Jewish Family Services and The Valley Storefront Senior Center Older Adult Interest Survey/NORC Project

In 2006, Partners in Care (Partners) was commissioned by Jewish Family Service (JFS) and the Valley Storefront Senior Center to determine where Jewish seniors live proximate to the Valley Storefront Senior Center and other social service providers in the San Fernando, Conejo, and Santa Clarita Valleys, what social services are currently utilized by Jewish seniors and others living in the valley areas, what gaps in service provision exist, and whether naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) are present in these valley areas. Researchers from Partners, in collaboration with JFS, community stakeholders, service providers, valley residents, created a comprehensive needs assessment instrument for Jewish and non-Jewish seniors living in the San Fernando Valley. In addition, the density of senior populations was mapped using a computer software program (ArcGIS), from census data, as well as zip codes provided by respondents of the survey, to find where seniors were living in the targeted three Valley areas.