2001 Minnesota Statutes

     256.9731 On-site coordination (OSC) services projects. 

    Subdivision 1.    Definitions.  For the purposes of this 
 section, the following terms have the meanings given them.  

    (a)    Congregate housing.  "Congregate housing" means 
 federally or locally subsidized housing and nonsubsidized low- 
 and moderate-income multifamily housing units which may not have 
 common areas for activities and for serving food, designed for 
 the elderly. 

    (b)    On-site coordination services projects.  "On-site 
 coordination services project" means a project in which services 
 are or could be made available to persons age 55 or older who 
 live in a designated service area and which helps them remain 
 independent.  To be considered an on-site coordination services 
 project, a project must have:  (1) an on-site coordinator; (2) a 
 plan for assuring the availability of one meal per day, seven 
 days a week, for each elderly participant who needs a meal to 
 continue to live independently; and (3) an approved designated 
 service area.  

    (c)    On-site coordinator.  "On-site coordinator" means 
 a person who works on-site in a designated service area and who 
 serves as a contact for older persons who need services, 
 support, and assistance in order to help them remain independent.

    (d)    On-site coordination services project participants 
 or project participants.  "On-site coordination services 
 project participants" or "project participants" means elderly 
 persons 55 years old or older who are currently residents of or 
 who are planning to move into a designated service area and who 
 need support services to remain independent. 

    (e)    Designated service area or DSA.  "Designated 
 service area" or "DSA" means the congregate housing site or 
 sites, and surrounding neighborhoods and communities that have a 
 concentration of persons age 55 or older that is higher than the 
 state average, in which on-site coordination services will be 
 provided. 

    Subd. 2. Repealed, 1994 c 480 s 9 

    Subd. 3.    Grant program.  The commissioner shall 
 establish an on-site coordination services grant program that is 
 coordinated with county government programs and services for 
 elderly persons and, in counties where they exist, with seniors' 
 agenda for independent living (SAIL) projects as defined in 
 section 256B.0917, that will enable communities and 
 neighborhoods to provide on-site coordinators to serve older 
 persons who need services and support, or need assistance in 
 accessing services, in order to delay or prevent nursing home 
 placement and remain independent. 

    Subd. 4.    Use of grant funds.  Grant funds shall be 
 used to develop and fund on-site coordinator positions.  Grant 
 funds shall not be used to duplicate existing funds, to modify 
 buildings, or to purchase equipment.  

    Subd. 5.    Grant eligibility.  A public or nonprofit 
 agency or housing unit may apply for funds to provide a 
 coordinator for on-site coordination services to an identified 
 population of frail elderly persons in a designated service 
 area.  The commissioner shall give preference to applicants that 
 meet the requirements of this section, and that have a common 
 dining site in the designated service area.  A local match shall 
 be required.  State money received may also be used to match 
 federal money allocated for on-site coordination services.  
 Grants shall be awarded to urban and rural sites. 

    Subd. 6.    Criteria for selection.  The commissioner 
 shall select projects under this section according to the 
 following criteria: 

    (1) the extent to which the proposed project assists older 
 persons to age-in-place to prevent or delay nursing home 
 placement; 

    (2) the extent to which the proposed project identifies the 
 needs of project participants; 

    (3) the extent to which the proposed project identifies how 
 the on-site coordinator will help meet the needs of project 
 participants; 

    (4) the extent to which the proposed project plan assures 
 the availability of one meal a day, seven days a week, for each 
 elderly participant in need in the designated service area; 

    (5) the extent to which the proposed project demonstrates 
 involvement of participants, communities, and family members in 
 the project; and 

    (6) the extent to which the proposed project demonstrates 
 coordination of community agencies and public and private 
 service agencies, including area agencies on aging. 

 The commissioner shall consult with the county board of the 
 county in which the project would be implemented, and shall not 
 select any project without approval of the county board.  A 
 designated service area with a senior dining program may be 
 given preference. 

    Subd. 7.    Grant applications.  The commissioner shall 
 request proposals for grants and award grants using the criteria 
 in subdivision 6.  Grant applications shall include: 

    (1) documentation of the need for on-site coordination 
 services in the DSA so the residents can remain independent; 

    (2) a description of the resources, such as social services 
 and health services, that will be available in the DSA community 
 to provide the necessary support services; 

    (3) a description of the target population, as defined in 
 subdivision 1, paragraph (d); 

    (4) a performance plan that includes written performance 
 objectives, outcomes, timelines, and the procedure the grantee 
 will use to document and measure success in meeting the 
 objectives; and 

    (5) letters of support from appropriate public and private 
 agencies and organizations, such as area agencies on aging and 
 county human service departments that demonstrate an intent to 
 collaborate and coordinate with the agency requesting a grant.  

    Subd. 8.    Report.  The commissioner shall collect data 
 on a quarterly basis on the number of persons served and other 
 factors relating to the goals, activities, and accomplishments 
 of the projects.  The commissioner shall provide this data in 
 summary form to the legislature in annual reports, due January 
 1, 2001, and each January 1 thereafter.  The annual reports must 
 also include recommendations based on project findings. 

    Subd. 9.    Technical assistance.  The commissioner may 
 provide technical assistance to sponsors of on-site coordination 
 services programs or may contract or delegate the provision of 
 technical assistance. 

    Subd. 10.    Other agencies.  The commissioner may 
 delegate, use, or employ any federal, state, regional, or local 
 public or private agency or organization, including 
 organizations of physically handicapped persons, upon terms the 
 commissioner deems necessary or desirable, to assist in the 
 exercise of any of the powers granted in this section. 

    HIST: 1991 c 292 art 7 s 7; 1992 c 513 art 7 s 29,30; 2000 c 
 488 art 9 s 14,36