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DAS director says state budget restored key elder supports; Dignity Fund maintained amid local midyear adjustments
Summary
Executive Director Kelly Dearman told the DOS Commission that the state budget restored APS expansion funding at $70 million and IHSS eligibility for Medi‑Cal‑eligible undocumented adults; locally the Dignity Fund was funded at $3 million with $1.7 million for operational costs so existing programs are maintained but no new programming was added.
San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services Executive Director Kelly Dearman on July 3 told the DOS Commission that recent state budget actions preserved several priorities for older adults and people with disabilities while local midyear adjustments kept the department from taking additional cuts.
Dearman said the state budget fully funded the Adult Protective Services (APS) expansion at $70,000,000 and restored training funds for APS. She also said the budget restored In‑Home Supportive Services (IHSS) eligibility for Medi‑Cal‑eligible undocumented adults after an effort to remove that eligibility. "So, I think we made big strides," Dearman said of the advocacy that shaped the state outcome.
Dearman noted one state request was not included: a $51,000,000 request for IHSS administration (referred to in the meeting as CWD's request). She said the Legislature and administration agreed to work on a new budgeting methodology for IHSS, and that some program budgets were adjusted due to utilization and other shifting priorities.
On the local budget, Dearman said the city funded the Dignity Fund at $3,000,000 but that $1,700,000 will go toward the cost of doing business and the remaining portion will offset general fund cuts. "What this means is that there will be no new programming for Dignity Fund, but we will be able to maintain the programming that we have," Dearman said.
Dearman also reported on recent outreach and partnership work: the department participated in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day events with the mayor, district attorney and police chief; she also described speaking at a forum in Seoul, South Korea, about aging policy and accessibility practices she observed there. Commissioners thanked her and asked questions about the Seoul invitation and budget details. Dearman said Seoul and San Francisco are sister cities and staff had hosted a Seoul delegation earlier that prompted the invitation.
The Commission did not take formal action on the report but accepted the update.
