On January 15th and 16th, 2015, SARPC held its Annual Meeting at the Grand Hotel which featured a regular Board of Directors meeting, Membership dinner and Awards program, and Educational/Informational exchanges on various regional issues of significance. In total there were approximately 120 attendees for both the Thursday and Friday activities of the Annual Meeting. 

 Highlights of the meeting included the following:

* Re-election of Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Fairhope Mayor Tim Kant and Escambia

County Commissioner Larry White, respectively, as Chairman, Vice-Chairman,      

and Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Directors.

* Determination by the Board to explore the development of a "Strategy Map" to chart

SARPC's overall direction while planning and implementing the 2015 and future SARPC

Goals.

* Awarded the Norman Walton Sr. Award to the City of Bayou La Batre for its Community Resurgence Achievements.

* Received highly informative and insightful updates on methods to address senior hunger issues, transportation activities, challenges in the region, regional workforce development program updates and information on regional tourism programs and opportunities.

The Annual Meeting was a great success and would not have been such without the hard

work of the SARPC staff; the generous support of numerous sponsoring entities; the wisdom and insight of the Friday presenters; the commitment and support of SARPC's member governments; and the leadership and support of SARPC's Board of Directors.

Thank you all!

Chris Miller

SARPC Executive Director

Lura Barber, Director of Hunger Initiatives with the National Council on Aging, presents nationally on the issue of senior hunger to bring awareness of this important issue.  She presented at the SARPC Annual Meeting on January 16.  NCOA has partnered with SARPC's Area Agency on Aging since 2009 on senior economic insecurity and access to available benefits; and since 2013 this has included addressing the issue of senior hunger. 

 Senior Hunger is not only a problem of those with low incomes, but is increasingly becoming a middle class problem.  Senior hunger is getting worse, indicated by studies that show food insecurity improved for all age cohorts between 2007 and 2010 EXCEPT for those age 60+. This can be attributed both to the economic insecurity of a significant portion of the older adults in our community, and their general reluctance and low participation rate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. 

 The presentation indicated that only 26% of seniors in Alabama that are eligible for SNAP food assistance are enrolled.  This is due to a number of barriers seniors have in applying for benefits, such as less awareness of the benefit and how to apply, perceived low benefit amounts, stigma and transportation.  But the average benefit for seniors in Alabama is $70 a month.  The USDA estimates that every $1 of SNAP benefits generates an estimated $1.73 in local economic activity, benefitting local communities.

 Ms. Barber shared that seniors that are struggling are often hard to spot, as they will come to appointments and events in their Sunday best, masking the reality of their day to day lives.  But senior hunger has serious consequences, with hunger risk adding 14 years to a senior's physical age. 

 A 60-year old experiencing hunger has the same limitations in Activities of Daily Living as a 74 year old not at hunger risk.  Malnutrition affects bone density, muscle mass, balance, and the effectiveness of prescription drugs.  There is a loss of independences as these limitations occur, such as with eating, walking, toileting, etc., and an increased risk of entering costly institutional care. 

 In Alabama, up to one-third of seniors are classified as economically insecure.  So what does that look like?  It is the older adults that are most likely to be unemployed for 99 weeks or longer if they lose their jobs.  It is the homeowners over the age of 50 who represent 28% of all foreclosures and delinquencies.  It is the consumer over age 50 that carried an average credit card debt of $8,278 in 2013.  It is the 2/3 of seniors where Social Security represents more than half their income in retirement; and the 1/3 where Social Security benefits represent 90% or more of their incomes.  More than half of seniors report they are very or somewhat concerned about whether their savings and income will be sufficient to last the rest of their lives.

 The slow recovery since 2008 comes at a time when the nation is experiencing a rapid graying of our society as the large wave of baby boomers starts retiring.  In 2015 it is estimated Alabama will have a population age 60+ of over one million, of which 463,400 will have incomes less than 250% of the poverty level and are at risk.  So how do we find local solutions for senior economic insecurity and senior hunger? 

 SARPC's Area Agency on Aging was chosen by the National Council on Aging as one of three sites in the country to work on pilot programs related to streamlining access to benefits and economic security, with our partnership dating back to 2009.   SARPC shares this distinction with Denver and Chicago, with SARPC and Denver providing leadership for statewide pilot programs.  Through grants from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), in collaboration with the Administration on Aging, Atlantic Philanthropies, Walmart Foundation, USDA SNAP Outreach grant, Alabama Department of Senior Services, Alabama Department of Human Resources, and through an economic opportunity grant from the Community Foundation of South Alabama, SARPC has developed national models of best practices to support economic security for older adults.  Since 2009, SARPC has helped 18,000 low-income seniors and people with disabilities with benefits worth over an estimated $28.4 million dollars as estimated by the National Council on Aging.

 SARPC's model includes benefit screening and enrollment, and referrals for credit counseling, mortgage counseling, job training and job placement.  Benefits can substantially help close the income gap and move elders from going from a crisis to crisis situation to making ends meet.  Access and enrollment in available public benefits can mean an annual average savings of $1,663 in Medicaid premiums and for out-of-pocket costs of Medicare for doctor and hospital visits; an average savings of $4,000 in out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Part D prescriptions; free prescription medications for uninsured or underinsured which can save hundreds to thousands of dollars; and an average of $840 annually in food assistance for groceries.  Other benefits may include resources for reducing property taxes, free tax filing, utility assistance, cell phones, farmers market food vouchers, legal services, aid and attendant VA benefits, SSI, and help accessing public in-home care services.

 To participate in a senior hunger campaign, schedule a benefit fair in your community, or for individuals needing assistance, contact SARPC's Area Agency on Aging in Alabama at 433-6541 or 1-800-243-5463.  

SARPC Mature Staffing Service (MSS) has partnered with Baldwin County Board of Education to provide staffing for the Board's award winning After School Childcare Program.  The Mature Staffing Services (MSS) program provides temporary, part time and seasonal employees to the SARPC member governments and public agencies.  SARPC employs over 235 individuals to work in 29 schools.   Over 1500 students participate in the After School Program in Baldwin County. 

The program has been recognized in the state and region for outstanding programs and results.  Students enrolled in the program receive homework assistance and participate in enrichment activities staffed by SARPC MSS.  Enrichment activities vary by school and include a variety of subject areas.  Cooking, music, photography, art and character education are included at most schools.  Students may participate in archery, dance class disc golf, walking and running clubs.  Other popular clubs include Lego club, science club and math club.  SARPC MSS employees also offer tutoring and support for technology. 

Five Baldwin County Schools received grants totaling more than three quarters of a million dollars for After School Child Care.  Students at Delta Elementary, Elberta Elementary, Elsanor Elementary and Summerdale K-8 will be able to attend at reduced rates. Parents will pay $5.00 per week if their child is on free or reduced lunch; $10.00 per week for paid lunch students.  Rates are reduced from $35.00 per week for all students at non grant sites.  These schools will also offer summer programs.  Baldwin County High School was also awarded a grant for After School programs that are available at no cost to students. 

The Baldwin County Board of Education partnership with SARPC MSS has saved the Board of Education money by utilizing part time employees and expanding the pool of employees willing and available to work in After School.  Students and parents have benefitted from expanded programs and reduced fees.