DOS Commission votes to continue remote meetings and approves slate of grant modifications for older adults and disabled residents

The Department of Services (DOS) Commission voted to continue meeting remotely under AB 361 and approved a series of grant and contract modifications that will expand services, devices and staffing for older adults and adults with disabilities across San Francisco.

President Martha Knudson opened the meeting by citing the Brown Act and recent executive orders that permit teleconferencing during a state of emergency, asking members of the public to "have patience and expect delays and gaps during the meeting." The commission subsequently adopted a resolution with findings under AB 361 authorizing continued teleconference meetings; no public callers registered for comment on the item.

Executive Director Kelly Dearman highlighted program updates in her report, including a pilot Collaborative Caregiver Support Team launched with the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to connect in-home care to residents in permanent supportive housing. "The preliminary allocation is $3,360,000 for DOS," Dearman said of the department's draft American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation, which staff said will be available until Sept. 30, 2024 and will require commission approval once the California Department of Aging finalizes guidance.

Commissioners then considered a package of funding actions (Items A–K) drawn from Board of Supervisors add-back allocations and other local sources to increase program capacity across community partners. The commission approved…