SECTION 340:105-10-38. Targeting resources to older persons in greatest economic or social need

(a)   Policy. The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) takes a leadership role in assisting communities throughout the planning and service area (PSA) to target resources from all appropriate sources to meet the needs of older persons with greatest economic or social need, with particular attention to low income minority individuals. In addition to low income minority older persons, the groups of older persons targeted for special consideration under this Section include older:

(1)   persons residing in rural or isolated areas;

(2)   persons with severe disabilities;

(3)   persons with limited English proficiency;

(4)   persons at risk for institutional placement;

(5)   persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders with neurological and organic brain dysfunction and the caretakers of such persons; and

(6)   Native Americans.

(b)   Authority. The authority for this Section is Section 306(a)(1) and (4) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, and Part 1321.61(c) of Title 45 of the Code Of Federal Regulations.

(c)   Procedures. The AAA carries out its mandate to target resources to older persons with greatest economic or social need, with particular emphasis on low income minority persons and older persons residing in rural areas . The AAA:

(1)   locates services in areas where older persons in greatest economic or social need reside or congregate;

(2)   funds and advocates for specialized services which meet the unique needs of those in greatest economic or social need;

(3)   includes representatives of older persons in greatest economic or social need in the planning of services for these groups . The AAA:

(A)   appoints representatives from the target groups to the AAA advisory council;

(B)   requires Title III projects to appoint representatives from the target groups to the project advisory councils;

(C)   includes leaders of the targeted groups in the annual needs assessment process;

(D)   includes sources of minority, disability, and bilingual professionals in recruitment efforts for AAA staff positions, such as recruitment announcements in publications with large minority and readership with disabilities, or recruitment announcements at minority colleges and universities; and

(E)   maintains written agreements with minority and disability entities;

(4)   provides Title III services to low income minority older persons according to their need, to the maximum extent possible. At a minimum, the AAA must:

(A)   determine the numbers and the specialized needs of low income minority older persons in the PSA through its annual needs assessment activities;

(B)   require Title III grantees to outline specific objectives to serve the low income minority older persons in each PSA; and

(C)   monitor program reports to ensure that low income minority older persons are receiving services in at least as great a proportion as their numbers bear to the total population of older persons in the PSA;

(5)   provides sufficient outreach services to the targeted groups; and

(6)   provides appropriate training for AAA and Title III project staff to improve their ability to outreach and serve the targeted groups.

(d)   Cross references. See OAC 340:105-10-31(a)(5), 340:105-10-33, 340:105-10-51(a)(3), 340:105-10-52(a)(1)(A), 340:105-10-58(a), 340:105-10-60(c), and 340:105-10-62(c).

[Source: Added at 11 Ok Reg 673, eff 11-29-93 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 2771, eff 6-13-94; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1170, eff 5-13-02; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 1754, eff 6-1-08 (emergency); Amended at 26 Ok Reg 2221, eff 7-1-09]