185560 Cross-Sectoral and Community Planning for the Aging Baby Boomers in San Mateo County

Monday, October 27, 2008: 8:45 AM

Crispin Delgado, MPP , Health Policy and Planning, San Mateo County Health Department, San Mateo, CA
Lisa Maria B. Alecxih, MPA , Center on Long Term Care, The Lewin Group, Falls Church, VA
Sophie Shen , Center on Long Term Care, The Lewin Group, Falls Church, VA
Daniel Brown, MPH , Public Health and Environmental Protection Division, San Mateo County Health Department, San Mateo, CA
Swati Deshpande, PhD , Disease Control and Prevention, San Mateo County Health System, San Mateo, CA
Scott Morrow, MD, MPH , Health Officer, San Mateo County Health System, San Mateo, CA
Jessica Stanfill, MPP , Department of Housing, San Mateo County, Belmong, CA
The San Mateo County Health Department (SMCHD), California, in collaboration with the Department of Housing, SamTrans, Health Plan of San Mateo, San Mateo Commission on Aging, and the San Mateo Medical Center, contracted with the Lewin Group to develop a computer-based projection model focusing on the County's socio-demographic composition for the years 2020 and 2030. Although many studies have predicted significant demographic shifts with the aging of the baby boomers, this model, the first of its kind in the County, is able to provide detailed output reports, which give policymakers direction in their planning.

The model was based on national, statewide, and local data, both quantitative and qualitative. The Steering Committee identified the incorporation of community voice as criteria for the project. As a result, local methods included a targeted survey that oversampled vulnerable populations, such as African-Americans, Latinos, Asian/Pacific Islander, and low-incomes individuals. Focus groups were held with monolingual Cantonese and Mandarin speakers. Efforts were made to capture the behavior of these sub-populations, as future plans may differ across populations, thereby impacting the level and types of services offered by the County. Given the diversification of the aging population in initial projections, coupled with current emerging trends in linguistic diversity, special considerations in planning will be necessary.

As part of the dissemination strategy of the projection data, SMCHD will be presenting the model to local government entities and community groups, while gathering feedback on different ways the data could be used and potential recommendations for the Board of Supervisors.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe approaches for cross-sectoral collaboration and the role of a diverse community voice in the planning process 2. List research methodology used to analyze and synthesize community recommendations 3. Discuss potential uses of data by government and the local community

Keywords: Aging, Community Involvement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Received a Masters in Public Policy with a focus on Urban Development. Currently works for the San Mateo County Department of Housing, which has been a collaborator on the project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.