PURPOSE: This rule describes the requirements the area agency shall meet to develop a comprehensive and coordinated service delivery system within the planning and service area.

1. (1) The area agency continuously shall work toward development of a comprehensive coordinated community-based system that shall facilitate access to and utilization of all supportive and nutritional services provided by any source within the planning and service area (PSA). Components of this system may include:

   1. (A) Services which facilitate access, such as transportation, outreach, information and assistance, and case management;
   2. (B) Services provided in the community, such as congregate meals, continuing education, health and nutrition education, health screening, legal assistance, program development and coordination activities, advocacy, information and assistance, case management, casework, counseling and assistance (concerning taxes, financial problems, public benefits, the use of facilities and services, preretirement or second career), adult day health care, protective services, services designed for the unique needs of persons with disabilities, emergency services, disaster relief services, minor home repair, physical fitness and recreation, services to help obtain adequate housing and alteration, renovation, acquisition and construction of facilities to be used as multipurpose senior centers;
   3. (C) Services provided in the home, such as home health services, homemaker services, personal care services, legal assistance, respite, case management, counseling, chore, visiting, shopping assistance, reading/letterwriting, telephone reassurance, home-delivered meals and nutrition education; and
   4. (D) Services provided to residents of careproviding facilities, such as case management counseling, placement and relocation assistance, group services, legal assistance, complaint and grievance resolution and visiting. Care-providing facilities include long-term facilities, emergency shelters and other congregate living arrangements.
2. (2) The area agency shall assess the needs of the elderly in the PSA and the effectiveness of resources in meeting identified needs.

3. (3) The area agency shall establish effective and efficient procedures for coordination of planning and service delivery with other agencies and organizations within the PSA, including agencies that administer the following:

   1. (A) The Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA);
   2. (B) Title II of the Domestic Volunteer Act of 1973;
   3. (C) Titles VI, X, XVIII, XIX and XX of the Social Security Act;
   4. (D) Sections 231 and 232 of the National Housing Act;
   5. (E) The United States Housing Act of 1959;
   6. (F) Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959;
   7. (G) Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974;
   8. (H) Title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Adult Education Act;
   9. (I) Sections 3, 9 and 16 of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964;
   10. (J) The Public Health Service Act;
   11. (K) The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981;
   12. (L) Part A of the Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976;
   13. (M) The Community Services Block Grant Act; and
   14. (N) Demographic statistics and analysis programs conducted by the Bureau of Census.

4. (4) The area agency may make arrangements with other local agencies and organizations for services and programs that benefit the elderly, such as—

   1. (A) Children’s day care organizations so that older persons can volunteer to help provide the day care; and
   2. (B) Local educational agencies, institutions of higher education and not-for-profit private organizations.

5. (5) The area agency shall develop and publish the methods that are used to establish priorities for services, particularly—

   1. (A) Services associated with access to other services. These services include transportation, outreach, information and assistance, and case management;
   2. (B) In-home services. These services include homemaker, personal care aide, visiting and telephone reassurance, chore, and supportive services for families of elderly victims of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological and organic brain disorders of the Alzheimer’s type; and
   3. (C) Legal assistance.
6. (6) The area agency shall give preference in the delivery of services to elderly persons with the greatest economic or social need. A description of the methods and procedures used to assure that services are provided to those with the greatest economic and social need including low income minority shall be included in the area plan.
7. (7) The area agency shall provide adequate and effective opportunities for the elderly to express their views on policy development and program implementation.
8. (8) The area agency shall develop and implement organized ongoing outreach activities to elderly individuals, particularly those residing in rural areas and those with greatest economic or social need and inform them of services that are available. Area agency outreach activities shall be coordinated with the outreach activities required of each service provider within the PSA.
9. (9) The area agency shall develop a comprehensive, coordinated disaster preparedness plan which shall include service providers in the PSA.
10. (10) The area agency shall assure that all service providers follow the applicable requirements set forth in 13 CSR 15-7.
11. (11) The area agency shall assure that the elderly residing in the PSA have reasonably convenient access to information and assistance systems.
12. (12) The area agency shall designate a focal point for comprehensive service delivery in each community giving special consideration to multipurpose senior centers and assuring that the facility can accommodate the collocation of services.

13. (13) The area agency shall encourage maximum collocation and coordination of services through the community focal point by—

    1. (A) Establishing guidelines for operating schedules that are convenient for service recipients;
    2. (B) Assuring reasonably convenient access to existing information and referral services; and
    3. (C) Encouraging service providers to collocate their services and coordinate with other services in the community.
14. (14) The area agency may plan, coordinate and provide services funded under other programs if it continues to meet its area agency responsibilities.

AUTHORITY: section 660.050, RSMo 1999.* This rule was previously filed as 13 CSR 15- 6.120. Original rule filed Jan. 6, 1986, effective April 30, 1986. Amended: Filed Aug. 28, 2000, effective March 30, 2001.

*Original authority: 660.050, RSMo 1984, amended 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995.