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Allegany County human services committee approves grants, donations and contracts, including Lifeline transition
Summary
The Allegany County Human Services Committee unanimously approved multiple donations and grants, accepted state funding for youth services, and approved a two‑year Lifeline personal‑response contract that will transition existing MedScope equipment to Lifeline installers to avoid service gaps.
The Allegany County Human Services Committee on Thursday approved a series of routine donations, grants and contract awards and cleared several personnel fills as staff head into the summer months.
Anita Madison, director of VOS for the Aging, told the committee the department will revise its monthly report to correct earlier data-entry errors and highlighted results from volunteer tax-preparation services: "we brought back in $636,981 in refunds into older adults pockets," she said, noting volunteers also produced an estimated $158,172 in avoided preparation fees.
Madison led a slate of administrative requests that the committee approved by voice vote, including accepting a $1,000 donation from Unity Methodist Church for the Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Program, a $400 gift for Cuba Luncheon Center senior activities, and $5,000 from the Alzheimer's Association for the EXHALE in‑home respite program.
The committee also cleared a transfer within the Expanded In‑Home Services for the Elderly Program (ISEP) to move funds from contracts to equipment to cover items such as medical lifts, and awarded a two‑year contract to Lifeline for the county's personal response and fall-detection service, with two separate one‑year renewal options. Madison said equipment currently installed under MedScope will be replaced by Lifeline installers and emphasized continuity: "There is not gonna be any gap in service," she said.
Tyler Shaw, director of the Department of Health, reported clinic visits have more than doubled year over year to 252 visits, credited in part to adding a nurse practitioner, and warned residents about lone star ticks and alpha‑gal syndrome, advising use of EPA‑registered repellents and self‑checks after outdoor activity.
Shaw asked the committee to accept several grant actions and contract renewals, all approved: a $700 Allegheny County Area Foundation coalition grant, authorization to apply for a $10,000 radon exposure risk grant (staff time counted as an in‑kind match), a final year contract for Marco Technologies at the WIC building ahead of a planned countywide transition to Toshiba multifunction machines, a preschool evaluation agreement with Amy Tavernier, $19,034 in state performance incentive funds for weather awareness and climate health, and an unbudgeted public health infrastructure grant for general supplies.
The committee also approved Shaw's request to fill a public health educator position vacated by a resignation; Shaw confirmed the position is fully state funded.
On social services, Commissioner Don Horne said SNAP caseloads and childcare participation remained largely steady and that changes to the state’s ABOD (able‑bodied adults without dependents) program prompted 90 letters affecting 114 people; he expects additional calls from affected residents. Horne also reported his office secured $113,000 in state funding for a youth pathways/raise‑the‑age program, which he said has no local fiscal impact.
All votes on the above items were carried by voice vote unless otherwise recorded. The committee adjourned after recognizing the day's business and moving on to next items.
