DAS reports progress on community needs assessment, warns of possible oversight changes under streamlining task force

San Francisco’s Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) told the commission on Sept. 3 that the department is midway through a citywide community needs assessment for Dignity Fund planning and is preparing for a Board of Supervisors streamlining task force hearing on Oct. 15 that could change the department’s advisory structure.

Why it matters: The CNA will inform how DAS allocates Dignity Fund dollars over the next four years. Simultaneously, the streamlining task force created after Proposition E could recommend consolidating or eliminating advisory bodies that give residents and providers a formal role in oversight.

Executive Director Kelly Dearman told commissioners that DAS is hosting 12 town‑hall style forums (one in each supervisorial district plus one citywide virtual session) and has completed about five in‑person forums to date. The CNA also includes a population survey the department hopes will reach 2,250 unduplicated responses, and 14 focus groups aimed at specific subpopulations including adults with disabilities, transitional‑age youth with disabilities, BIPOC older and disabled adults, monolingual older adults, LGBTQ+ older and disabled adults, veterans, family caregivers, people experiencing homelessness and people aging with HIV. Dearman said the focus groups will deepen the forums’ findings and help the department prioritize resources.

Dearman also described a disability roundtable held with the mayor in July — attended by about 25 community members — where participants raised access issues at Sunset Dunes park and expressed interest in designating a disability cultural district around the site. Dearman said the mayor “leaned in and listened” and asked to return in six months.

On the citywide streamlining effort, Dearman said DAS had proposed combining two internal advisory bodies — the required AAA oversight and advisory council and the Dignity Fund Oversight and Advisory Council — and that staff had sent commissioners an email with details. She warned that the task force’s purpose is to identify duplication across commissions and advisory bodies and that recommendations will go to the Board of Supervisors after the task force’s October hearing.

Marie Jobling of the Dignity Fund Coalition addressed the commission during general public comment and urged commissioners and community members to participate in the streamlining process. Jobling said the Dignity Fund legislation was “designed to assure that those who are impacted both on the staff and the consumer side had a place at the table to guide development over time and to provide accountability and transparency.” She warned that changes could shift appointment authority to the mayor and reduce shared appointment practices. The coalition handed out a memo with dates and meetings where the streamlining topic will be discussed.

The commission also heard an administrative personnel announcement: Megan Elliott was introduced as the acting deputy director. Elliott briefly described a 1997 start date with city service, experience as an IHSS trainer and prior managerial roles including work in the assessor‑recorder’s office; Dearman said Elliott worked at DAS for about 19 years previously and recently returned from the assessor’s office.

Ending: Dearman said CNA forums and surveys will conclude in the coming weeks and that staff expect a report in early 2026. Commissioners were encouraged to attend the Oct. 15 task force hearing and other advisory meetings to weigh in on any proposed changes to advisory bodies.