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Advisory Committee on Aging Minutes Friday, May 28, 2021 Page 2 5. EXECUTIVE INTRO TO OLDER AMERICANS ADULT AND AGING NETWORK: Horace Farr Horace mentioned that the Hawaii County Office of Aging (HCOA) is here to support the Committee, and its roles. Jean Campbell will be here for the legal aspect of what the functions of the Committee are. This Committee is not on the Charter, and HCOA is not in the County Charter as a stated agency; however, we are an attached agency. We are an attached agency to the Mayor’s office and are required to have this Committee by federal law. The Older Americans Act (OAA) states that we must have this Committee, and be in compliant with our Area Plan. That is how the federal money comes to the HCOA. Horace explained that the Federal money goes to the State first to the HCOA. This Committee is important because it provides us to meet the compliancy of the Area Plan. HOCA is governed by the 4-Year Area Plan, and coincide with the State’s Area Plan. Horace went over the handouts on how HCOA operates. The handouts are as follows: Important Terms; Hawaii County Office of Aging’s Mission, Philosophy, Goal, and Vision; The Aging Network and the Hawaii’s Aging Network. On all islands, we are defined as Hawaii County; whereas on the Mainland, sometimes the street will cut the boundary. Committee members wants to know what services are offered to the caregiver? Horace explained our services fall in the gap group. For example under Respite the caregiver’s client goes to Day Care for about 2 to 3 times a week for about 2 to 3 hours while the caregiver do some shopping, take a break, go to counseling, training, etc. For support services there are assisted transportation, assist with diaper changing, etc. As far as any monetary benefit given to the client (caregiver), any set amount given to the client? Horace replied not through our program. HCOA assist with services and the purpose is to meet the Federal requirement so that the monies can be drawn to provide the services. Without the Federal government, we cannot provide these services. If we are not in compliant and we do not have the Area Plan in place, which this Committee is a part of the Area Plan, then we do not have a mechanism to receive the Federal and State funds. Many places on the Mainland is almost 60 percent that are private/non-profit. We are a county attached to a county. One of the other functions is this Committee is an Advisory to the Mayor. This Committee does not make policies and laws. Part of the Committee’s responsibility is you are the eyes and ears to the community’s concerns.