER AND BECCA
GONZALES AND WOULD JUST NOTE
THAT S S I RECIPIENTS ARE JUST
NOW BEGINNING TO RECOVER FROM
THE 2008 CUTS AND THE RISING
COST OF RENT. UM FOOD UTILITIES
HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR THESE.
INVESTMENTS WE ALSO SUPPORT THE
HIGH CAP FUNDING WHO WORK
ALONGSIDE OUR HEALTH, CONSUMER
ALLIANCE ADVOCATES AND FINALLY,
WE SUPPORT CARLA'S REQUESTING
EXPAND CAPPY FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR TONY AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M
TONY GONZALEZ. I REPRESENT THE
HOME CARE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
AND ASSOCIATION OF HOME CARE
PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. I HAVE TWO ISSUES
TO COMMENT ON VERY BRIEFLY ISSUE
NUMBER SIX WITH RESPECT TO
FUNDING IT ADDITIONAL FUNDING
FOR ENFORCEMENT AT THE HOME CARE
SERVICES BUREAU. WE SUPPORT THAT
BCP. WE SEE A LOT OF UNLICENSED
, UNREGULATED UNDERGROUND
ACTIVITY IN THE HOME CARE SPACE
, WHICH WE THINK SHOULD BE
BROUGHT UNDER REGULATION AND
SUPERVISION. SECONDLY ISSUE
NUMBER SEVEN WITH RESPECT TO
GUARDIAN, YOU HEARD A LOT TODAY
. THE BACKLOG HAS NOT IMPROVED
AT ALL FOR US OVER THE LAST SIX
MONTHS, HOWEVER, WE DO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT STAFF
HAVE BEEN DOING IT. C P M B AND
AT THE DEPARTMENT AND, UM, WHAT
WE RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST IS THE
ADOPTION OF BUDGET TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE THAT WOULD ADDRESS SOME
OF THE STATUTORY BARRIERS. TOLD
THAT THAT DEAL WITH THAT REALLY
ARE PART OF THE BACKLOG THAT HAS
BEEN CREATED IN VARIOUS CHOKE
POINTS IN THE PROCESS. I WANT TO
GO INTO DETAILS TODAY, BUT WE
ARE HAVING PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT. WE HOPE TO COME BACK
VERY SOON, AS IN THE NEXT WEEK
OR TWO WITH THE PROPOSAL. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD
EVENING CHAIR ARAMBULA AND
MEMBERS TYLER WINDY ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF CHILD
AND FAMILY SERVICES. COMMENTING
ON ISSUE NUMBER SEVEN DOORWAYS
AND BACKGROUND CHECK CLEARANCES
THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE IS
IMPACTING SERVICES ON THE GROUND
FOR FOSTER YOUTH AND THE
SERVICES THAT ARE MEMBERS
PROVIDE AND THE APPROVAL OF
RESOURCE FAMILIES THROUGH FOSTER
FAMILY AGENCIES. UM IT'S ALREADY
A CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT RIGHT
NOW TO HIRE AND RETAIN STAFF AND
GUARDIAN DELAYS ARE MAKING IT
THAT MUCH MORE CHALLENGING, WERE
SUPPORTIVE OF THE BUDGET CHANGE
PROPOSAL BY THE DEPARTMENT, UM,
PUT FORWARD TO REPLACE THE
GUARDIAN SYSTEM BUT ARE URGING
FOR AN INTERIM SOLUTION OF $2
MILLION FOR 12 WOMEN IN TERM
STAFFING. UM FOR DSS TO PROCESS
, BACKGROUND CHECKS MORE TIMELY
. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT
NEAREST TO BE AN INTERIM
SOLUTION TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
TO SERVE VULNERABLE
CALIFORNIANS, INCLUDING FOSTER.
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR
SUPPORT, AND THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. HOW MANY IS ROBERT
COPELAND, A MEMBER OF A SEGMENT
OF HOMELESS ORGANIZED COMMUNITY
AND PART OF THE S C. A PROCESS I
COALITION ONE YOU NEED TO BRING
UP AS A CYCLE SAID THEY CALL
THEM ARE TELLING THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL. BECAUSE PEOPLE IN
THERE S A R LET'S SAY, UH, RED'S
GOING TO BETTER THEIR BENEFITS.
I'VE GOT A FEW SOLUTIONS ONE.
YOU WORK WITH THE LOCAL COUNTY
GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE THE
HOMELESS POPULATION. INCREASE
THEIR MATTER. I JUST WORKERS GET
AT LEAST 20 BUCKS AN HOUR, AT
LEAST TURNED SACRAMENTO,
CALIFORNIA. AND WE NEED MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD TO SEE YOU
AGAIN. FOR THE YEAR. GOOD
AFTERNOON, SELENA KOBE HORN BACK
WITH THE CALIFORNIA ASSISTED
LIVING ASSOCIATION HERE IN
SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AND
THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET CHANGE
PROPOSAL FOR THE GUARDIAN
BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM AND ALSO
WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY
COLLEAGUE TYLER WENDY REGARDING
THE STAKEHOLDER PROPOSAL FOR
MORE STAFF FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
OBVIOUSLY FOR OUR MEMBERS AS
WELL, THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM,
AND THE BACKLOG CONTINUES TO
IMPACT. THE WAY THEY CAN HIRE
STAFF. THANK YOU. OPERATOR THAT
CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT HERE IN
THE HEARING ROOM. WE WILL NOW GO
TO THE PHONE LINES FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT AS A REMINDER THE PHONE
NUMBER TO CONNECT IS ON THE
COMMITTEE WEBSITE AND SHOULD BE
ON THE SCREEN IF YOU ARE
WATCHING OVER THE INTERNET, THE
NUMBER AGAIN IS TOLL FREE
1877692. 8957 AND THE PUBLIC
ACCESS CODE IS 13154. IF YOU
WANT TO COUNTER ANY PROBLEMS,
YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT THE
ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE AT
916319 2099, A STAFF MEMBER WILL
ASSIST YOU. OPERATOR WE ARE
READY TO BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT.
GENTLEMEN, MY PHONE IF YOU'D
LIKE TO COMMENT, PLEASE PRESS
ONE THAN ZERO ON YOUR PHONES,
KEEP IT AND OPERATOR WILL FIGHT
YOU WITH LIGHT NUMBER AND WE'LL
CALL YOUR LINE NUMBER WHEN IT'S
YOUR TURN FOR YOUR COMMENT, AND
FIRST WE WILL GO TO LINE NUMBER
THREE AS OUR LINE TO 39 TO 30
YEARS OPEN. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
YES IT WAS AFTERNOON. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO
FOR OUR ASIAN POPULATION. MY
NAME'S KATIE CRUEL FROM CIRCLE.
I AM ADMINISTRATOR HERE FIRST
AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK LEGISLATION FOR
LEGISLATION FOR BASED RECOVERY,
THE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDED 61.4
MILLION SYMBOLIC CONTINUE TO
FUND THAT ONE TIME TO PROVIDE
GRANTS TOTAL THE HEALTH CARE
CENTERS WERE URGING YOU TO
PROTECT THIS FINDING AND SPEED
IT UP. POLICE IT'S ESSENTIAL. WE
SERVED SO MANY SENIORS AND
DISABLED ABOUT WHO HAVE MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES AND THEIR LIVES
WERE DISRUPTED BY FOR ITS
ISOLATION BECOME. REALLY HIGH
RISK AND TURNS AND IT'S
INCREASED WITH FOOTBALL
MALICIOUSNESS. SO THIS IS THE
PEOPLE WHO SERVED AND WE DO NEED
THIS FUNDING TO PROVIDE THE CARE
EMPLOYERS AND SURVIVE THE
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE SURVIVED
FROM THE ENORMOUS INFLATION AND
WE ALSO URGE YOU TO INCREASE
RATES FOR ABOUT THE HEALTH. UH
THE IN OUR INDUSTRY AND THE
SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
IS THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE,
CALLED THE BOARD EVERYWHERE, AND
THE AGING POPULATION IS GROWING
FASTER THAN EVER. SO WE CAN'T
HIRE A WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH
OTHER PROVIDERS, HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS AND WE CAN'T HIRE
EMPLOYEES AND WE BADLY BADLY
BADLY NEED HELP. AND PLEASE HELP
US BY INCREASING THE RATE TO
PROTECT ABOUT THEIR HEALTH
PROGRAMS AND WHICH IS VERY MUCH
NEEDED, OR, UH, ASIAN POPULATION
ALSO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT AND
THAT EVERYONE AROUND US WHEN
THERE ARE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
INFLATION, THEY CAN'T RAISE
THEIR THEIR PRICES LIKE TYPE OF
COFFEE IS NOW MORE THAN A GALLON
OF GAS SO EVERYONE CAN INCREASE
THEIR CRISIS. AS ALL THE HELP WE
CANNOT. SO AND WE NEVER HAD
INCREASED FOR WHAT? ALMOST
REMEMBER LIKE FOR MORE THAN 20
YEARS FOR SURE. SO WE BELIEVE
THAT THIS HEALTH SINCE WE CAN'T
REALLY CONTROL UM OUR PRICES
ALSO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL
CALDERON FUNDING, WHICH WOULD
EXTREMELY HELPFUL FOR OUR
DIRECTOR WORKERS TO GET PREGNANT
AND BE MORE PRODUCTIVE AT WORK
AND PROVIDE BETTER CARE TO
ELDERLY DISABLED ADULTS. THE
LITTLE TROUBLE. UM WAS DEATH IS
THE TIMELINE BECAME SHORTENED TO
8.5 MONTHS FROM CHEN AND WE
BELIEVE THAT 8.2 POINT FIVE
MONTHS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO
CONDUCT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE, UM HMM.
MAYBE FOR LONG FOR A COUPLE OF
MONTHS. UM AND ALSO WOULD BE
MUCH APPRECIATED IF THE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WOULD BE
ADDED TO THE PROGRAM COULD BE
SUSTAINED FOR LONGER SO WE CAN
CONTINUE TRAINING DOLLARS STUFF
. UH FOR MORE THAN, UH, END OF
2023. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO
TO CALIFORNIA, OLDER ADULTS AND
PROTONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT CALLER, PLEASE. LINE 2 36
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING
CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS
REGINA BRINK WITH THE CALIFORNIA
COUNCIL OF THE BLIND AND MEMBER
OF THE CALIFORNIA COALITION. I'D
LIKE TO ALIGN MY COMMENTS ON
WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS ON
CALLE FRESH, BRINGING SCIENTISTS
, P GRANTS UP TO THE POVERTY
LEVEL. UM INSTITUTING THE
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FUNDS
AGAIN. AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND
YOU THAT FOR PEOPLE WITH VISION
LOSS IN CALIFORNIA, THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 70% PRE
PANDEMIC. IT'S ONLY GONE UP AND
THAT IS CAUSED A LOT OF OUR
MEMBERS TO ACTUALLY HAVE TO LIVE
SOLELY S I AND OTHER PROGRAMS
THE WAY TV JACKSON HIS SO
ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBED, SO WE FACE
THE SAME. BARRIERS I ALSO WANT
TO URGE THE I T PEOPLE HERE THAT
WHEN YOU UPDATE YOUR WEB SITES
AND YOU DO AT ONLINE
APPLICATIONS AND INFORMATION AND
FORMS THAT YOU PAY ATTENTION TO
ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH
VISION LOSS, USING SCREEN
READERS AS SOON AS A SITE
BECOMES ACCESSIBLE, IT GETS
UPDATED. IT HAS BEEN UP AND MADE
INACCESSIBLE BECAUSE UM,
ACCESSIBILITY ON THE WEB AS WELL
NEEDS TO BE INTENTIONAL. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE. FINE
TO 40. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR IN
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AND DARBY
KERNAN, REPRESENTING LEADING AGE
CALIFORNIA WE SUPPORT THE DFS
BUDGET PROPOSAL JUST POURED THE
CURRENT GUARDIAN SYSTEM AND
PLANNING TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM
OF THEM WITH A MORE EFFICIENT
ONE. IN ADDITION, WE SUPPORT THE
STAKEHOLDER PROPOSAL TO FUND 12
LIMITED TERM POSITIONS WITHIN
DFS. TO PROCESS BACKGROUND
CHECKS AND REDUCE THE BACKLOG OR
FORCE CHALLENGES IS THE NUMBER
ONE ISSUE FACING OUR MEMBERS
ACROSS THE CONTINUUM, HOWEVER,
IN OUR CFCS, THE DELAY IN
BACKGROUND CHECKS IS COMPOUNDING
THE ISSUE. THIS ADDITIONAL
FUNDING IS VITAL TO THE GROWING
THE WORK PERSON. THESE
COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE.
OUTLINE TO 46 GO AHEAD. GOOD
EVENING SHARING MEMBERS. THIS IS
ANDREW SHANE FROM GRACE AND
CHILD POVERTY, CALIFORNIA IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSAL
BY THE CALIFORNIA FOR S INSIGHT,
COALITION CHAIRED. WANNA THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PERSONAL LEADERSHIP
AND INVOLVEMENT AS SOMEONE WHO
WAS PROUD TO PLAY A PART IN MANY
OF THESE JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO,
AND WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT FOR
THE OBVIOUS REASON THAT THE
MAJORITY OF THE CASELOAD IS
DISPROPORTIONATELY OLDER ADULTS
, ESPECIALLY WOMEN FROM
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO FACES
ENFRANCHISEMENT AND DON'T HAVE
SAVINGS. UH AND ARE HONEST SIDE
BUT THERE ARE ALSO 100,000
CHILDREN WHO ARE ON THE PROGRAM.
AND SO OUR ORGANIZATIONS
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE
PROPOSALS. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE. QUICK
REMINDER. IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, YOU CAN
CALL YOU CAN PRESS 10 ON YOUR
PHONES KEEP OUT AT THIS TIME.
OUR NEXT CALLER IS LINE TO 31 TO
31, PLEASE GO AHEAD. HI THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL
HEARING. THIS IS DONNA BENTON
WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA CAREGIVER RESOURCE
CENTERS, AND I JUST WANTED TO
UNDERSCORE AND, UM CDVA PLAN TO
HELP FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS,
PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO DO NOT
QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID, AL FOR, UM
, UM, MEDICAID BENEFITS AND, UM
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
THAT IS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN
FOR AGING AND ANY EXPANSION FOR
THOSE PROGRAMS. I ALSO WANT TO
ENDORSE. WHAT HAS BEEN SAID
ABOUT UM, ALLOWING FOR MORE TIME
TO THOUGHT FULLY AND
INTENTIONALLY EXPAND THE
TIMELINES FOR THE CALGARY GROW
PROJECTS, PARTICULARLY THE ONES
THAT ARE ALLOWING US TO TRAIN
THOSE CAREGIVERS THAT ARE NOT
PART OF THE I. H S S SYSTEM BUT
DO SUPPORT THE, UM OVER SEVERAL
MILLION FAMILY CAREGIVERS, BUT
THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN
CALIFORNIA WHO RELY ON
CAREGIVERS BUT COULD BE USED
MORE TRAINING IN AREAS OF
DEMENTIA CARE, AND SO I'M REALLY
WOULD, UM, THE SHORTENED
TIMELINE IS REALLY MAKING IT
DIFFICULT TO GET CURRICULUM OUT
THERE AND SO THAT WE CAN REACH
PEOPLE APPROPRIATELY. THANK YOU
AGAIN. MY NAME IS DONNA BENTON.
THANK YOU. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE.
LINE 2 43 GO AHEAD. GOOD
AFTERNOON TREND PHªN WITH
JUSTICE, THE NATION CALLING IN
SUPPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA BY
COALITION AS YES, I PROVIDES
CRITICAL FOUNDATION FOR LOW
INCOME SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES. HOWEVER RISING
PRICES FOR HOUSING, FOOD AND
OTHER COSTS HAVE A DEVASTATING
IMPACT ON SENIORS LIVING ON
LIMITED INCOME. AND PUSH PEOPLE
INTO HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER.
CALIFORNIA HAS THE HIGHEST
PERCENTAGE OF SENIORS LIVING
UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL POVERTY
MEASURE OF ANY STAGE. ALTERING A
SOCIETY P BENEFITS IS A PROVEN
WAY TO REDUCE POVERTY AND HEALTH
ENSURE THAT OLDER ADULTS AND
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
HAVE THE INCOME THEY NEED. THEY
NEED TO MEET THEIR BASICALLY,
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT
CALLER, PLEASE. LINE 2 45 GO
AHEAD. LARA WILLIAMS, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF VALLEY ACHIEVEMENT
HUNTER, WHICH HAS PROGRAMS FOR
CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO HAVE
AUTISM OR OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES, AND BAKERSFIELD,
CALIFORNIA, COMMENTING REGARDING
ISSUE NUMBER SEVEN AND ECHOING
THE PRIOR COMMENTS ABOUT OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS SUPPORTING THE
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSAL TO
IMPROVE THE GUARDIAN SYSTEM AS
WELL AS EVENTUALLY TO REPLACE IT
, BUT REALLY STRONGLY ECHOING
STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS THAT WE
NEED AN IMMEDIATE INTERIM
SOLUTION. UM CERTAINLY WE
SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
YOU KNOW, TEMPORARY STAFF HELP
WORK ON THE BACKLOG, BUT WE
REALLY ALSO WOULD ADVOCATE FOR
INTERIM POLLUTION THAT ALLOWED
US TO JUST USE THE TYPICAL
BACKGROUND CHECK THAT WE CAN USE
ANOTHER NON CCL LICENSE PROGRAMS
AGAIN. IT'S THE DOJ AND FBI
BACKGROUND CHECK. AND ITS
PROCESS. TYPICALLY WE GET THE
RESULTS WITHIN THE SAME DAY, AND
BOTH STAFFS ARE NO MORE
DANGEROUS OR LESS. I MEAN,
THEY'RE JUST AS SAME AS THE ONES
THAT CCL OVER A MUCH MORE
EXTENSIVE PERIOD OF TIME
PROCESSES AND APPROVED AND AS
THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS SAID, AND
AN INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING HIRING
ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYERS,
BUT ESPECIALLY EMPLOYERS.
SUBJECT TO THE REIMBURSEMENT
RATES THAT THOSE OF US WHO SERVE
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE,
UM YOU KNOW, HAVING A DELAY OF
GIVEN 7 TO 10 DAYS FOR AN ENTRY
LEVEL POSITION ISN'T ETERNITY
AND IT BASICALLY MEANS THAT THAT
PERSON IS GOING TO TAKE THAT JOB
AT TARGET OR MCDONALD'S, WHICH
IS ABLE TO PAY 23 AN HOUR 24 AN
HOUR. WHICH AGAIN WE WOULD LOVE
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT THE
REIMBURSEMENT RATES DON'T ALLOW
IT, SO MY POINT IS AGAIN ECHOING
THAT WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE
INTERIM POLLUTION BECAUSE THERE
ARE REAL WORLD CONSEQUENCES TO
THE DELAY, AND I WILL SAY WE
HAVE EXTENSIVE WAITING LIST FOR
CHILDREN AND ADULTS PROGRAMS
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WAITING FOR
SERVICES. WE OPERATE WITH A ONE
STEPPED ONE CLIENT RATIO,
TYPICALLY SO WE CAN'T ONBOARD A
NEW CLIENT UNTIL WE BRING IN
THEIR STAFF AND TRAIN THEM. IN
WHICH YOU KNOW, ALWAYS TAKES AT
LEAST A COUPLE OF WEEKS. UM AND
WHAT THAT MEANS IN THE REAL
WORLD IS THESE THESE INDIVIDUALS
ARE WAITING. WANTING SERVICES.
FUNDING IS IN PLACE, BUT THEY
CAN'T GET IT UNTIL WE CAN GET
THE STAFF AND SO IT'S JUST AND I
WILL END MY SAYING, ALTHOUGH
THIS IMPACTS ALL OF OUR CLIENTS
ARE INDIVIDUALS ON WAITING LIST
WAITING FOR SERVICES. I THINK
THE BIGGEST MOST SIGNIFICANT
HARDSHIP IS FOR THE CHILDREN,
THE 32 UP TO SIX YEAR OLDS WHO
ARE WAITING ON OUR PRESCHOOL.
WAIT LISTS FOR SERVICES. SO
AGAIN, UM, YOU KNOW THEY NEED
THE INTENSIVE ABA THERAPY THAT
WE PROVIDE. THAT REALLY MAKES
LIFE CHANGING, LIFE ALTERING
IMPACT IF THEY GET IT EARLY AND
INTENSIVELY, WHICH IS WHAT WE
OFFER, BUT AGAIN, HAVING TO WAIT
AND ALL THE JUST THE PENDING
BACKGROUNDS SITUATION WITH THE
GUARDIAN SYSTEM AND HEARING THAT
THE GUARDIAN SYSTEM IS THE
INTERIM SOLUTION REALLY WAS
SPIRITING TO SAY THE LEAST, LIKE
WE NEED SOMETHING NOW THAT WE
CAN CAN, YOU KNOW, CHECK
PEOPLE'S CRIMINAL BACKGROUND,
CHECKING ON BOARD THE MUCH MUCH
MORE EFFICIENTLY SO AGAIN. I
PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE IT IF CCL
OR CBSS SAID OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT
FOR THE TIME BEING UNTIL WE GET
EVERYTHING IN ORDER AND GET
THINGS WORKING THE WAY IT SHOULD
HAVE BEEN AH, YOU CAN USE JUST
THE TYPICAL LIFE CAN DOJ FBI
JUST LIKE WE DO IN OUR OTHER
PROGRAMS, WHICH AGAIN SCHOOL
PROGRAMS THAT AREN'T UNDER CCL?
THEY'RE JUST AS SAFE AS THE CCL
LICENSE PROGRAM. SO AGAIN, I
DON'T MEAN TO SOUND SO, SIPRESS
, BUT THIS IS JUST SUCH A HUGE
NEED AND WE SEE ON THE GROUND,
THE IMPACT THE REALLY NEGATIVE.
IT'S A NEGATIVE REVENUE IMPACT
ON US AS A NONPROFIT, BUT ASIDE
FROM THAT, IT'S A TRULY NEGATIVE
IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE WHO NEED
OUR SERVICES. SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE
IT. THANK YOU. NEXT CALLER,
PLEASE. THANKS JUST LINE 2 53,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. OH, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CHRISTIE'S
CALLED IT APPROACH IT, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATE
ADVOCATE AND A MEMBER OF
CALIFORNIA FOR SS I COALITION.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
REVIVING THE SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES PROGRAM UPDATING S
AND B AND TMB ALLOTMENTS TO HAVE
PARITY WITH TELL FRESH
PROTECTING THE INCREASES TO
ACCESS I SSP GRANTS. THAT IN THE
JANUARY PROPOSAL AND CONTINUING
TO INVEST IN THEM TO BRING
INDIVIDUALS UP TO THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT CALLER,
PLEASE. MR CHAIR. THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL COLLEAGUES IN CUBA AT
THIS TIME. THANK YOU. OPERATOR I
WILL TAKE THAT AS THE CONCLUSION
OF PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TODAY WILL
TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF
OUR PANELISTS. BUT PARTICULARLY
, I WANT TO CALL OUT DIRECTOR DE
MARIA'S WHO HAS STAYED HERE IN
THE ROOM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
HEARING. BUT TO ALL OF OUR
PANELISTS AND THE ADMINISTRATION
TO THE SERGEANTS AND TECH TO THE
L, A AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE I WANT TO APPRECIATE
THIS HEARING, BUT I WILL TAKE A
MOMENT AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE STAFF WHO
HELPED TO PREPARE THE AGENDA TO
ALLOW US TO HAVE THIS PRODUCTIVE
OF A CONVERSATION TODAY WITH
THAT, I WILL, UM, FINALLY THANK
THE PUBLIC AS THIS IS THE
PEOPLE'S HOUSE, AND IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THE
PEOPLE'S BUSINESS AND THAT YOU
PARTICIPATE IN IMPROVING OUR
PROCESS. WITH THAT. I WILL.
THANK EVERYONE AND WE ARE
ADJOURNED. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.