DAS Commission unanimously approves six contracts and grants, including emergency in‑home supports and LGBTQ mental‑health pilot

The San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services Commission unanimously approved six contracts and grant agreements on July 3 that the department says will expand emergency supports, insurance counseling and culturally targeted outreach for older adults and adults with disabilities.

Achilles Serone, Adult Protective Services (presenting for Kerry Kinsey), asked the Commission to authorize a three‑year contract with Compassionate Community Care to provide emergency at‑home support for older adults and adults with disabilities who are victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation. "The purpose of the contract is to meet our state mandate to provide for emergency in‑home protection to provide a safe and stable environment until the dangers at home can be resolved," Serone said. The contract term was stated as July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027, for $180,000 plus 10% contingency (not to exceed $198,000). The Commission voted unanimously to approve the item.

Melissa McGee requested the Commission accept and approve funds from the California Department of Aging for the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) and related MIPPA funding for the April 2024—March 2025 contract cycle, noting that Self Help for the Elderly had already been approved to administer the program while the formal CDA acceptance was pending. McGee apologized for the procedural sequencing and said CDA understood the administrative correction. The Commission approved acceptance and authority to execute the CDA contract and any subsequent amendments.

The Commission approved a continuation of the Community Ambassador program (July 1, 2024—6/30/2026), presented by Lauren Jarrell, to fund two providers focused on outreach to BIPOC and Vietnamese communities. Jarrell said the combined grant amount is $313,636 plus a 10% contingency (not to exceed $345,000). During questions, Paula Salto explained that the RFP produced proposals that led to an allocation decision that was described in the meeting as $150,000 total ($75,000 per component) for the two components; this discrepancy in stated totals was discussed and will be reflected in the administrative record. The Commission approved the item by unanimous roll call.

Mike Zog presented two legal assistance grants administered by Legal Assistance to the Elderly, including an LGBTQ life‑planning program in collaboration with the AIDS Legal Referral Panel to help clients draft wills, trusts and powers of attorney and to conduct outreach events, and a health‑law assistance program to help residents navigate insurance denials and maximize benefits. Zog described MOUs linking these grants to the long‑term care ombudsman and HICAP to facilitate referrals. Commissioners approved both grants unanimously.

The Commission also authorized a continuation of a Curry Senior Center mental‑health pilot for LGBTQ older adults (07/01/2024—6/30/2026). Zog said the program will retain a five‑hour cultural competency training for providers, maintain telehealth as an option while expanding in‑person capacity, provide tech support and distribute an estimated 50 devices per year, and add health navigator/advocate roles. The contract amount was stated as $1,221,611 plus 10% contingency (not to exceed $1,343,772). Commissioners clarified eligibility: the program is designed to serve LGBTQ older adults while remaining legally open to other older adults and adults with disabilities.

Finally, Program Analyst Zikuyen (Zee Quyen) Lee described a proposed contract with San Francisco Health Plan to provide Community Support (CS) services subcontracted to the Community Living Fund Program with Institute on Aging. CS services are intended to coordinate transitions or diversions from nursing facilities to community settings through needs assessment, housing navigation, home modification and move coordination. Meeting materials note a lifetime maximum of $7,500 per client for transition costs and a $5,892 monthly maximum per client for assisted‑living facility fees; Lee said DAS will file claims to San Francisco Health Plan for reimbursement and that funds received will offset the city's general fund. The Commission approved the authorization by unanimous roll call.

All six action items were moved, seconded and approved by unanimous roll call votes. Several commissioners asked clarifying questions during presentations, particularly on funding splits and prior program performance; staff said they would monitor deliverables and report back as appropriate.

Votes at a glance: item 4 (approval of June 5 minutes) — unanimous; item 10a (Compassionate Community Care contract) — unanimous; item 10b (CDA HICAP contract acceptance) — unanimous; item 10c (Community Ambassador grants) — unanimous; item 10d (LAE legal assistance grants) — unanimous; item 10e (Curry mental health pilot) — unanimous; item 10f (San Francisco Health Plan community support services contract) — unanimous.

Commission materials and staff remarks contained a small number of inconsistencies in stated dollar totals for the community ambassador awards and the legal grants that staff acknowledged they would correct in the administrative record. The Commission took no additional formal direction beyond approving the contracts and grants at the meeting.