Regional Coordinating Council on Aging and Disability

The focus of the Council is on creating a collaborative, efficient, and equitable system that enhances the quality of life for individuals, particularly older adults and persons living with disabilities. The goal is to align and optimize public and private resources across health, public health, and social care sectors. The Council will help bolster efforts to enhance the state’s No Wrong Door access systems and coordinate with local and state public health departments.

Center of Excellence Full Roster List

Workgroups:

• Emergency Preparedness Workgroup
• Resources and Data Sharing Workgroup
• Housing Workgroup
• Community Engagement and Communications Workgroup

Led by: 

• Dr. Laura Trejo, Director, LA County Aging & Disabilities Department
• June Simmons, President & CEO, Partners in Care Foundation 

Workgroup News 

March 20^th, 2025 – L.A. County Regional Coordinating Council for Aging and Disability: Launch and Second Meeting

Emergency Preparedness Workgroup

Charge and Focus Areas: Develops and implements plans to ensure the safety and wellbeing of older adults and persons with disabilities during emergencies. 

• Risk Assessment: Conduct assessments to identify the specific needs and vulnerabilities faced by older adults and people with disabilities in emergencies.  
• Preparedness Planning: Develop and implement emergency preparedness plans that address the needs of people with disabilities and older adults.  
• Training and Education: Provide training and education to older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and service providers on emergency preparedness. 
• Coordination: Coordinate with local emergency management agencies to ensure that the needs of older adults and people with disabilities are included in emergency response plans.  
• Communication and Activation: Develop strategies, protocols, and a toolkit to ensure effective communication with and activation of older adults and people with disabilities during emergencies. 

Emergency Preparedness Workgroup Roster

Emergency Preparedness Workgroup Co-Chairs: 

• Michael Martinez, DDARC Coordinator, CALIF
• Ted Smith, Commissioner, Los Angeles Commission for Older Adults

Resources and Data Sharing Workgroup

Charge and Focus Areas: To identify, map, and integrate data and resources across systems to provide coordinated, comprehensive support for older adults and people with disabilities.

• Data Integration:
  • Emphasis on procedures, protocols, and governance to support safe, effective data sharing
  • Opportunity to manage efforts at the local level for faster implementation
• Resource Mapping:
  • Need to understand what exists, where gaps are, and how to leverage existing programs instead of creating new ones
  • Recognize formal vs informal resources, especially during times of disruption
• Accessibility & Equity:
  • Ensure information is linguistically, digitally, and culturally accessible
  • Look at successful models like the LA City/County Aging brochure with a single call center number
• Collaboration & Closed-Loop Referrals:
  • Build toward a system that supports integrated referrals and reduces service fragmentation
  • Explore CIE models for structure and inspiration

Resource and Data Sharing Workgroup Roster

Resource and Data Sharing Workgroup Co-Chairs:

• Maribel Marin, Executive Director, 211
• Bertha Sanchez-Hayden, Associate Vice President of Justice for Seniors and Dependent Adults, Bet Tzedeck Legal Services

Housing Workgroup

Charge and Focus Areas: Focuses on advocating for the development and promotion of affordable, accessible, supportive, and preventative housing solutions for older adults and people living with disabilities, in collaboration with key partners across Los Angeles County.  

• Housing Solutions:  
  • Advocate for the availability of accessible, affordable, and supportive housing options for older adults and people with disabilities – including those needing support with activities of daily living.   
  • Promote the development, preservation, and funding efforts of housing models that integrate services to support independent living.  
• Prevention: Focus on early interventions that prevent housing insecurity and homelessness by identifying and scaling programs with proven success for older adults and individuals with disabilities.  

Housing Workgroup Roster

Housing Workgroup Chair: 

• Jean Galiana, MASM, Older Adult Systems Coordinator, County CEO Homeless Initiative

Community Engagement and Communications

Charge and Focus Areas: Works to combat ageism and increase the visibility and engagement of older adults and persons living with disabilities in the community.

• Ageism and Ableism Reduction: Promote positive narratives to reduce ageism and ableism and improve the perception of older adults and people with disabilities in the community.
•  Visibility: Increase the visibility and quality of life of people with disabilities and older adults and their contributions to the community through multimedia and public relations efforts.
• Accessible Communication: Ensuring communications sent to people with disabilities and older adults are practical and adapted to the many special needs that otherwise create barriers for accessing information.
• Feedback Mechanisms: Establish mechanisms for older adults and people with disabilities to provide feedback and participate in decision-making processes.

Community Engagement and Communications Workgroup Roster

Community Engagement and Communications Workgroup Co-Chairs: 

• Molly Davies, LCSW,  President & CEO, WISE and Healthy Aging
• Victoria Jump, Assistant Director, Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Branch, LA County Aging and Disability Department