Adult and Aging Commission Projects and Reports of the Commission

WHAT IS A FOCAL POINT?

Defining the Focal Point Community

The Focal Point serves a defined geographic area in which residents feel a sense of belonging or cohesion. The definition of the community served by a Focal Point may or may not coincide with existing geographic or political boundaries. Access and delivery of services to senior citizens in the Focal Point community is enhanced through coordinated efforts of service providers, including providers of essential human services that may not be located within the area.

What Defines a Focal Point Lead Agency?

The Focal Point Lead Agency is a:

Visible point of contact,

At an accessible location,

Where onsite information and referral, and

Linkage to and coordination with needed services throughout the
service area are available.

The 1987 amendments to the Older Americans Act recommend that special consideration be given to developing or designating multipurpose senior centers as community focal points for aging services.

Senior centers offer an entry point to the service system, because they are community based, easily accessible, and can provide an array of activities and services to meet the cultural, recreational, and social and health needs of the area served. In some communities, churches, schools and minority service agencies may be utilized more by seniors and minorities and may therefore be an appropriate designation as a Focal Point.

The Focal Point Lead Agency must have a service-based philosophy that includes increasing access to a range of services appropriate to the needs of independent, semi-dependent and dependent senior citizens. The Lead Agency is a recognized access point for services for seniors within the Focal Point Community.

Definition / Standards of a Focal Point

A4AA uses the Focal Point standards established by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A). The coordinating council standard is an additional standard adopted by A4AA in an effort to ensure that request for one-time only (OTO) funds are appropriate. The A4AA standards for Focal Points include: (*Standards used when applying for OTO funds).

Providing senior nutrition services (acting as a meal site) *

Providing Information & Referral/Assistance *

Providing or linking to transportation services *

Linkages to other community services *

A coordinating council that records its meetings *

A service-based philosophy

A recognized access point for services for seniors within the
community

Sacramento Area Focal Points:

Asian Community Center
7375 Park City Drive
Sacramento, CA 95831
(916) 393-9026.
Please link this center with www.accsv.org

Cordova Senior Activities Center
3480 Routier Road
Sacramento, CA 95827
(916) 366-3133

Ethel McLeod Hart Multipurpose Senior Center
915 27th Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 264-5462

South County Services
539 N. Lincoln
Galt, CA 95632
(209) 745-9174

Samuel C. Pannell Meadowview Community Center
2450 Meadowview Road
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 433-6680

Senior Center of Elk Grove
8830 Sharkey Avenue
Elk Grove, CA 95624
(916) 685-3160

Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center
450 West El Camino Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 927-1313

Please call Nancy Yavrom at the Commission office (916) 447-7063, ext. 308, or email her at nyavrom@communitycouncil.org for more information.




	Return to AAC Homepage Focal Points WHAT IS A FOCAL POINT? Defining the Focal Point Community The Focal Point serves a defined geographic area in which residents feel a sense of belonging or cohesion. The definition of the community served by a Focal Point may or may not coincide with existing geographic or political boundaries. Access and delivery of services to senior citizens in the Focal Point community is enhanced through coordinated efforts of service providers, including providers of essential human services that may not be located within the area. What Defines a Focal Point Lead Agency? The Focal Point Lead Agency is a: Visible point of contact, At an accessible location, Where onsite information and referral, and Linkage to and coordination with needed services throughout the service area are available. The 1987 amendments to the Older Americans Act recommend that special consideration be given to developing or designating multipurpose senior centers as community focal points for aging services. Senior centers offer an entry point to the service system, because they are community based, easily accessible, and can provide an array of activities and services to meet the cultural, recreational, and social and health needs of the area served. In some communities, churches, schools and minority service agencies may be utilized more by seniors and minorities and may therefore be an appropriate designation as a Focal Point. The Focal Point Lead Agency must have a service-based philosophy that includes increasing access to a range of services appropriate to the needs of independent, semi-dependent and dependent senior citizens. The Lead Agency is a recognized access point for services for seniors within the Focal Point Community. Definition / Standards of a Focal Point A4AA uses the Focal Point standards established by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A). The coordinating council standard is an additional standard adopted by A4AA in an effort to ensure that request for one-time only (OTO) funds are appropriate. The A4AA standards for Focal Points include: (Standards used when applying for OTO funds). Providing senior nutrition services (acting as a meal site) Providing Information & Referral/Assistance * Providing or linking to transportation services * Linkages to other community services * A coordinating council that records its meetings * A service-based philosophy A recognized access point for services for seniors within the community Sacramento Area Focal Points: Asian Community Center 7375 Park City Drive Sacramento, CA 95831 (916) 393-9026. Please link this center with www.accsv.org Cordova Senior Activities Center 3480 Routier Road Sacramento, CA 95827 (916) 366-3133 Ethel McLeod Hart Multipurpose Senior Center 915 27th Street Sacramento, CA 95816 (916) 264-5462 South County Services 539 N. Lincoln Galt, CA 95632 (209) 745-9174 Samuel C. Pannell Meadowview Community Center 2450 Meadowview Road Sacramento, CA 95833 (916) 433-6680 Senior Center of Elk Grove 8830 Sharkey Avenue Elk Grove, CA 95624 (916) 685-3160 Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center 450 West El Camino Avenue Sacramento, CA 95833 (916) 927-1313 Please call Nancy Yavrom at the Commission office (916) 447-7063, ext. 308, or email her at nyavrom@communitycouncil.org for more information.