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General Agency Information

  1. Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA)
    1. Purpose - From its inception, the OAA was designed to provide services to older persons not adequately served by other public and private systems and most importantly, to provide the institutional advocacy at the federal, state and local levels thereby encouraging those other systems to be more responsive to the needs of the elderly. Although there are eight “titles” in the OAA, the focus here will be Title III (health and human services).
    2. Title III authorizes an array of community services such as the meals programs, transportation, home health care and homemaking assistance, adult day care, home repair, and legal assistance which enable many older Americans to remain in their own homes and communities, thereby avoiding unnecessary and costly institutionalization.

      The strategies of Title III are twofold. The first is the “direct services strategy;” and the second is the “institutional change,” or “system strategy.” State and Area Agencies on Aging are responsible for providing leadership in identifying gaps and weaknesses in the delivery of services, fostering the expansion of service programs for older persons, as well as direct funding of other public and private non-profit agencies which serve the elderly.
  2. National Aging Service Network
    1. Roles of the State Units on Aging - The State Unit on Aging (SUA) is an agency of state government designated by the governor as the focal point for all matters relating to older persons’ needs within the State.

      The main goal of the SUA is to provide opportunities for keeping older persons in their own homes and communities. Specifically they must: (1) develop and administer the state plan; (2) be primarily responsible for coordination of all activities in the state related to the Act’s purposes; (3) serve as an effective and visible advocate for the elderly by reviewing and commenting upon all state plans, budgets, and policies which affect the elderly; and (4) divide the state into distinct planning and service areas (PSAs). They must take into account the geographical distribution of individuals aged 60 and older in the state, the incidence of the need for supportive services, the distribution of need for supportive services, and the distribution of low-income elderly residing in such areas, among other factors.

      SUAs are found in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    2. Roles of Area Agencies on Aging - An Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is a public or nonprofit private agency designated by the State to carry out the Older Americans Act at the regional level. AAAs serve both as the advocate and visible focal point in the PSA to foster the development of more comprehensive and coordinated service systems to serve older individuals. There are nearly 700 AAAs throughout the United States and its territories.

      AAAs have clear responsibility to assure that nutrition, health and human services are made available to older persons in communities where they live. It is through the AAAs that most Older Americans Act services are funded, implemented, coordinated, expanded and upheld.
  3. Ohio’s Aging Service Network
    1. Ohio Department of Aging - The SUA in Ohio is called the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA). Created in 1973, ODA achieved full departmental status in 1984. The ODA Director is a member of the Governor's Cabinet.
    2. Ohio’s Planning and Service Areas - ODA has divided the state into 12 regions or PSAs. Our PSA is known as “10B.” PSA 10B, covering Portage, Stark, Summit and Wayne Counties, contains 10% of the State’s elderly population and is one of seven urban PSAs.
  4. Budget
      The Agency’s responsibilities have grown phenomenally over its history. This growth in responsibilities has been reflected in the budget as well. From a budget of just over $300,000 in 1974, the Agency’s budget is now approaching $55 million.

      Budget gains have been accompanied by a proliferation of “funds.” In fact, as shown in the Agency’s audit, more than 50 separate funds are tracked. Multiple funds require a complex budgeting and accounting system that is capable of producing needed internal and external financial reports.
  5. Structure
    1. Volunteers
      • The Agency utilizes volunteers in a variety of capacities including the Board of Directors, Areawide Advisory Council (AAC), County Councils, and as ombudsman visitors to residents of long-term care facilities.
      1. Board of Directors
        1. Qualifications
          • Reside or work in Portage, Stark, Summit or Wayne County
          • Knowledgeable about community needs
          • Significant interest in the older adult population
          • Committed to furthering the goals of the Agency
        2. Regional Representation by County
          • Portage - 3
          • Stark - 6
          • Summit - 8
          • Wayne - 3
          • At-Large - 5
          • Areawide Advisory Council President (ex-officio)
          • Immediate Past President
        3. Officers
          • Chairman
          • Vice Chairmen - 4 (1 from each county)
          • Secretary
          • Treasurer
          • Chief Medical Officer
        4. Committees
          • Executive
          • Finance
          • PASSPORT
          • Elder Rights
          • Nominating
          • Human Resources
          • Program Development
        5. Responsibilities Board of Directors
          • Develop and monitor Agency policy
          • Support the mission and vision of the Agency
          • Develop the Strategic Plan
          • Ensure financial solvency
          • Determine the allocation of resources
          • Enhance the Agency’s public image
          • Interpret community needs to the Agency
          • Select Board members
          • Hire the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Individual Directors
          • Attend nine Board meetings annually
          • Serve on designated committees of the Board (a minimum of two)
          • Assist in areas of special experience or expertise
      2. Areawide Advisory Council
        • As required by the OAA, the Areawide Advisory Council advises the Board and staff on the needs of older persons. The Areawide Advisory Council plays an integral role in the allocations process by making recommendations to the Board.

          Also, the Areawide Advisory Council assists in the legislative advocacy responsibilities of the Agency. The Areawide Advisory Council has 32 members, 50% of whom are 60 years of age or older, a requirement of the OAA. Half of the members are appointed by elected officials of each of the four-county governments and the Cities of Canton and Ravenna in consideration for the local matching funds contributed to the Agency. The remainder of the AAC is elected by the four County Councils respectively.
      3. County Councils
        • The County Councils serve a function essentially similar to that of the AAC. While not required by the OAA, the County Councils provide the Agency with consumer input at the local level. The County Councils vary in size from 25 to 65 members.
      4. Elder Rights Ombudsman Volunteers
        • Volunteers play a vital role in visiting residents of the PSAs nursing homes, assisted living homes and adult care facilities. Through these visits, residents of such facilities are made aware of their rights and the Elder Rights Division’s role to help them advocate for these rights. Elder Rights Ombudsman volunteers can play an essential part in identifying problems that may lead to a staff investigation of a long term care facility. Over 55 volunteers serve in this capacity.
    2. Staffing Plan
      • The Agency’s staff currently numbers over 130 employees, and is housed within 17,000 square feet of office space at its Green location. Among the professions represented on staff are accounting, business administration, computer operations, dietetics, law, nursing, public administration, communications, social work and urban planning. The Agency’s staffing plan is approved by the Board. Likewise, the Board approves all salary ranges and reviews job descriptions. The Board employs the Chief Executive Officer who in turn is responsible for the hiring and firing of all staff.
  6. Accountability
      Through the Board, advisory councils and staff, the Agency is accountable to ODA. The Agency’s “designation” as an “AAA” is granted by the State. In fact, nearly all of the Agency’s revenue comes through ODA. Local input into the Agency’s decision-making process comes through its large volunteer network, local service providers and consumers, and the community at-large. Public hearings and community needs studies have been among the most effective methods of obtaining public opinion about pertinent issues and concerns.
Front view of building
Directions to the Office
  • Interstate 77 to the Massillon Road Exit
  • South on SR 241 (Massillon Road)
  • Turn right onto Corporate Woods Circle
  • Turn right onto Corporate Woods Parkway
  • Follow Corporate Woods Parkway around a bend to the left
  • Area Agency on Aging is the two-story blue building on the left
  • 1550 Corporate Woods Parkway
    Uniontown, OH 44685
The Area Agency on Aging 10B, Inc.
1550 Corporate Woods Parkway
Uniontown, Ohio 44685-8797

© 2007 The Area Agency on Aging 10B, Inc.