October 20, 2023
Media Contact: press@ad.lacounty.gov
Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department Receives Seven Quality and Productivity Commission Awards
The Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department (AD) received a total of seven prestigious awards from the County of Los Angeles’ Quality and Productivity Commission (QPC), which recognizes innovative programs and efficiency in the delivery of services to the communities and residents served.
“We measure our success not solely by the accolades bestowed upon us, but by the tangible impact we make and the lives we improve,” said Dr. Laura Trejo, the department’s Director. “This gracious recognition by the Quality and Productivity Commission reflects our commitment to enhancing the well-being of those in our community who are aging or are living with a disability. Our mission is to empower every individual to age with dignity and to thrive regardless of ability. These recognitions simply strengthen our resolve.”
The recipients of the highly esteemed awards were honored at the 36th Annual Productivity and Quality Awards Program, themed “Rising to the Extraordinary.” The event was held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at the Music Center and was presided over by KTLA News Anchor, Jim Hill, who served as the Master of Ceremonies. Among the distinguished guests were Hilda L. Solis, Supervisor for Los Angeles County’s First District, Fesia Davenport, the County’s Chief Executive Officer, along with several directors from various County Departments.
The AD projects recognized by QPC include:
Claim Your Cash – Increase Tax-Credit Uptake, which was a Top Ten award and Bronze Eagle Award recipient. The project was a collaboration between five different Los Angeles County departments: the Chief Executive Office (CEO), Aging & Disabilities (AD) Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA), Economic Opportunity (DEO), and Public Social Services (DPSS) in association with several local non-profits and initiatives like the PHFE Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program. The collaboration also resulted in the partners receiving the Commission’s Outstanding Teamwork Award.
Purposeful Aging Los Angeles (PALA) Phase II, was bestowed with the Commission’s Changemaker Award. PALA is an age-friendly initiative and partnership between the County, the City of Los Angeles, and external stakeholders to prepare the Los Angeles region for a rapidly aging population. Through its partnerships, PALA aligns aging strategies with our services, and advocates for older adults in areas such as connectivity, housing, social isolation, physical and mental health, and emergency preparedness. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, PALA pivoted to the region’s emergency response, elevating strategic partnerships and collaborations which proved instrumental in local COVID-19 response efforts that offered food resources, vaccine distributions, virtual social participation opportunities, and essential health services to keep older adults and their families safe.
Elderly Nutrition Program Grab & Go: The Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP) that AD administers, plays a vital role in providing nourishing meals to older adults in Los Angeles County. These essential services are delivered through both congregate meal sites and home delivery providers. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, all 98 AAA ENP congregate meal sites were required to close, creating an urgent need for additional meal options. In response, the County of Los Angeles, AD’s AAA Program, and our dedicated service providers swiftly introduced the Grab & Go meal initiative. This innovative approach proved to be a game-changer, ensuring that our vulnerable population had safe and reliable access to crucial nutrition throughout the pandemic. Thanks to its resounding success, Grab & Go meals have now become a permanent fixture. They will continue to serve as a dependable source of nutritious meals for individuals facing mobility challenges or those who may not yet feel comfortable returning to in-person services.
Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for Homebound Older Adults: Homebound older adults often experience discrimination and inquietly in healthcare services. In partnership with other agencies, utilizing AD’s unique relationship with this population, this program expanded vaccination services to homebound older adults who trusted AD’s brand. Providing over 947,000 outreach services and more than 13,380 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in client homes, this program was tremendously successful in addressing inequitable healthcare services for homebound older adults.
Utility Assistance & Financial Relief Program: The program serves as a crucial lifeline for individuals and families grappling with the financial strain caused by the recent surge in utility rates. Leveraging strategic alliances with Southern California Edison (SCE), SoCalGas, and United Way, the Aging & Disabilities Department’s Community and Senior Centers facilitate seamless access to vital utility assistance via SCE’s Energy Assistance Fund (EAF) and SoCalGas’s Gas Assistance Fund (GAF). Working together with SCE and SoCalGas, Centers offer personalized guidance and steadfast support, ensuring that eligible individuals promptly receive the aid they need to ease their utility burdens by simplifying the application process. The Program’s immediate impact is palpable, providing substantial financial relief to a growing number of residents. Eligible individuals can receive up to $300 in assistance from SCE and up to $500 through SoCalGas.
Voice-Activated Devices for Older Adults: AD provided over 1,000 voice-activated devices to older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the effects of social isolation while making it more convenient for participants to do everyday tasks and stay connected.
The Quality and Productivity Commission is made up of citizens with diverse backgrounds and expertise (e.g., government, academia, public sector, nonprofit, legal, labor, financial, etc.). The backgrounds, active participation, and contributions of Commissioners help promote and encourage innovation, productivity, quality of services, and efficiencies, and shape major milestones of Los Angeles County government. Since 1987, the Awards program has honored more than 2,000 individual departmental productivity and quality improvement efforts deserving recognition by the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Office, Quality and Productivity Commission, and the public.
For more information about QPC and the PQA Awards, please click here.