LATEST NEWS

Fiscal Year 2013 GCOA Annual Report (PDF)

Georgia Audit of Medicaid Home and Community Based Services for Elderly and Physically Disabled
The  Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts released a Performance Report titled "Home and Community Based Services for Elderly and Physically Disabled" on June 29, 2012.  It takes a comprehensive look at the Elderly and Disabled Medicaid Waiver program, which includes the Community Care Services Program (CCSP) operated by the Georgia Division of Aging Services and the Services and Service Options Using Resources in Community Environments program (SOURCE) operated by the Georgia Department of Community Health.  If you have not reviewed this document, you should.  Click on this link  and proceed to the DOAA Performance Reports page.  Scroll down to Project Id: 11-32 and click on "download." Learn More

CO-AGE Meeting Webcasts Are Available Here
Spring, 2013 Meeting On April 25, 2013, the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly (CO-AGE) met at The Classic Center in Athens, Georgia, and several regional sites joined in by webcast from South Georgia, Augusta, and Athens.  To view the meeting click on this link. Fall, 2012 Meeting On October 4, 2012, senior advocates around the state tuned in to the first-ever live webcast of a CO-AGE meeting. The meeting was held in Savannah, and seven regional sites were coordinated in Atlanta (2), Athens, Bacon County, Chamblee, Thunderbolt, and Tifton. To view the meeting, click  on this link. All questions received during the meeting and from regional sites are addressed in this document.   Learn More


Georgia Budget and Policy Institute--Annual Budget Analyses

The annual report states, "The governor’s budget proposals for the next 17 months do not meet the growing needs of Georgia’s most vulnerable children and adults. In some cases they place them even more at risk. The state’s spending plans will make it more difficult for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to fulfill its mission of protecting and supporting children, low-income families and the elderly." Analysis of the Division of Aging Services budget for FY 2009 - FY 2014 shows a 9.9% overall loss in funding. Over $9.9 million has been lost for aging services while Georgia, with the 9th fastest growing population over 60 in the nation, has seen a 45% growth in the older population since 2000. The Report describes the reduction of funding in FY 2014 to the minimum maintenance of effort: "The governor’s 2014 budget sets state funds at the minimum required level to receive federal funds under the Older Americans Act. A cut of $1 more would jeopardize all of the funding under the act. The 2013 original budget contains $31 million under the Older Americans Act." To read more about the GBPI Analysis of the Georgia 2014 Elderly Services Budget click here.Learn More

Check out the latest edition of the Senior Issues Newsletter
Click here  to view the Senior Issues Newsletter. Learn More

DOCUMENTS for the SPRING CO-AGE MEETING!

Senior advocates joined the April 25th Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly (CO-AGE) Meeting in Athens, and the documents referenced in the webcast are included below.

Remember you must be a CO-AGE member by July 1st in order to vote for this year's Priorities at the July 18th meeting in Macon!

If you have difficulty opening any of the documents, please do not hesitate to let Council staff know by emailing joryan@dhr.state.ga.us

 

Link for the Webcast:

www.liveeventstream.com/gcoa/04-25-2013/

 

MATERIALS REFERENCED DURING THE WEBCAST:

Agenda

2013A and 2014 Budget Items

Martha Eaves Honorees

Priority Setting Process

Issue Summary Framework

Websites for Research

Legislative Priority Example-Dept. of Aging

Budget Priority Example-Funding for Adult Protective Services

Member Participation Form

Vita Ostrander Award Nomination Form

To view the Wrap-up Edition of the Senior Issues Newsletter click here

Information about the Georgia Legislative Process and Advocacy

Legislative Terms Associated with the Georgia General Assembly
How a Bill Is Passed in the Georgia Legislature
How the State Budget Becomes Law
Lobbyist's Guide 2012  (everything you need to know from parking to maps)
Georgia Code
Ten Tips to Effective Advocacy
How a Bill Becomes Law and How You Can Have an Impact

Senate Aging Study Committee News:

The Senate Aging Study Committee, created in 2012 by Senate Resolution 979, met twice during the fall under the leadership of Senator Renee Unterman. Other members included Senators Mike Crane, John Crosby, Valencia Seay, and John Wilkinson. Two presentations made to the committee are available on the internet.

"Georgia: Trends in Aging and Service Delivery" presented by Dr. James J. Bulot   Click here to view

"Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation of At-Risk Adults" presented by Patricia King, RN     Click here  to view