Senior News May, 2002 Vol. 21. No.  5

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Historic Register: Washington School receives national recognition

Senior issues: Commission hears from local providers

Springcreek Place:Affordable senior housing opens in Eureka

McKinleyville: How can we help?

Del Norte InfoCenter: One-stop shopping for senior and family services

Assistive Technology Classes

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Del Norte InfoCenter
One-stop shopping for senior and family services
by Marianne Nix

In March, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA), the Children & Families Commission and The Del Norte Healthcare District opened the Family Resource Center and the Del Norte InfoCenter, a one-stop shop for community services, including youth, families and seniors. Here we have cradle-to-grave services located at the same facility in Crescent City.

It had almost a two-year gestation from its beginnings at the October 1999 Del Norte Health Summit. Then a group of community leaders developed a set of strategic priorities based upon health information and data collected from 4,600 community surveys, a provider access survey and 26 key informant interviews.

In the fall of 2000 the Area Agency on Aging conducted a feasibility study to determine the viability of creating a single entry system in the Del Norte community. It was discovered that it was not only feasible but that with community support the Area Agency's successful Senior Information & Assistance Program could expand to perform comprehensive I&R services for Del Norte County.

In May of 2001 the Community Health Alliance of Humboldt & Del Norte Counties submitted a Community Access Program Grant to the Health Resources and Services Administration. Funds for the implementation of the Single Entry Point were included in that application. In September we received word that the grant was approved. By early October we were knee deep in plans and partnerships. What was conceived as a "stand alone" program was expanding before it even began.
The most exciting partnership has been between the Area Agency and the Del Norte Children and Families Commission who was beginning to establish a Family Resource Center. The executive director and I discovered early that we had many goals in common including: the comprehensive I&R program itself, hard copy resource directories, searchable resource database on the web and resource library with public use computers for children and adults, just to name a few. Essentially our program would be a core service of their local Family Resource Center. That all came about in October.

The next months saw us establishing more partnerships-Del Norte Healthcare District, programs of the Del Norte Childcare Council and Volunteer Center of The Redwoods/RSVP. Then we searched high and low for suitable office space and planned the technical infrastructure of the new building.

In March we opened the Del Norte InfoCenter which lives in the Del Norte Family Resource Center at 207 Price Mall in Crescent City, a 5,500 square foot building with private offices, conference room and large training rooms for community events. Fortunately, Community Health Alliance Executive Director Dr. George Crosthwaite has been flexible as the infrastructure needs of this project increased.
The Family Resource Center is now home to the Children & Families Commission, Del Norte Healthcare District, VCOR/RSVP, Child Abuse Prevention Intervention & Treatment, seasonal volunteer tax assistance, limited weekly HICAP appointments and the Del Norte InfoCenter.

The Del Norte InfoCenter is staffed with a program manager, two half-time resource specialists and an administrative assistant/receptionist. We are open to connect the citizens of Del Norte County to the health and human resources inside and out of their community. We are currently working on our web site and searchable database, community brochures and outreach activities.

It is truly a perfect example of creative community partnerships and the leveraging of limited financial and people-power resources.

Marianne Nix is director of information services for the Area Agency on Aging. Her e-mail is infodirector@a1aa.org. The Del Norte InfoCenter phone number is 464-5500.