Council on Older Persons
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
- Catherine Ciha, MNAL, Senior Transportation Connection, Chair
- Wendy Albin Sattin, Executive Director, Community Partnership on Aging
- Susan Althans, Director of Philanthropy/Board Secretary, The McGregor Foundation
- Georgia Anetzberger, Ph.D., Consultant and Community Volunteer, Cleveland State University
- Joy Banish, Executive Director, Greater Cleveland Volunteers
- E. Douglas Beach, CEO, Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging
- Sue E. Biagianti, Community Volunteer
- Marsha Mitchell Blanks, Multi-Cultural Outreach Coordinator, National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Cleveland Chapter
- Semanthie Brooks, Community Volunteer
- Richard Browdie, President and CEO, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
- Beverly Charles, Health Care Liaison, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge
- Monica Cowans, Business Development Analyst, Hospice of the Western Reserve
- The Honorable Grace Drake, Levin College of Urban Affairs
- 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
- Tom Gannon, Community Volunteer
- Antoinette Gelsomino, Director of Human Services, City of Lakewood
- Kathleen Hallissey, Director/Community-Responsive Grantmaking, The Cleveland Foundation
- Jamie Hasenohrl, Supportive Service Worker, Maple Heights Office on Aging
- R. Robertson Hilton, President and CEO, The A.M. McGregor Group
- Melanie Hogan, Executive Director, Linking Employment, Abilities & Potential (LEAP)
- Terry Hokenstad, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences (MSASS) Case Western Reserve University
- Dr. Richard Jones, Ph.D., Administrator, Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services
- Edward A. McKinney, Professor Emeritus, School of Social Work, Cleveland State University
- Mary McNamara, LISW- S, Director, Cleveland Department of Aging, an Aging and Disability Resource Center
- Ben Miladin, Director of Health-Community Impact, United Way of Greater Cleveland
- Janet Montoya, Manager, Community Health Advocacy Project, MetroHealth
- Diana Morris, Ph.D., Executive Director, Florence Cellar Associate Professor of Gerontological Nursing, University Center on Aging and Health, Case Western Reserve University
- Stacey O’Brien, MSSA, LISW-S, Assistant Professor/Field Education Director, Ursuline College
- Yvonne Oliver, N.E. Ohio Field Coordinator, UHCAN Ohio (Universal Health Care Action Network)
- Mary O’Shea, Director of Advocacy & Public Education, Cleveland Food Bank
- Sarah Parran, Care Manager, Senior Care Connections, LLC
- Andrea Price, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
- Roslyn Quarto, Executive Director, ESOP
- Bert Rahl, LISW-S, Community Volunteer
- Stacey Rokoff, Chief Program Officer, Evi-Base Community Care
- Jana Rush, MPH, MA, Vice President, Care & Support Services, Alzheimer’s Association Cleveland Area Chapter
- Michele Seyranian, Business Development Officer, Hospice of the Western Reserve
- Elizabeth Silver, Director of Public Relations and Marketing, Menorah Park Center for Senior Living
- Michelle Simko, Project Director, AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program
- Paul Sobel, LNHA, MBA, CDP
- April Vince, Case Management Specialist, Cuyahoga County Board of Health
- Allison Wallace, Executive Director, Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association
- Danny R. Williams, JD, MNO, President & CEO, Eliza Bryant Village
- Eileen Yates, Executive Director, Ohio Living
To learn more about our work, please feel welcome to contact William Tarter, Jr., wtarter@CommunitySolutions.com.