San Francisco DAS reviews Area Plan update and Dignity Fund allocation as budget pressures loom

The San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) presented its draft FY2023–24 Area Agency on Aging update and the Dignity Fund services and allocation plan during the commission’s teleconference meeting.

Aditi (planning unit analyst) said the area plan update satisfies a federal Older Americans Act requirement and described the process and timeline for public comment and state submission. The presentation cited an estimated 190,000 San Franciscans age 60 and older and noted DAS manages a mix of federal, state and substantial local funds supporting older adults and adults with disabilities. “Our most recent 4‑year area plan covers the period from fiscal year ’21 through fiscal year ’24,” the presenter said, explaining the update reports on activities and anticipated service levels for the coming year.

Executive Director Kelly Dearman highlighted operational priorities for DAS, including caregiver recruitment pilots and service pilots that address housing transitions and homelessness prevention for older and disabled adults. Dearman also noted workforce constraints: “we’re in a crisis regarding caregivers and the lack of caregivers,” and described a live‑scan fingerprinting pilot intended to remove a barrier to hiring in-home caregivers.

The Dignity Fund presentation, delivered by program manager Melissa McGee, outlined key priorities identified in a community needs assessment — including improved service awareness and navigation, multimodal access, stronger engagement for adults with disabilities, culturally inclusive services, better data for service planning, system coordination and stronger community provider infrastructure. McGee explained the fund’s statutory baseline and planned growth: the charter‑established Dignity Fund began with a $38 million baseline and is slated to grow; over the funding cycle the city is required to increase contribution by $3 million per year, which the presentation said would add roughly $12 million to bring the baseline to about $71 million. McGee noted an estimated 7.6% of that amount will cover mandatory cost‑of‑doing‑business adjustments, leaving an estimated $4.4 million available annually for program priorities.

Commissioners asked how behavioral and mental health work fits into the documents. Presenters said the area plan itself focuses on Older Americans Act–eligible programming while behavioral health is addressed by other DAS planning (including the Dignity Fund services and allocation work) and in coordination with the Department of Public Health. On the budget outlook, a commissioner and DAS staff cautioned that citywide fiscal pressures could affect scheduled Dignity Fund increases: one commissioner noted the $3 million annual increase is required “unless the projected deficit is above the deficit threshold” and said that, given current projections, the Dignity Fund may not be funded at that level in the coming year.

The commission treated both items as informational. Staff said revised drafts will return to the advisory council and that the final area plan and allocation plan are expected back to the commission in May for approval and state submission.

What’s next: DAS will collect public comment and revise the drafts; the advisory council will vote on a revised document later in April and the commission expects a final approval vote in May before submitting required materials to the California Department of Aging.