We are ending the year 2021 on a high note with our No Senior Alone Holiday Grant campaign.
Twenty-six senior centers and nonprofit organizations throughout San Diego County produced special holiday events bringing the spirit of the holiday season to over 4,000 seniors through a grant from SDSCF through our No Senior Alone Program.
As we look ahead to 2022, we are excited to continue our efforts to strengthen the community-based services network for seniors and fulfill our mission of ensuring that every senior has someone they can turn to and trust. It is not just the holiday season that SDSCF has in mind when creating solutions to address social isolation and access to programs and services…ours is a 365-days-a-year commitment.
There are significant challenges that face some older adults. Both now and in the future, SDSCF is building out our long-term vision to become an advocate and champion in a reimagined system of localized supports.
In 2022, SDSCF initiatives include:
The SDSCF Senior Center Master Vision Plan:
We recognize the tremendous potential that senior centers possess to become the preeminent local resource center to provide a holistic blend of services and programs to support community-dwelling older adults to achieve an overwhelmingly common goal- to live independent and meaningful lives within the communities they call home.
The vision plan presents a framework that creates a modern, sophisticated network of senior centers that can transform the service model that can meet the demands of an aging society. The report will be well-supported by SDSCF staff as we engage elected officials, the San Diego philanthropic network, government agencies, senior centers, nonprofits, community influencers and leaders, and San Diego older adults in various forums and planning efforts to make the report a living, breathing document.
The SDSCF Empower San Diego Senior Center Campaign:
In support of our Master Plan rollout, SDSCF will be providing grant monies to support local senior centers to increase their capacities to serve the community. The grant’s key focus areas include funds to support Executive Director development, technology upgrades, facilities enhancement, and professional marketing/branding campaigns.
The SDSCF Senior Center Coalition:
We continue to build the momentum created by the convening of senior center directors and ancillary stakeholders into a formalized coalition to further our efforts of elevating the local senior center into an essential community asset. These meetings provide a forum to share ideas, best practices and create a unified voice in advocating for the critical programs and services that these entities offer for thousands of San Diego seniors.
SDSCF Public Policy and Government Relations Committee:
Advocacy is critical to advance the work that SDSCF believes is essential in changing and empowering the SD aging services network. To help bring forth policy ideas and establish stronger relationships with elected officials and staff, SDSCF has created this committee that will convene SDSCF staff and board members as well as key regional experts and stakeholders to advance the cause for a more robust aging services network.
The alignment of SDSCF vision with State and County Aging Services blueprints:
While the challenges are many, so are the opportunities to change the aging services paradigm. The State of California has issued the Master Plan for Aging, a 10-year framework filled with short-term and long-term goals, data-led evaluation processes and, most importantly, accountability that will demand results.
The County of San Diego is delivering a similar guiding framework with their Aging Roadmap. SDSCF is building our 2022 efforts around these visionary documents to join the aging services network in providing tangible, effective, and scalable solutions.
There is much work to be done, and the SDSCF is grateful to our many supporters who have helped the foundation through a challenging 2021.
Here is to a beautiful new year to all. We look forward to joining together with stakeholders throughout the county to make 2022 a banner year for the aging services network in San Diego.
For more info on how to get involved, questions, or comments – please reach out to Joe Gavin at joe@sdscf.org.
