Executive Order 37

Sule d

af J, Executive Devatuent

In THE NAME AND By THe AutHormy oF THE STATE OF lowa

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER THIRTY - SEVEN

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

older lowans should enjoy the freedom to choose from a variety of living and Service options that guarantee their optimum health, dignity, autonomy and independence; and

limited income and personal resources should not prevent access to a full array of quality services sufficient to provide a safe, healthy and satisfying environment in which to live; and

lowa should have a long term living system that ensures no Jowan is abused, expenicnces preventable deteriorating health, emotional or social isolation because of disability or the frailties of aging; and

it is important to expand lowa's ability to provide services to people in ways that delay and prevent institutional placement rather than merely serving those cligible for institutional care; and

the State of lowa currently provides a wide variety of services to older lowans across the enterprise of state government; and

the need exists to develop a scamless and comprehensive service delivery system, which can be designed to address the state's critical needs; and

a comprehensive effort to develop strategies for improving and re-shaping the structure and nature of senior services in this state must include steps to coordinate the services that are delivered by all Departments within the State of lowa.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Thomas J. Vilsack, Governor of the State of lowa, by the power vested in me by the laws and the Constitution of the State of lowa, do hereby order and direct the creation of the AGING SERVICES CABINET.

1, Purpose, The Aging Services Cabinet shall be convened to increase coordination and improve integration of health and social services for older lowans across state government. The Aging Services Cabinet shall advise the Governor's office on workable strategies for developing a well- coordinated and scamless senior service delivery system, wherein the Departments of state government work together in a more cohesive manner to assess and deliver needed services to older lowans.

The Aging Services Cabinet shall address pertinent issues that affect the lives of older lowans, The Cabinet may consider issues which include, but shall not be limited to: expanded and targeted case management services in the elderly waiver; a community choice counseling process; use of technology to make determination of eligibility more efficient and effective in developing care plans (lowa’s Seamless project); improving access to the long term care system by citizens; the unique behavioral health problems facing older lowans; the challenges of recruiting and

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retaining an adequate and qualified caregiver workforce; the challenges of providing services in rural lowa; services that enhance the quality of life of older lowans; and consumer education to promote healthy aging and assist older lowans in making the service and care decisions that face them.

Il. Organization. The Aging Services Cabinet shall be composed of the Directors of the Department of Elder Affairs, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Inspections and Appeals and the Department of Public Health. The Aging Services Cabinet shall consult with other State Departments, representatives from the lowa General Assembly, the Governor's Office, aging services stakeholders and providers within the state, and state residents as is necessary to fulfill its purpose.

The Department of Human Services will be the lead Department for the Aging Services Cabinet and will provide administrative support for the Cabinet,

Tl. —_ Activities. The Aging Services Cabinet shall meet at the call of the Govemor. In addition, the Cabinet shall convene no less than quarterly in order to coordinate activities and share information on tasks as assigned by the Governor.

The Aging Services Cabinet shall commence its activities by taking the following steps: (1) identify all of the current activities within state government that serve older lowans; (2) identify a narrow set of priority issues to improve services to older lowans (these issues shall consist of topics that have a significant impact on all older lowans and compliment existing efforts); (3) generate recommendations for addressing priority issues including policy options and an implementation strategy and timeline; (4) prepare action plan for implementing recommendations approved by the Governor.

The Cabinet shall submit a written report to the Governor's Office no later than December 1", 2004 with short term recommendations and a follow- up report June 1“, 2005 with long term recommendations and implementation plans.

The Aging Services Cabinet shall be disbanded on December 31”, 2006.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, | have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal of the State of lowa to be affixed. Done at Des Moines this 1°" day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand four.

THOMAS J, CK GOVERNOR

ATTEST:

C-by—

ESTER J. CULVER SECRETARY OF STATE

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