Information & Assistance
Information and Assistance (I & A) provides older adults, their families, and caregivers with information, referrals, and access to agencies and programs that can help them with senior-related services. Along with the website, I & A is a focal point for the dissemination of information by the Office on Aging. Utilizing a state-of-the-art call center, trained professionals provide personalized information and referrals through the use of a computerized database of information of public and private human service programs.
Services include information and assistance on health, housing, adult day care, legislation, nutrition and transportation, follow-up, and community education to groups serving older adults.
The Information and Assistance team is also instrumental in community outreach.
Some of the services that the Information and Assistance team provides are:
- A free Information and Referral Line
(800) 510-2020
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Direct links to service providers throughout the County
- Services available in most languages
- Referrals to out-of-county I & A programs
Outreach
Outreach is responsible for creating and developing marketing strategies that will guide the development of collateral materials, advertising, public relations, and outreach to older adults and their caregivers. Creating awareness of the needs of the older population is an important step in effective advocacy.
- Distribute senior information through public and private entities
- Outreach to underserved communities
- Facilitate collaborations with organizations serving older adults
- Develop and support the Office on Aging Website
Policy & Planning
The Policy and Planning group develops long and short-term plans to identify and address the needs of the older adults of Orange County. It collaborates with other agencies and organizations to gather and analyze information relating to the needs of the older adults of the county. Based upon the information and statistical data gathered, the Policy and Planning group:
- Develops and disseminates all annual plans and updates annual plans that are required under state and federal law
- Coordinates the Interagency Committee on Aging’s annual publication of the Condition of Older Adults Report. Please click here to view a summary of this report
- Monitors state and federal legislation as it relates to and impacts older adults and the community-based organizations that serve them
- Collaborates with community-based organizations to develop and facilitate coalitions to conduct needs assessments, and to help reach the older adults in the county who are in the most acute need
- Provides support to the Senior Citizens’ Advisory Council (SCAC) of Orange County. For more information about SCAC, please click here
Contracts Administration
The Office on Aging is responsible for planning and overseeing the effective use of federal Older Americans Act and state Older Californians Act funds to provide services to older adults, generally defined as persons aged 60 and older. The Office on Aging has the option to administer these funds and programs directly or through non-profit and governmental agencies. If a program and its funding are outsourced, the Office on Aging monitors these programs to ensure that the goals are being realized in the manner prescribed by the state and federal regulations.
The Office on Aging administers over $19 million in services through over 40 program contracts, many of which have multiple service types, budgets and requirements. Contract Analysts are responsible for coordinating the contract Request for Proposal process, evaluating fiscal viability, negotiating contracts, writing contract language in legal form, monitoring and analyzing expenditures, authorizing expenditures, providing technical assistance, authorizing payments, monitoring program performance and quality, assuring required data collection and making recommendations for improvement.
Federal and state-funded programs that the Office on Aging oversees are listed in Funded Programs section of this website.
