This year celebrates the 35th anniversary of the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging. The CCAAA became incorporated in 1977 and has been providing a comprehensive array of high quality health and human services to residents of Clearfield County.
“The roads traveled and the bridges crossed have been many these 35 years,” said Rikki Ross, marketing and events coordinator for the CCAAA. “In our efforts to provide service, the distances we have covered in this large rural county of western Pennsylvania are literally almost beyond comprehension.
“In more of a figurative sense, we have also traveled very far. Many more people are now served with more service options. Our role has shifted from that of a direct service provider to a position of developing, coordinating and leading community responses to an ever growing array of needs. As a non-profit, charitable organization, our efforts to serve are increasingly supported with charitable and benevolent gifts.”
Thirty-five years ago, the agency created a basic array of core services then in accordance with the requirements of the federal Older Americans Act. Senior Centers, Meals on Wheels, Homemaker Services, Information and Referral, Case Management and Senior Transportation began and were formalized into what later became known as a “continuum of service.” Neither great in scope nor budget back then, these fledging services continue today with strength and vitality, Ross said.
With this young agency commitment grew among the board of directors and staff, and it soon extended outside of the agency into the community.
“The AAA placed a new emphasis on volunteerism, and service capabilities leapt forward,” Ross said. “Numerous programs and initiatives were attempted and some had profound impact.” Some of those impacting programs and initiatives are Blizzard Boxes, Meals on Wheels, SAFE Home, PET-Vet, Elder Shield and Tax Aide.
“In subsequent years, the AAA assumed the sponsorship of the well-established Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and created the Volunteer Center of Clearfield County,” Ross said.
The energy of this young agency was also directed toward finding new ways of responding to identified needs, Ross said. A significant number of competitive and demonstration grants were secured from state and federal sources as well as local and national foundations. These included demonstration and service efforts, such as AAA/MH-MR Case Mix, Rural Senior Center programming, Respite Care, Transitional Care and Intergenerational programming. Local foundation support can from the Walker Foundation, and national funding from the Points of Light as well as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Ross said.
The growth demanded improved facilities in order to continue providing quality service. Funding was directed toward construction of new senior and community centers in DuBois and Clearfield. A corporate office complex was also built in conjunction with the Clearfield Senior Center, in the heart of downtown Clearfield. Other senior center facilities were upgraded, sometimes through renovation, and other times by moving to obtain larger or more accessible space.
“The AAA’s accomplishments garnered recognition outside of its geographical bounds,” Ross said. Staff was increasingly stepping forward to service in state and national organizations and efforts, as were several members of the board of directors. The intentional involvement included representation to the National Association of Meals Programs, the Pennsylvania Association of Senior Centers Board, the Pennsylvania Council on Aging and more, Ross said.
As the first 20 years came to a close, the AAA consciously chose to shift its dependence on governmental support by building upon its own positive image as a charitable organization, Ross said. A Director of Development position was created, Mature Resources Foundation was formed to raise and hold funds for special and future AAA program needs. An auxiliary, The Friends of the Area Agency on Aging, was also created to enhance the visibility of the AAA and to provide an army of committed, service-minded volunteers.
“INFO-LINK, a comprehensive computerized database of services, benefits and resources was created in 1996,” Ross said. “It continues to serve as the only nationally accredited information and referral system in Pennsylvania. It meets real needs while serving as another outreach effort of our Agency to organizations and persons who might not otherwise know about the AAA.”
The agency received many awards over the past 35 years. Those awards are Robert Wood Johnson Grant: Faith in Action, 1996; JCPenney Golden Rule Award, 1997; Philip Morris and Meals on Wheels of America Senior Helping Grant and Quality of Life Award, 1999; and Named Major Employer of the Year by the Clearfield Chamber of Commerce, 2008.
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the CCAAA, GantDaily will be publishing future stories throughout the upcoming months. Any questions about the services the CCAAA offers contact their office at 765-2696.