2017-524-E Finance - Orange County Rural Alliance - Outside Agency Performance Agreement

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DocuSign Envelope ID:9B26E979-2C09-4BE7-801C-3DDB484D92EE XHIBIT A PROVIDER"S OUTSIDE AGENCY APPLICATION Program Description (3 pages OR LESS) Rural Orange County has a growing senior population with many individuals over 65 They face unique issues that are characteristic of rural life: relative isolation and limited community infrastructure: limited availability of healthcare and social services, remote from shopping and food, no public transportation. In 2015, volunteers from the Orange County's senior leadership program (Project EngAge (PE) partnered with the Sheriff's visitation program (SALT), and began visiting seniors in rural Orange County. Today there are over 210 seniors that are visited or contacted weekly. The partnership with SALT and PE provided the inspiration for OCRA. During visits volunteers noticed unmet needs such as empty food pantries, the need for minor home repairs (accessibility problems and the need for ramps, grab bars, etc.) SALT/PE began to occasionally provide food, build access ramps, and handle minor repairs for their senior clients. We realized that more was needed, and OCRA was formed to provide a reliable source of food for selected seniors. This was of particular importance because neither Chapel Hill-Carrboro or OCIM Meals on Wheels have resources to provide routes in our remote rural areas, and many of our clients are not eligible for services via OCIM's policies. OCRA now delivers meals once a week to about 40 seniors, and is securing funds and resources to provide meals three times a week to 50 seniors. Today, OCRA provides meals that are donated or purchased by local businesses, churches and individuals. Meal distribution is planned one week in advance. Meals are picked up by volunteers at designated locations (churches or restaurants). Volunteers deliver food to clients. Volunteers are matched with clients via SALT. OCRA clients are located throughout rural Orange County— in every unincorporated township. OCRA volunteers are individually insured for liability and supplemental auto when they are distributing meals. OCRA has a total of 25 part-time volunteers who work together to organize the work, and to prepare and deliver meals every week. With more funding we are prepared to scale up the number of meals and clients served on a weekly basis. Please provide the following information about the proposed program: d) Summarize the program services proposed and how the program will address a Town/County priority/goal? Consistent with Orange County Commissioners' Goal to "Create a Safe Community" as a Social Justice Value, OCRA is helping to create safe homes and community connections for rural elderly who are aging-in-place. These proud seniors have strong connections to their homes, churches and communities, and do not have the resources for assisted living or affluent senior housing. They are not "asking for help". Through relationships built with the SALT/PE/OCRA volunteers, these seniors are becoming more connected with their community and resources available through the county. Seniors who would otherwise be isolated in a remote rural area, are building trust with visitation teams, and becoming receptive to help and support. OCRA also supports Commissioners Goal 2 "to Promote an interactive and engaging system of governance that reflects community values, mentioning internet access." Many rural seniors do not have computers or skills necessary to interact with the internet. They rely on the old-fashioned way of getting information....personal contact. OCRA with the help of SALT/PE shares social PROGRAM INFORMATION 2/8/2017 4:36:09 PM Page 9 f 1 'T'