Commission unanimously approves three contracts for elder-abuse prevention, outreach and conservator transport

The San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) Commission voted unanimously on Sept. 3 to approve three separate agreements: a multi-year contract to support multidisciplinary elder-abuse teams and mandated‑reporter training, a grant for community outreach and education on elder abuse, and two transportation contracts to support the Office of the Public Conservator.

Why it matters: The approvals fund coordinated prevention and response efforts for older adults and adults with disabilities, and secure transportation services used for high-risk conservatorship clients and routine nonemergency medical transports.

The commission approved a four‑year agreement with the Institute on Aging to continue facilitation of multidisciplinary teams — including an adult maltreatment MDT, a high‑risk self‑neglect MDT and an elder death‑review team — and to provide mandated‑reporter training for professionals. The DAS presenter described the contract as supporting coordination across multiple jurisdictions and trainings “identified in the California Elder Abuse Independent Adult Civil Protection Act.” The base amount for that agreement was stated as $2,012,500 with a 10% contingency; the transcript did not provide a clear single “not to exceed” total for the item.

The commission also approved a four‑year grant with the Institute on Aging for community education and outreach focused on veterans and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and on scams that target veterans’ benefits. That item was listed at $601,830 plus a 10% contingency, for a total amount not to exceed $662,013.

Finally, commissioners authorized two contracts with a transport vendor to provide specialized and nonemergency medical transportation used by the Office of the Public Conservator. The contracts were listed at $715,000 with a 10% contingency, for a total not to exceed $786,500; the commission approved a six‑month interim arrangement for the ambulatory/medical transport component to assess operational fit.

All three items were moved, seconded and approved by roll call. The voting record in the transcript shows unanimous “yes” votes from President Janet Y. Spears; Vice President Nelson Lum; Commissioners Martha Knudson, Sasha Buettner, Wanda Zhang, Barbara Sklar; and Commissioner Linda Parker Pennington.

Commission discussion and questions focused on program funding sources and operational details. A commissioner asked whether the elder‑abuse contract included federal funding; APS staff said Older Americans Act funds appear in separate grants and that contract funding in this instance was presented as local/county funds. The Public Conservator’s presenter said the office’s caseload is about 700 clients and that any of those clients might require either high‑risk or nonemergency transport, and that the office shares transport resources with Adult Protective Services.

The approvals are administrative actions that authorize the department to negotiate and execute the agreements, which DAS staff said will return to the commission for final grant agreements and sole‑source waivers as required.

Ending: The commission took no further formal actions. Staff and presenters said they will implement the awards and monitor performance as part of regular program oversight.