The County of Ventura Board of Supervisors has voted to approve a change in the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s administrative reporting structure, which will see the VCAAA become a division of the Ventura County Human Services Agency. The move is intended to better align the county’s older adult services.
The VCAAA will retain its current organizational structure, and there will be no change to the existing services provided by the VCAAA, or how clients access these services.
A newly formed Aging and Disability Department will oversee both the AAA functions and programs, and in a phased manner, will assume oversight of four programs currently managed by the HSA: In-Home Support Services (IHSS), IHSS-Public Authority, Adult Protective Services, and Public Administrator.
Victoria Jump, the current director of the VCAAA, will oversee the new Aging and Disability Department and become an HSA Deputy Director.
“For everyone that has relied on us for more than 40 years, the VCAAA will continue to provide the same high level of service to the community that we have come to be known for,” Jump said. “That’s not going to change. The VCAAA’s services will be enhanced as a result of this new structure.”
A reason for the reorganization is to reduce the siloed nature of how services to shared populations are delivered. Both existing VCAAA and HSA programs currently serve many of the same clients. Improvements in communication and coordination will reduce duplication of efforts and resources. The move will also create a central point in access for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers, and provide more integrated services to these populations.
Additionally, the reorganization will improve the level of administrative support available to the VCAAA, aiming to streamline operations and create better outcomes for clients. Further, it may result in additional leveraging of federal and state funding to support critical programs for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers.
The changes will take effect with the new fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2023.
Older adults currently comprise 26% of Ventura County’s population, and that is estimated to rise to 29% by 2030 and 32% by 2050. In recent years, both a State Master Plan on Aging and a Ventura County Master Plan on Aging have been established with the aim of addressing the complexities faced by an aging population, and the HSA/VCAAA merger will help the County better accomplish the goals laid out in those plans.
