Council on Older Persons (COOP)
The Council On Older Persons (COOP) is an advisory committee of The Center for Community Solutions, COOP’s mission is to promote a better understanding of aging and address the issues and concerns of older person in Greater Cleveland through citizen-led needs assessment, policy development, community education and advocacy. COOP’s members include leaders in the aging network who come together to develop strategies, lead advocacy efforts, and implement solutions.
To download the latest copy of the COOP Brochure, please click here.
History
The Council on Older Persons (COOP) was established as a committee of the Federation for Community Planning (now CCS) around 1940. Its purpose was to study the field of the care of the aged and to make recommendations for improvements of programs for older people, analyze available resources, and be influential in meeting the needs of the aged.
By-Laws
The Council on Older Persons (COOP) serves as an advisory committee for The Center for Community Solutions and as a resource to support communities, organizations, and institutions to promote the well‐being of older adults through education, awareness, and advocacy. Read the COOP By-Laws.
Accomplishments
In its nearly 70 years, COOP has been instrumental in the development of many significant programs and laws for older people, both locally and nationally. A few of them are: The PASSPORT program; the Ohio Guardianship Law; the Ohio Adult Protective Services Law; the Cuyahoga County Department of Senior and Adult Services; and the OPTIONS Program.
Issues
COOP’s focus is centered on issues and programs that affect the well-being of all older persons. These include the range of choices for long-term care and adult protective services. COOP is also identifying and studying concerns of older persons that can be addressed through public policy; recommending action strategies to impact these issues; and implementing the strategies approved by COOP members.
Principles
COOP adopted principles which are non-partisan and contain broad statements that can be applied over time. The principles provide a framework to guide direct or indirect contact with federal, state, and local legislators as well as other entities that influence public and social policy associated with older person and those who are disabled.
Council on Older Persons Members
- Stacey O’Brien, MSSA, LISW-S, Assistant Professor/Field Education Director, Ursuline College (COOP Chair)
- Bert Rahl, LISW-S, Community Volunteer (COOP Co-Chair)
- Wendy Albin Sattin, Executive Director, Community Partnership on Aging
- Camille Ali, MA, CDP, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
- Susan Althans, Director of Philanthropy/Board Secretary, The McGregor Foundation
- Georgia Anetzberger, Ph.D., Consultant and Community Volunteer
- Dr. E. Douglas Beach, CEO, Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging
- Orion H. Bell IV, President/CEO, The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
- Michael Billnitzer, Executive Director, Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People (ESOP)
- Marsha Mitchell Blanks, Community Volunteer
- Semanthie Brooks, Community Volunteer
- DeNeitra Brown, MSSA,IConnect Director, Greater Neighborhood Centers Association
- Beverly Charles, Community Volunteer
- Danielle Crawford, Director, Evaluation and Learning, United Way of Greater Cleveland
- Nate Cyrill, Program Director, Long Term Care Ombudsman-10A
- Kendra Daniel, Director, Adult Support & Advocacy, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
- Milica Djordjevic, MSSA, Service Coordinator, Westerly Apartments
- Janice Dzigiel, Executive Director, Senior Transportation Connection
- Dr. Robert Eckardt, Consultant & Community Volunteer
- Stephanie FallCreek, President and CEO, Fairhill Partners
- Maria Foschia, COO, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
- Jill Frankel, Director, City of Solon Department of Senior Services
- Donisha Greene, BA, Liaison & Field Rep./Rep. Marcia Fudge Field Office
- Kirsten Frei-Hermann, Program Director, Greater Cleveland Volunteers
- Tom Gannon, Community Volunteer
- Antoinette Gelsomino, Director of Human Services, City of Lakewood
- Kathleen Hallissey, Program Director/Leadership Development, The Cleveland Foundation
- Carolyn Harmon Still, PhD, CNP, MSM, AGPCNP, BC, CCRP, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, CWRU
- Jamie Hasenohrl, Supportive Service Worker, Maple Heights Office on Aging
- Constance “Connie” Hill-Johnson, Managing Director, Visiting Angels
- Melanie Hogan, Executive Director, Linking Employment, Abilities & Potential (LEAP)
- Vanessa Jackson, Senior Wellness Coordinator, May Dugan Center
- Janice Kopec-Myers, Provider Relations Manager, Hospice of the Western Reserve
- Kimberly LoVano, Director of Advocacy and Public Education, Greater Cleveland Food Bank
- Debra Mardenborough-White, MSW, SC, Kingsbury Tower/Millennia Housing
- Tracey N. Mason, Administrator, Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services
- Mary McNamara, LISW- S, Director, City of Cleveland Department of Aging
- Janet Montoya, Manager, Community Health Advocacy Project, MetroHealth
- Simone R. McNitt, SHRM-CP; Director of Encore Engagement, Fairhill Partners
- Ann Nguyen, PhD, MSW, LMSW, Assistant Professor, MSASS, CWRU
- Rev. Lorenzo Norris, CEO, Cleveland Clergy Alliance/Pastor of Concord Baptist Church
- Sarah Parran,LISW-S, CMS, Care Manager, Senior Care Connections, LLC
- Andrea Price, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
- Beth Silver, Director of Public Relations and Marketing, Menorah Park
- Michelle Simko, Project Director, AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program
- Paul Sobel, LNHA, MBA, CDP, Founder/Executive Director, Village in the Heights
- April Vince, Program Manager, CDC Overdose Data to Action, Cuyahoga County Board of Health
- Lisa Weitzman, LISW-S, WeCare Manager of Business Development, The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
- Danny R. Williams, JD, MNO, LNHA, President & CEO, Eliza Bryant Village
- Victoria Winbush, Ph.D., MSSA, MPH, Cleveland State University
To learn more about our work, please feel welcome to contact William Tarter, Jr., wtarter@CommunitySolutions.com.