CATHOLIC CHARITIES NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES INC

OLDER ADULT SERVICES' ONE COMMON GOAL FOR CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLANNING FOR ALL PROGRAM MODELS IN FY 2025 REMAINED REINFORCEMENT OF THE NEW APPROACH IN THE AGING FIELD - SUPPORTING CLIENTS IN COMMUNITIES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO SENIORS CAN REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON BRINGING MOST REQUIRED SERVICES TO THE CLIENTS IN THEIR PLACE, AND MINIMIZE REFERRALS TO NURSING HOMES, ASSISTED LIVING, HOSPITALS, ETC. INTENSIVE OUTREACH AND PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES TO COMBAT AGE- ENCOURAGING AGE-INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES AND HIGHLIGHTING THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF AGEISM ON HEALTH, FINANCE, AND SOCIETY. OLDER ADULT'S CENTERS HAVE CONTINUED WITH AGGRESSIVE OUTREACH AND RE-ENGAGEMENT OF SENIORS TO INCREASE OPERATING CAPACITY. MOST OF SERVICE UNITS HAVE BEEN SHOWING A POSITIVE TREND FOR ON-SITE ACTIVITIES AS WELL CONTINUED INCREASE IN MEAL SERVICES. 9,831 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS RECEIVED SERVICES AT 19 OLDER ADULT CENTERS. BLOOMING HEALTH, OAS INTERFACING PLATFORM SPECIFIC FOR THE AGING FIELD, EXPANDED THE UTILIZATION ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS. MORE DAILY/WEEKLY REMINDERS, INVITES TO EVENTS, SATISFACTION SURVEYS, INCLEMENT WEATHER AND EMERGENCY ALERTS WERE SENT OUT THROUGH INTERFACE PLATFORM WHICH HELPS TO CAPTURE BIGGER MEMBERSHIP AND SAVES STAFF TIME. PROGRAMS CONTINUED ASSISTING SENIORS IN LEARNING TO ACCESS TECHNOLOGY THROUGH MORE CLASSES AND INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS WHEN COMMUNITY YOUTH HAVE ONE-TO-ONE SESSION WITH SENIORS. IN THE SUMMER, CCNS OLDER ADULT CENTERS WERE ACTIVELY SUPPORTING SENIORS IN COMMUNITIES OF BROOKLYN AND QUEENS DURING HEAT EMERGENCIES AS A PART OF NETWORK OF COOLING CENTERS IN RESPONSE TO CITY'S HEAT EMERGENCY PLAN. CENTERS CONTINUE WITH EDUCATION OF SENIORS REGARDING AGEISM TO PROMOTE AND EMPHASIZE POSITIVE APPROACH TO STAY HEALTHY, MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY AS WELL AS COORDINATED ALL ADVOCACY EFFORTS FOR FUNDING OF AGING PROGRAMS. WELLNESS ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN EXPANDING AT CENTERS AS WELL. MORE HEALTH MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN OFFERED TO SENIORS. PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO EXPAND AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS, SUCH AS TRIPS TO THE PHARMACY OR GROCERY STORES, TO ADDING MORE RECREATIONAL TYPE TRIPS SUCH AS VISITS TO CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER VENUES FOR LEISURE. THIS PLANNING IMPROVED UTILIZATION OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICE UNITS. ALL OUR CENTERS CONSTANTLY UPDATE PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCEMENTS ON CENTERS' WEBSITES ALSO HELPED TO REINFORCE OUTREACH AND RE-ENGAGEMENT OF SENIORS. CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS CONTINUED WITH HOME VISITS AND ASSESSMENTS OF HOMEBOUND CLIENTS. TOTAL CLIENTS FOR FY 25 SERVED BETWEEN SWQ AND BENSON 1638. DECREASE WAS DUE TO MANY FACTORS WHICH INCLUDED CLIENT TERMINATIONS AND NOT HAVING DEDICATED STAFF TO DO OUTREACHES FOR FY 25. PROGRAMS WERE ABLE TO REDUCE WAITING LIST FOR SERVICES DESPITE CONSTANT SHORTAGE IN STAFFING. MORE REPORTING TOOLS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY FUNDING SOURCE NYC AGING, E.G. MONTHLY REVIEWS OF WAITLIST, ASSESSMENT REVIEWS AND MORE. IN JUNE 2025 DFTA TRANSITIONED TO A NEW DATABASE CALLED VIVE FOR QUEENS ALONE AS THEY WERE PART OF A PILOT PROGRAM. DURING FY 24 HOME DELIVERED MEALS PROGRAMS DELIVERED AN AVERAGE OF 1,671 MEALS OVER 249 DAYS 416,079 MEALS OVERALL BY 2 HOME DELIVERED MEALS PROGRAMS- SOUTHWEST QUEENS & NORTHEAST QUEENS HDMPS. SWQ RECEIVED 6 VEHICLES FROM JASA TO COVER NEWLY ADDED CD 14 TRANSFERRED FROM JASA TO CCNS. PROGRAMS ALSO KEPT SOME VEHICLES FROM WESTERN QUEENS. SWQ HDMP MOVED TO THE NEW LOCATION TO HOWARD BEACH, ON THE GROUND OF ST ANASTASIA. SOCIAL ADULT DAY CARE FOR SENIOR WITH ALZHEIMER'S SERVED 40 CLIENTS FOR FY25. IT HAS RECEIVED MUCH POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM CAREGIVERS ON IMPROVEMENT IN CLIENTS' COGNITION AND GREAT SUPPORT PROVIDED BY PROGRAM'S STAFF. INTENSIVE PROGRAMMING AND WELLNESS/RECREATION ACTIVITIES SHOWED MUCH IMPROVEMENT TO THIS POPULATION. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT TO CAREGIVER WITH ITS MONTHLY CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS. PROGRAM HAS GREAT RECOGNITION IN THE COMMUNITY. PROGRAM RECEIVED CONGRESSIONAL CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FROM CONGRESSMAN GREGORY MEEKS. NORC PROGRAM DISCRETIONARY FUNDING FOR FY 25 REMAINED REDUCED, WHICH LEFT IT WITH LIMITED STAFFING. HOWEVER, PROGRAM CONTINUED TO SUCCESSFULLY SERVE CLIENTS RESIDING IN THE SHEEPSHEAD-NOSTRAND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN BROOKLYN WITH MANY GROUP ACTIVITIES, ON SITE AND VIRTUAL. NURSING HOURS FUNDED BY CITY COUNCIL HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND PROGRAM CONTINUED WITH HEALTH PROMOTION SERVICES TO SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY. IN FY 25 PROGRAM SERVED 260 UNDUPLICATED ACTIVE CLIENTS. THE MEMBERSHIP WAS INCREASED TO 326 MEMBERS. PROGRAM HAD 100% PERFORMANCE AUDIT OUTCOME. GERIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH CONDUCTED 554 MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS TO SENIORS IN OAS PORTFOLIO AND SERVED COMMUNITIES. BASED ON RESULTS OF SCREENINGS, 32 CLIENTS RECEIVED SHORT- TERM COUNSELING UNTIL THEY WERE REFERRED TO LONG- TERM PROVIDERS FOR CONTINUUM OF CARE. PROGRAM STAFF HAD PHONE AND GROUPS SERVICES AS WELL. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH SENIOR CENTER'S STAFF TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH OF SENIORS.

RESIDENTIAL AND HOUSING SERVICES (RHS) SERVE LOW-INCOME ADULT AND SENIOR POPULATIONS WITH CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES AND/OR HISTORIES OF HOMELESSNESS. THERE IS A CONTINUUM OF CARE AND SUPPORT THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAM TYPES. 1) THE MORE INTENSE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN SCATTERED SITE APARTMENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS WHICH BILL MEDICAID VIA NYS OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) FOR PROVIDING REHABILITATIVE AND RESTORATIVE SERVICES TO THOSE WITH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. THESE ARE TRANSITIONAL UNITS IN WHICH RESIDENTS RECEIVE WEEKLY VISITS AND HANDS ON SERVICES. IN 2025, CCNS AGAIN INCREASED THE PERSONAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE TO TRY TO ASSIST WITH INFLATION AND INCLUDES CABLE AND WI-FI IN EACH APARTMENT TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR THESE CLIENTS. ONCE RESIDENTS RECEIVE TREATMENT AND IMPROVE, THEY GRADUATE TO A LOWER LEVEL OF CARE. 2) SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SCATTERED SITE UNITS FOR THE MENTALLY ILL PROVIDE SAFE HOMES WITH RENT ASSISTANCE AND SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH OMH. SERVICES INCLUDE VISITS AND PHONE CALLS, CASE MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS INTERVENTION. WHEREAS THE GOAL IN APARTMENT TREATMENT IS CLIENT OVERALL IMPROVEMENT, THE GOAL IN SUPPORTIVE APARTMENTS IS FOR CLIENTS TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENT HOUSING. THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, INCREASED UNIT REIMBURSEMENT TO COVER FAIR MARKET VALUE RENTS WHICH HAVE BROUGHT THESE PROGRAMS OUT OF THE RED. CCNS WAS ABLE TO INCREASE DIRECT SERVICE STAFF SALARIES. THERE IS NOW A REASONABLE CLIENT TO STAFF RATIO WITHOUT CONSTANT FEAR OF LOSING STAFF. 3) CARING SUPPORTED HOUSING AND MERCY GARDENS ARE FOUR SUPPORTED SRO BUILDINGS FOR THOSE WITH HISTORIES OF MENTAL ILLNESS, HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE. CCNS HAS A NYC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE CONTRACT FOR STAFF TO WORK ON-SITE TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES TO ENSURE TENANTS WITH HISTORIES OF MENTAL ILLNESS DO NOT REGRESS TO HOMELESSNESS. 4) CCNS PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL SERVICES IN LOW INCOME HOUSING BUILDINGS. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROGRAMS OPERATING. SENIOR HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES OPERATES IN TEN POP MANAGEMENT LOW-INCOME HOUSING BUILDINGS FOR SENIORS. A GERIATRIC WELLNESS NURSE, HOUSING WELLNESS COORDINATOR PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT AND A SOCIAL WORKER VISIT EACH BUILDING EACH WEEK. THEY EVALUATE TENANTS AND ASSESS EACH BUILDING FOR PRIORITY NEEDS. THE STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST POP WITH DIFFICULT TENANTS AS WELL AS TO ADD SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO AGE IN PLACE, AVOIDING HOSPITALIZATIONS AND MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. IN 2025 WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN FULL STAFF. 5) RHS PROVIDES 31 UNITS LOCATED IN POP MANAGEMENT'S BISHOP VALERO APTS WITH SUPPORT SERVICES VIA A NYC 15/15 CONTRACT FOR SERVICE STAFF. THERE ARE TWO RESIDENT WELLNESS COORDINATORS, A PART-TIME NURSE, A SUPERVISOR AND A PART-TIME BENEFIT COUNSELOR. ALTHOUGH THE CONTRACT IS FOR 31 TENANTS HOUSED IN THE BUILDING, STAFF ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST OTHERS IN EMERGENCY. IN 2025 WE BEGAN OFFERING ON-SITE SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT IN RESPONSE TO AN EVALUATED NEED. 6) RHS' POPE FRANCIS SUPPORT SERVICES ASSISTS 81 TENANTS LIVING IN POP MANAGEMENT'S LORETTO II BUILDINGS VIA A NYS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ESSHI GRANT. EIGHTY-ONE FRAIL ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS ARE HOUSED WITH SPECIAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN PLACE. POPE FRANCIS PROVIDES GROUP EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND BUILD A SOCIAL NETWORK FOR TENANTS. RESIDENTIAL AND HOUSING SERVICES ASSISTED 642 INDIVIDUALS WITH HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES IN 2025. ADDITIONALLY, VIA CONTRACT WITH COORDINATED BEHAVIORAL CARE, THE HOUSING ENGAGEMENT, LOCATION AND PLACEMENT SERVICES PROGRAM (HELPS) ASSISTED 286 INDIVIDUALS LEAVING NYC HEALTH AND HOSPITALS, LOOK FOR AND OBTAIN HOUSING. CCNS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SCATTERED SITE APARTMENTS AND CONGREGATE HOUSING FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS+ SUNSET IN 2025.