wide that local neighborhood needs can best be met through a single central citadel of authority, planning and administering a gigantic Federal largess for people in need. To many this is neither compatible with the intent or the letter of the Economic Opportunity Act nor in harmony with the essential nature of human beings and the neighborhoods in which they reside. Rather, the key to effective accomplishment in this or any similar endeavor is an effective teamwork of Federal and local resources impelled by cooperative involvement of local private citizens representing all walks of life and neighborhoods in a balanced local community council. Here the recipients-those in real need-can have a dominant communicative voice unhampered by overriding influences and administrative edicts from a remote metropolitan colossus unfamiliar with and unresponsive to their self-generated wishes. Recognition of this basic principle-selfcontained in the act itself and its adequate implementation locally in major metropolitan regions of the country, and especially within a huge urban complex like Los Angeles County, would expedite significant uplift for the aged poor as well as for other important segments of the impoverished. This has yet to be accomplished in poverty neighborhoods of Los Angeles County. It is to the credit of OEO that early in April 1966 it announced approval of decentralization of the Los Angeles County Community Action Program. Under the new plan, any Los Angeles County municipality with a population of 100,000 or group of municipalities and contiguous areas with a combined population of 100,000 may establish its own Community Action agency within OEO guidelines. This action shows a commendable flexibility, and it is to be hoped that it is an indication that the agency in the future will avoid sacrificing the viability of community action programs on the altar of administrative simplicity. The Committee recognizes that administrative advantages probably result in many cases from this requirement. However, it recommends that a more flexible approach be adopted, and that communities be permitted to file applications apart from other nearby communities where the alternative will be delay or denial of the benefits of the act, RECOMMENDATION NO. 6 The Committee recommends that State and local commissions and councils on aging survey possibilities for utilizing the war on poverty to serve the elderly within their States and localities, and work with community action agencies and with State economic opportunity offices in an ongoing effort to make and keep this great national effort responsive to the needs of the elderly. The best information reaching this Committee on the role of State commissions on aging in war on poverty activities in behalf of the elderly was that concerning the activities of the State Commissions on Aging of Maryland and Wisconsin.2 The Maryland commission has worked with local and State Economic Opportunity groups actively and helpfully to bring about the inclusion of programs for the elderly in community action programs. The Wisconsin commission received a $2,000 grant from the Wisconsin Office of Economic Opportunity to carry out a "Poverty Project." There were three principal goals of this project: "(1) An assimilation of all statistics related to the indigent elderly to determine their characteristics and to better guide consequent programs; "(2) To develop poverty program models using poverty funds to assist the poverty-stricken aged; and 1 Hearings, pt. 1, pp. 14-24; 193-206. 2 Hearings, pt. 1, pp. 226-228; hearings, pt. 3, pp. 667-670; "(3) To work intensively with Wisconsin communities in the development of such needed projects." Most of the grant was used to compensate the project director, who worked part time. The commission contributed considerable secretarial assistance, materials, and supervision of the project by the commission's executive director. While this project has been abandoned or suspended because of several major problems, it does show how a State commission on aging can proceed to carry out its responsibilities under the war on poverty. State and local commissions and councils on aging can do much to encourage community action agencies and State economic opportunity agencies to include the elderly in their planning and to apply for funds for programs for the elderly. If properly approached, community action agencies will probably appreciate having the benefit of the experience and expertise of commissions and councils on aging in developing senior-oriented programs.3 Mrs. Margaret Schweinhaut, representing the National Association of State Executives on Aging, told the Committee that the Economic Opportunity Act and the Older Americans Act "should work hand in hand" to make the most of both programs. She saw great possibilities for coordination, and submitted a suggested division of functions between AoA and OEO programs. The community action agency in Newark, N.J., has made good use of the Senior Citizens Commission in its locality. The commission prepares proposals and submits them to the community action agency for review. Following this procedure, a comprehensive program for the elderly was prepared, approved by the CAA, and sent to the OEO for final action. 6 Another locality where there appears to have been effective use of local agencies in planning programs for the elderly is Worcester, Mass. There agencies and individuals established a Committee of Older Americans To Combat Poverty, to focus community attention on the need to include programs for the elderly in the Community Action Program. Before enactment of the Older Americans Act of 1965, aging groups would have had great difficulty building adequate staffs to take advantage of opportunities for service in this area. Now that that legislation has passed and its grants for strengthening State and local organizations for the elderly are beginning to be received, the committee hopes that they will find sufficient funds for employing the needed staff. RECOMMENDATION NO. 7 The Committee recommends that OEO, local Community Action Programs, and State commissions on aging sponsor or encourage regional meetings of Community Action Program directors and summer training institutes or other training programs to provide trained The Rt. Rev. Joseph T. Alves, chairman of the Massachusetts State Commission on Aging, proposed (hearings, pt. 3, p. 674) that OEO technical funds be used to assist planning at the local level for the older poor. He sees this as a way to accelerate understanding and interest in problems of this group at the local level. 4 Hearings, pt. 1, p. 21. Hearings, pt. 1, p. 205. Hearings, pt. 2, pp. 410-414, 420-426, 465-467. 7 Hearings, pt. 3, p. 710. personnel capable of directing programs intended partially or wholly for the elderly. To witnesses concerned about the apparent youth orientation of OEO and many local program directors, it appeared that much more should be done to bring facts and information about programs for the elderly to the attention of CAP administrators. Mrs. Geneva Mathiasen of NCOA enthusiastically endorsed 1 OEO sponsorship of statewide or regional conferences and "people getting together and sharing ideas and receiving stimulation." She praised one such meeting, conducted by the New Jersey OEO in Trenton last October. State OEO Director Bullitt described a transcript of the meeting, "Community Action Programs and the Older Poor," 2 as a "best seller in anti-poverty literature." Gov. Richard Hughes told the assemblage that the meeting was a "testing ground for a new national effort." 3 Mr. Eugene Cox, of Milwaukee United Community Services, gave a concise description of need for such conferences: * It is suggested that an effort be made by the Office of Economic Opportunity and the Division of Aging to bring together project directors, and key personnel involved, at regional meetings to discuss projects which are similar in design. This might provide new stimulus for project improvement or design as well as to suggest possible solutions to problems with which individual communities are faced. It would seem extremely desirable to have persons who function in key positions at the firing-line level throughout the various regional areas get together on an annual basis in workable groups so that the knowledge and insights achieved through such projects can be used to improve the individual well-being as well as to promote the standard of living of the aged persons as a group in our society. Miss Margaret F. Whyte, of the Washington State Council on Aging, also saw a need for training or refresher courses that would add to the antipoverty manpower resources of the Nation. She suggested that OEO Provide for summer in-training institutes and other training opportunities in gerontology for staff and volunteers to work with older people. The shortage of trained and/or experienced staff in the field of gerontology is a major roadblock in expanding services in aging in our State. Mr. Sidney Spector, Director, Housing for Senior Citizens, Department of Housing and Urban Development, sees greater possibilities for training in two areas: " In housing for the elderly, with hundreds of projects completed and many more under construction, there already is a serious shortage of persons trained and available to manage or administer these facilities. The shortage will intensify in the next few years as new projects are completed. CAP's could help to fill the void by providing funds with which to finance short- and long-term academic and in-service training of administrators and managers and other staff in housing for the elderly. Younger members of low-income families could be included in community action programs to assist the elderly, as well as through the Neighborhood Youth Corps. Similarly, OEO's work-training and work-study programs could be used to develop opportunities for younger people to serve older citizens in the community. These programs could finance academic and "on the job" training in 1 Hearings, pt. 3, p. 571. 2 Excerpts from the transcript appear in hearings, pt. 3, p. 634. Hearings, pt. 3, p. 851. Hearings, pt. 3, p. 672. Hearings, pt. 3, p. 660. Hearings, pt. 1, p. 150. senior citizens housing, ranging from community and social services, recreation and group work to project management and administration. Mr. Louis Lowy, associate professor of social work at Boston University, gave the Committee its most comprehensive testimony on the need for adequate training of those who work with the elderly poor. Professor Lowy has proposed that mobile service centers be put into operation to reach and help isolated elderly individuals. Obvious as the need may be for such projects, lack of trained personnel could hamper or cripple operations. Professor Lowy explains:7 Crucial to the development of better and well-coordinated services and an adequate delivery system as suggested in the concept of a mobile service center is the availability of sensitive and trained staff. While a number of educational institutions in Massachusetts have training programs for people who work with the elderly, it is apparent that they are mostly related to the goals of the educational institution and the goals of the particular profession for which they are offered. This is quite appropriate since professional schools have to train practitioners who work with a variety of age groups. However, there is a need to have short-term training programs for people who work mostly with the elderly and who need specific knowledge and skills for this particular activity. While differential aspect of training are called for in many instances, it seems that a generic knowledge and skill base within a gerontological curriculum should be made available to anybody who is working with older people. For this reason I have developed an "Outline for a Manual for Trainees" *** and an "Outline for a Manual for Trainors" ***. Presently United Community Services of Metropolitan Boston plans to have me develop these two manuals in detail so that they can be used as handbooks for training human service technicians (including older people themselves) to prepare staff workers in existing agencies and programs for better services for and with the elderly. I believe that such manuals will be of immeasurable use in assisting trainers to train a cadre of personnel who is better equipped to deliver the services which have been discussed before. Training of personnel-both, paid and nonpaid, young and old, is a vital dimension to insure that services are conceived, carried out, and delivered. Without sensitive, well-trained personnel no program can meet the goals and objectives which it promises to achieve. At Boston University we have just developed a Council on Gerontology which includes faculty members from all its schools and colleges that have a vital interest in gerontology. One of its major purposes is the further development and coordination of training and research programs which are going on in many schools and colleges of the university. In addition, however, the council is planning to increase its training programs for people in the community who work for and with the elderly. Such multidisciplinary training is a necessary approach to prepare practitioners for services which are determined by the needs of people and not by the needs of the discipline. Such approaches are vital in making a mobile service center concept a reality. May I suggest that the nationwide development of training programs on a multidisciplinary basis for people who work with the elderly is a basic necessity if we want to implement a comprehensive service program? Without such training it is bound to flounder and instead of bringing the dawn of hope to our elderly people, it will add frustration, disappointment, and cynical resignation to their present plight. OEO should take the leadership in sponsoring and organizing conferences of this type. However, if it does not, State commissions on aging can do so, either through the National Association of State Executives on Aging, through cooperative efforts of State commissions in neighboring States, or through State commissions acting singly to sponsor statewide conferences for project directors, community action. agency workers, and others within their own States. One important purpose of such conferences would be to improve war on poverty programs for the elderly which are already in operation. Since such programs are new, much can be learned from experience, and that which is learned can be shared at such conferences. Hearings, pt. 3, p. 736. RECOMMENDATION NO. 8 The committee recommends that community action agencies study the various model programs for the elderly and other possibilities for serving the elderly, decide which best fit the needs of their own elderly and make application for war on poverty funds for such projects. Mrs. Geneva Mathiasen of the National Council on the Aging has given the Committee substantial evidence of local interest in CAP programs for the elderly. She reported that NCOA models are being implemented or are in the planning stage in at least 35 cities. The NCOA has also consulted with State and regional organizations in Hawaii, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Twelve communities have indicated interest in the Foster Grandparent Program. Mrs. Mathiasen added: *** NCOA has stubbornly resisted the notion that there is a lack of community interest in CAP programs for the elderly poor. The experience of our staff in communities has indicated that quite the reverse is true. Mrs. Mathiasen added, however, that considerable effort is needed at the local level to stimulate awareness and understanding of OEO's potential role on behalf of the elderly. She also asked for "well publicized encouragement" by OEO at the national level. Throughout the course of its inquiry, the Committee has been impressed with the number of projects either proposed or operational-that have been prepared by organizations or individuals with special knowledge of the elderly. Many detailed descriptions appear in the transcripts and appendixes of our hearings on this subject. Some have been prepared as models for others to follow. Some have been prepared solely to meet the highly individual needs of a specific community or neighborhood. We call the attention of interested community action planners to the following items listed as they appear in the hearing transcript and appendixes: Project PART ONE 117-120 1. Twenty-Seven Community Programs and Projects for the Elderly Page Poor (list prepared for consideration of OEO Task Force). 2. Potential Helpfulness of Extension Services (in statement by Secretary Freeman) __ 142, 146-147 143-144 149-151 3. Potential Usefulness of Rural Housing Program (in statement by Secretary Freeman) _ _. 4. Action to Improve Living Conditions of the Elderly (in statement by Mr. Spector)- 5. Three Model Programs (prepared by Office of Aging for OEO Manual): 160-164 164-166 c. Rural Programs__. 166-171 6. Present and Prospective OEO Projects on Consumer Education (in Statement by Mrs. Peterson)_ 177-179 7. Neighborhood Program, Atlanta, Ga. (in statement by Mrs. Alvis). 188-189 8. Chicago Volunteer Service Corps (in Statement by Mr. Swank)_. 9. Three Programs for Elderly Under Economic Opportunity Act (submitted by Maryland State Commission on Aging): a. Over-60 Employment Counseling Service.... b. Friendly Aides Program.... c. Information, Referral, and Activity Center.. 191 194-195, 604-605 195 195-198 10. Services for the Aged in Baltimore's Community Action Program. 199-205 1 Hearings, pt. 3, pp. 575-576. |