11 |
P a g e
6. How the Plan Can Be Used
This Plan is intended to be an advocacy tool. It pulls together in one place a set of strategies
intended to help the City of Chesapeake departments and agencies, the local private and
nonprofit sector organizations, and individuals move our city and region towards goals and
activities that foster age-friendly physical, social, and service environments that will make our
community livable for all ages.
This is an agenda for action. It will continue to evolve as new knowledge and understanding
are gained and technological developments emerge. For reasons of practicality and usability,
the Plan is not designed to encompass all issues and actions related to planning for persons
55 and better. Rather, it is hoped the action items suggested will lead organizations and
individuals young, old, and in between to work together to implement not only these items but
as well as others contributing to creating a community that truly is a place for all ages.
The Chesapeake 55 and Better Think Tank (55+TT) will continue to oversee the
implementation and coordination of the Plan. The 55+TT will provide guidance for all the City
funded services for Chesapeake’s population 55 and over. With an objective of increasing
communication, cooperation and improvement of coordination of care, the mandate to the
55+TT will be to address the needs of the aging population in a comprehensive, integrated
approach and make recommendation to the City Manager and City Council on local funding
needs or funding redirection within the City. In addition, the 55+TT would assure that services
have performance outcomes. The 55+TT would be comprised of the department heads of
selected City departments and agencies that provide services to the senior population as well
as representatives from Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, Hampton Roads
Transportation Planning Organization/Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, the
Planning Council of South Hampton Roads, Tidewater Builders Association, Chesapeake
Regional Medical Center, and the Chesapeake Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of
Commerce. It would also include other community representatives. The 55+TT would
recommend funding services based on the highest needs of the city’s seniors and the
effectiveness/outcomes of services provided.
The Department of Human Services would provide support to the 55+TT, by:
Coordinating and implementing the City aging population planning efforts
Maintaining information on all services provided to Chesapeake’s senior population
Collecting and reporting evaluation of effectiveness /outcomes of services provided
The 55+TT will provide an ongoing source for input into the City’s planning and budgeting
process. They will collect public input and inform City Departments in activities relative to the
Plan.
