SEARCH:
JAAA Advisory Council  
 

Advisory Council

DOUGLAS COUNTY
Robert L. Carnahan - Chair
Kim Lowry
SEAT OPEN

 

CITY OF LAWRENCE
Gary Hale- Secretary
Emily Donaldson

 

JEFFERSON COUNTY
Larry Martin
SEAT OPEN- Vice Chair
Eileen Filbert

 

SHAWNEE COUNTY
Carol DeGroff Sook
Lois Long
Nina Skidmore

 

CITY OF TOPEKA
Beverly Thompson
Noda Preston

CITY OF OSKALOOSA
Ann Hundley

The Structure and Role of the Advisory Council


Within the Older Americans Act of 1965 as amended, the act states that AAA’s “establish an advisory council consisting of older individual (including minority individuals) who are participants or who are eligible to participate in programs assisted under this Act, representatives of older individuals, local elected officials, providers of veteran’s health care (if appropriate), and the general public, to advise continuously the area agency on aging on all matters relating to the development of the area plan, the administration of the plan and operations conducted under the plan”.

The Health and Human Services 45 CFR revised in 1995, states the functions of the Advisory council are to “carry out advisory functions which further the area agency’s mission of developing and coordinating community based systems of services for all older persons in the planning and service area.” The council shall advise the agency relative to:
  1. Developing and administering the area plan;
  2. Conducting public hearings;
  3. Representing the interest of older persons; and
  4. Reviewing and commenting on all community policies, programs, and       actions which affect older persons with the intent of assuring maximum coordination and responsiveness to older persons.

The Advisory Council composition “shall include individuals and representatives of community organizations who will help to enhance the leadership role of the area agency in developing community based systems of services. The advisory council shall be made up of:
  1. More than 50 percent older persons, including minority individuals who are participants or who are eligible to participate in programs under       this part;
  2. Representatives of older persons;
  3. Representatives of health care provider organizations, including       providers of veteran’s health care (If appropriate);
  4. Representatives of supportive service providers organizations;
  5. Persons with leadership experience in the private and voluntary       sectors;
  6. Local elected officials; and
  7. The general public”

It also states the AAA must submit the area plan and amendments for review and comment to the council before submission to the state agency for approval.