The Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County represents over 40 nonprofit and public organizations who are committed to advocating for policy change that improves the lives of seniors in Alameda County.
MISSION
Senior Services Coalitions’ mission is to strengthen and improve the network of support for older people in Alameda County, especially those disproportionately impacted or at risk because of fragile health, cognitive impairment, disability, language, culture, race, financial status, age, sex or gender.
VISION
Senior Services Coalition’s Vision is of an age-inclusive county where aging people are fully a part of the fabric of the community and are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives. In this future, health, supportive and coordinating services work in concert, are easily accessible, are person-centered, and are designed to prepare us to meet the opportunities and challenges of aging.
GOALS
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Be a strong and influential voice for the aging services community in shaping policy at the state and county level.
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Increase funding for aging services and strengthen the safety net for economically insecure older adults.
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Build collaborative bridges and support the development of partnerships and contracting opportunities to leverage social determinants and improve health and life outcomes.
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Drive systems change to improve access to health, supportive and coordinating services that help older adults meet the opportunities and challenges of aging.
STEERING COMMITTEE
| Community Health Center: | Kathryn Stambaugh Director, Geriatric Services, LifeLong Medical Care |
| City Service Provider: | Karen Grimsich Aging and Family Services Administrator, City of Fremont |
| South County Service Provider: | Katherine Kelly Senior Government Affairs Manager, On Lok |
| North County Service Provider: | Diane Wong Executive Director, J-Sei |
| Housing Service Provider: | Donna Griggs-Murphy Resident Services Coordinator, Human Good |
| Consumer Group Representative: | Karen Anderson Board Member, United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda |
| Fiscal Agent Representative: | Marisa Melo Executive Director, Meals on Wheels of Alameda County |
STAFF
WENDY PETERSON, DIRECTOR
Wendy Peterson has worked in the field of aging policy and services for 19 years, after leaving the computer industry where she managed technology development start-ups. Since 2002, Ms. Peterson has directed the Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County, a coalition of nonprofit and public organizations that provide health care and supportive services to over 79,000 seniors throughout the county. The Coalition and its members advocate for policy changes that improve the lives of vulnerable older adults.
Prior to joining SSC, Ms. Peterson served as Marketing/Development Director for Center for Elders Independence, a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly in Oakland, California. In 2006, she served as Interim Project Director for LifeLong Medical Care’s East Bay Benefits Initiative, helping to prepare that community health center for the launch of Medicare’s Prescription Drug Benefit, and conducting a series of teleconference trainings that shared LifeLong’s best practices with safety net providers throughout California.
Ms. Peterson has been recognized for her advocacy leadership by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors; is the recipient of the 2010 Kenneth Hoh Award for Advocacy from Family Bridges, and was named 2009 Woman of the Year for the 9th Senate District by State Senator Loni Hancock.
Ms. Peterson currently serves as the President of the Board of DayBreak Adult Care Centers, an organization that serves the providers of adult day care and the adults and families they serve. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Tri-City Elders Coalition and serves on the board of the East Bay Foundation on Aging. Ms. Peterson holds a Bachelors degree (cum laude) in English from the University of California at Los Angeles.