DAS Commission unanimously approves six contracts and grant modifications for elder and disability services

The San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services Commission on June 2 unanimously approved six contract and grant items to continue and expand services for older adults and people with disabilities.

Ophelia Trevino, presenting item A, asked the commission to certify the contract between DAS and the California Department of Aging to administer the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), which provides free Medicare counseling and community education to beneficiaries and caregivers. Trevino said HICAP counselors are fluent in English, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Tagalog and that the program had served about 1,780 clients as of April 2021. Commissioners approved the contract certification on a roll‑call vote. (Contract amount not specified in the packet.)

Mike Zogg presented item B, a new four‑year grant with the Felton Institute to provide long‑term care ombudsman services from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2025. Zogg said the Ombudsman program handles resident complaints and systemic advocacy work and noted the program closed roughly 500 cases per year even through COVID access restrictions. The item requested $2,888,000 plus a 10% contingency (total not to exceed $3,176,800). Commissioners asked about outreach and language capacity; Zogg said the program maintains in‑house Cantonese and Spanish capacity and also covers Russian, Korean and Tagalog. The commission approved the contract unanimously.

Item C authorized a multi‑year grant with Leah's Pantry to provide citywide nutrition counseling and education. Lauren McCaslin said the program (a pilot since FY2017–18) offers individual counseling with a registered dietitian and group workshops on topics such as cooking in limited kitchens and reading nutrition labels. The request was for $586,268 plus a 10% contingency (total not to exceed $644,895); commissioners approved the item unanimously.

Item D established a contract with Open House for LGBTQ+ cultural humility trainings for mainstream agencies and long‑term care staff. Sarah Hoeferberg said the contract will fund curriculum revision and training delivery, including trainings on the San Francisco LGBTQ long‑term care resident Bill of Rights. The amount requested was $241,040 plus a 10% contingency (total not to exceed $265,144). Commissioners discussed trainer composition and veterans preference; staff said Open House is hiring and will tailor trainings. The item passed unanimously.

Item E modified the existing Glide Foundation grant for daily free meals, adding $115,000 to cover meal services through June and presented a revised grant total not to exceed $3,621,981. Tiffany Kearney noted the continued elevated demand for nutrition support; Glide’s Wesley Sabre told commissioners the program provides three meals a day and asked for the commission’s support. Commissioners approved the modification unanimously.

Item F approved a modification and expansion of Self Help for the Elderly’s peer ambassador and escort program for older adults and adults with disabilities. Zogg said the expansion responds to a rise in community violence targeting AAPI residents and would add staff (program and volunteer coordinators), establish district hubs and incorporate MonaMe scheduling software to manage onboarding and trips. The request added $1,008,000 plus a 10% contingency; commissioners unanimously approved the expansion.

All six items were moved and seconded on the record and passed by unanimous roll calls. The commission closed with brief staff thanks and adjournment.

What’s next: staff will finalize contract documents and proceed with procurement/implementation per the approved budgets and contingencies.