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<br />Mission of the Area Agency <br />HCOA’s overall mission is to help older individuals age with independence and dignity. The Older Americans <br />Act designates that the AAA’s shall be the leaders relative to all aging issues on behalf of all older persons in <br />their respective PSA’s. Under this directive, the AAA’s shall proactively carry out, under the leadership and <br />direction of the State agencies, a wide range of functions related to advocacy, planning, coordination, inter- <br />agency linkages, information sharing, brokering, monitoring and evaluation designed to lead to the <br />development and enhancement of comprehensive and coordinated community based systems which will <br />enable older persons to lead independent, meaningful and dignified lives in their own homes and <br />communities as long as possible. (HRS §1321.53) <br /> <br />Activities of the Hawaii County’s Area Agency <br />Specific functions that the Hawai‘i County Office of Aging undertakes in fulfilling its’ mission for the County of <br />Hawaiʻi’s’ older adults, their caregivers, and persons with disabilities include the following: <br /> <br />Assessment and Data Maintenance <br /> Continuously assessing the needs of older persons in Hawai‘i County and developing programs aimed <br />at meeting those needs; <br /> Maintain data on the profile and needs of older persons and their caregivers in Hawai‘i County and to <br />have this information available in this plan for other organizations and the general public to review; <br /> <br />Program Development <br /> Coordinate planning with other agencies and organizations to promote new or expanded benefits <br />and opportunities for older persons; <br /> Develop and administer an Area Plan on Aging for a comprehensive and coordinated service delivery <br />system in Hawai‘i County; <br /> <br />Contract Development and Monitoring <br /> Provide technical assistance, monitor, and periodically evaluate the performance of all service <br />providers under the Area Plan; <br /> Enter into sub-grants or contracts for the provision of services outlined in the Area Plan; and <br /> <br />Advocacy <br /> Represent the interests of older persons to public officials and public and private agencies; <br /> Develop and maintain a public awareness program for older persons; <br /> Monitor, evaluate, and comment on policies, programs, hearings, and community actions which <br />affect older persons. <br /> <br /> <br />Staffing of the Hawaii County Office of Aging <br />The Office of Aging falls organizationally under the Mayor's office headed by an <br />Executive on Aging. The HCOA has an office in East Hawaiʻi and a satellite office <br />in West Hawai’i. HCOA is staffed by an Executive on Aging, three Aging Program <br />Planners, two Access Managers, seven Aging and Disability Specialists, an <br />Accountant, a Computer Programmer/Analyst, and four Information and <br />Assistance Clerks. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />