Sonoma County partnership creates resource hub for older adults, people with disabilities

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The Sonoma County Human Services Department and local nonprofits have launched a resource hub that quickly connects older adults and people with disabilities to an array of critical services.

The Aging & Disability Resource Hub simplifies access to health, transportation and nutrition services offered by federal, state and local government agencies and their nonprofit partners.

“We want to make it easier for people to find the support they need to live as independently as possible at home,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “A key objective in the Board’s five-year Strategic Plan is to create a ‘No Wrong Door’ approach, where clients can easily access services across multiple agencies regardless of where they enter the system. This new hub is one of many steps the county is taking to help make that a reality.” 

To access the hub, call (707) 565-INFO (4636) or go to www.socoadrh.org and click on the chat icon to start a conversation with a social worker. Assistance is available for older adults, people with disabilities, their family members, caregivers, social workers and direct service providers who need help identifying and accessing support services. 

The Aging & Disability Resource Hub is a collaboration of the county Human Services Department and the Disability Services & Legal Center, a Santa Rosa-based nonprofit. 

“This new model will further ensure that no Sonoma County older adult or person with a disability falls through a crack in our service systems,” said Adam Brown, executive director of the Disability Services & Legal Center. 

In Sonoma County, 28 percent of residents are 60 years and older and 25 percent have a disability. Many need similar types of support services to help them remain in their homes and live independently. To aid this population and their caregivers, the county and partner agencies provide a host of services, including food assistance, case management, transportation coordination, caregiver support and more. Trained staff at the new hub will help connect residents and their caregivers with resources they are eligible for. 

“Older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers may not know about all the services that are available to them. The goal of the Aging & Disability Resource Hub is to help connect people to services,” said Paul Dunaway, director of the Human Service Department’s Adult & Aging Division. “By contacting any agency in the hub, they’ll be connected to any services they may need.” 

Sonoma County was just designated an Aging and Disability Resource Center by the California Department of Aging. This designation comes with $348,102 in state support this year to fund four core services offered by the hub: 

• Enhanced Information and Referral Services: Comprehensive information and referrals to services that support older adults and people with disabilities.
• Options Counseling: Assistance in identifying an individual’s goals and unique needs, then connecting them to public and private-funded long-term services and supports.
• Short-Term Service Coordination: Assistance gaining access to public services and supports for individuals at risk of placement in a nursing home.
• Transition Services: Assistance for people who are currently in a licensed care facility and wish to return home or move into a community-based setting.

The Aging & Disability Resource Hub has developed partnerships with local organizations including Petaluma People Services Center and Earle Baum Center of the Blind. The hub will be expanding its network by partnering with many other community organizations this year.

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Media Contact:
Kristen Font, Communications Specialist
Sonoma County Human Services Department 
kfont@schsd.org 
(707) 565-8085