San Francisco disability and aging commission approves nutrition, SNAP‑Ed, community and veterans grant changes; affirms hybrid meeting rules

The San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services Commission on Nov. 2, 2022 approved multiple funding and policy items aimed at bolstering senior nutrition, CalFresh outreach, neighborhood services and veterans programming, and adopted two motions to continue hybrid meeting practices.

President Martha Knutson opened the virtual meeting and reviewed legal requirements under the Brown Act and recent gubernatorial executive orders that permit continued teleconferencing during the state emergency. Commissioners then voted unanimously to approve a resolution allowing in‑person meetings with some members participating remotely and a separate authorization to permit third‑party (non‑city-employee) presenters to join virtually.

Executive Director Kelly Dearman highlighted several program updates. She said the California Department of Social Services allocated $3,400,000 to the Adult Protective Services Home Safe program, extending home‑based services through June 30, 2025 and estimating an additional 75 vulnerable adults will be served. Dearman also noted the department released an RFP for a Disability Community Cultural Center and reported on a mobile influenza vaccination rollout that has vaccinated more than 150 clients.

The commission honored David Lowen, an IHSS human services technician at the Independent Provider Assistance Center, as the DOS employee of the month; Lowen said it was “my great honor to receive the title of employee of the month.”

The meeting’s principal business items were four contract or grant actions (all approved by roll-call vote):

- Senior Nutrition Infrastructure Grant (CDA contract NI2223-six): Tiffany Kearney, lead nutritionist for DAS, presented a contract that will bring $1,052,073 to the department to support capacity and infrastructure improvements for congregate and home‑delivered meal providers. Kearney said the award stems from a statewide $30,000,000 allocation driven by Meals on Wheels of California and described a per‑provider allocation process that provided a base amount and distributed remaining funds by provider size and service priorities. The commission approved the contract unanimously.

- SNAP‑Ed and CalFresh expansion (CDA contract CF2223-six): Kearney requested approval of a SNAP‑Ed contract and a modification to continue Self Help for the Elderly’s grant for CalFresh Healthy Living and related physical‑activity programming. The award is $728,648.40 plus a 10% contingency (total not to exceed $801,513.24). Kearney said the funding includes outreach dollars to target SSI recipients who became eligible for CalFresh beginning June 1, 2019. Commissioners approved the action unanimously.

- Visitation Valley Neighborhood Association (VVNA) grant modification (66 Raymond Ave): Sarah Chan, program analyst in the Office of Community Partnerships, described a modification that adds $120,200 (plus 10% contingency, revised total not to exceed $181,720) and extends the term through June 30, 2024. Chan said the funding will sustain widely used in‑person classes and activities (tai chi, singing, dancing and other weekly programs) for primarily low‑income, Chinese‑speaking older adults in District 10. Commissioners asked for clarification about service hours and the grant’s focus on activity programming; Chan said subcontractors will refer residents to other agencies for services outside the class offerings. The commission approved the modification unanimously.

- Swords to Plowshares veterans community center modification: Paul Solta, acting program manager with the Office of Community Partnerships, described a modification to expand the Veterans Community Center’s services by adding a licensed psychiatric technician and a peer specialist and by extending hours once facility build‑out is complete. The modification adds $222,510 plus a 10% contingency and the materials show a revised not‑to‑exceed total of $863,792 that spans multiple fiscal years; Solta said the grantee understands the one‑time nature of these dollars and will pursue ongoing funding through the Board of Supervisors process. Commissioners questioned why the not‑to‑exceed total is larger than other allocations; Solta said that figure reflects multi‑year totals. The commission approved the modification unanimously.

All roll-call votes recorded President Martha Knutson, Vice President Janet Spears, Commissioner Sasha Buettner, Commissioner Wanda Jeong and Commissioner Barbara Sklar voting yes on each motion (with one recusal noted earlier when approving prior minutes). No members of the public called in during either item‑level or general public comment periods.

Next steps: staff will execute the approved contracts and incorporate the allocations into program budgets and grant agreements; Swords to Plowshares will use this year’s data to advocate for ongoing funding through the Board of Supervisors. The commission adjourned with holiday wishes and no further business scheduled until the next regular meeting.