AGENCY TESTIMONY
Historical context and transition of OAC management in NYCHA facilities
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ยท
3 min
Ryan Murray provides historical context for Older Adult Centers (OACs) in NYCHA facilities and explains the transition of OAC management from NYCHA to NYC Aging. He also introduces the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers, highlighting interagency collaboration.
- The nation's first OAC was established at William Hodson Older Adults Center in the Bronx, located in NYCHA's Daniel Webster Houses
- OACs in NYCHA facilities transitioned to NYC Aging management in two main phases: during the Bloomberg Administration and in 2018-2019
- The Cabinet for Older New Yorkers, created by the Adams Administration in 2022, includes NYCHA as a member, fostering improved interagency collaboration
- During the transitions from NYCHA to NYC Aging management, no centers were closed
Ryan Murray
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how we ensure that success of NYCHA OAC locations and how we ensure that we deliver the best services for older New Yorkers possible.
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Thanks to the Council's leadership, the New York City, Cabinet for Older New Yorkers, created by the Adams Administration in 2022 was codified into law with a permanent slate of Cabinet member agencies.
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NYCHA has been part of the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers since its inaugural meeting in September 2022, and their partnership has led to a number of improvements in programming at the spaces such as intergenerational initiatives, public safety responses, and transportation related enhancements.
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Like many partner agencies in government, NYCHA and NYC Aging work every day to better serve, New Yorkers over 60 and in our OACs, but also in ways beyond serving meals and programming.
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NYC OACs at NITA facilities since the founding of our agency and the establishment of centers through the Older Americans Act.
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In fact, the nation's first OAC was at William Hodson Older Adults Center in the Bronx.
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It's located in Daniel Webster Houses and serves older adult population in that complex as well as the surrounding community.
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Throughout New York City, there are over 42,684 older adults who attend the old OACs located in NYCHA complexes, and about 12,686 individuals who receive services from NYC Aging and or NYCHA residents.
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Historically, and, NYCHA did run a number of OACs and then they were known as senior centers, in their facilities.
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Though, as I mentioned before, it was not the totality of centers that were run, and located in NYCHA Developments within the NYC Aging portfolio.
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While NYC Aging has always had some OACs in NYCHA sites, newly added OACs came, from NYCHA to NYC Aging in 2 distinct tranches.
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First, during the Bloomberg Administration, NYC Aging took on a number of centers which NYCHA, transitioned over to us, and those were previously run independently.
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We folded those into our current network of programs, based on a range of factors, such as the size of the programs, the space, capacity, as well as budgetary needs for our agency.
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This, as you know, once you visit our older adult centers throughout the city, shows the diversity of the the programs.
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And as we talk about addressing facility issues, you'll also appreciate that that's some of the nuance that happens when we're, going to different centers to address issues.
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So, the other tranche that came our way was 2018 to 2019 period.
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NYC Aging assumed oversight over all remaining older adult centers still managed by NYCHA.
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A similar situation occurred with other NYCHA social programs for children, where New York City Department For Youth and Community Development took on new programs as well.
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During these transitions from NYCHA to aging, not one center was closed.