OSCEOLA COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING INC
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Mission Statement
The Osceola Council on Aging is a 501 (c) (3), non-profit, private charitable organization dedicated to providing services to enable independence and self-sufficiency for seniors, disabled adults, the disadvantaged and families in poverty.
About This Cause
Incorporated in 1971, the Council has become the leading provider of social services in Osceola County, Florida. The agency has a long-standing history of providing a responsive and consistent service delivery system to support our most vulnerable residents. In 1975, the Osceola County Commission designated the Council as the primary agency for aging programs in Osceola County. Since then the Council serves as the lead provider for local Department of Elder Affairs Older Americans Act programs and in 1980 was designated lead agency for State supported Community Care for the Elderly programs. As needs within the community have changed so has the Council’s mission. In 2006 the agency received designation by the State of Florida Office of Community Services to provide Community Service Block Grant programs. The agency’s grassroots beginnings have evolved into a multi-service agency meeting the needs of 296,000 low-income seniors and families in 2023. Today, the Council delivers over 35 health and human services designed to address economic disparities, with the same goal in mind and heart - to ensure that all citizens have the opportunity for a quality life. Case management is a key strategy to target and eradicate economic barriers preventing individuals living in poverty from moving forward. These barriers addressed through the Council's comprehensive array of services available to residents of all ages who meet the requirements of the respective programs. It is our goal to deliver assistance during a crisis to enable generations of individuals and families to navigate the challenges they encounter in their journey to self-sufficiency. Nutrition remains the single most requested service at the Council. The agency began providing food assistance programs 46 years ago, delivering meals to 25 homebound seniors. In 2023, Nutrition Services provided 190,632 critical meals to food insecure elderly and disabled persons; and distributed 2.3 million pounds of food to needy citizens facing hunger in our community. Nutrition Services provide Congregate Meals, Home-Delivered Meals, Emergency Food Baskets and the Council’s Food Pantry. Health care is another frequently requested service, as the Florida Health Department classifies the whole of Osceola County as a medically underserved population. Health care providers, the government, and the health insurance industry bear the mounting financial burden created by indirect costs resulting from preventable Emergency Room visits and hospitalizations. Uninsured individuals pay the greatest price because their health and well-being is at risk. To address these issues, the Council Health Clinic provided 3,719 patient visits to 1,434 individuals, saving the State of Florida more than $525,000. The Council's Health Clinic works in partnership with local health care organizations and volunteer medical professionals to offer medical services including acute and chronic, non-emergency healthcare at no cost to low-income, uninsured and underserved residents of the community. The Council’s Health Access & Physician Partnership Initiative (HAPPI) promotes improved access to care for uninsured Osceola County residents by partnering with primary care providers, and health care specialists to cultivate a continuum of care for patients. The Council’s Adult Day Health Center provided 57,753 hours of social, therapeutic, and nursing services to 88 disabled adults and frail, elderly clients who need a safe environment and protective daily care because of illnesses such as stroke, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease. The Building Strong Families program provides case-managed, direct health and human services to low-income families with children who are at risk of homelessness due to an economic crisis. The program serves households most in need of assistance and most likely to achieve and maintain stable housing. The purpose of the Building Strong Families program is to assist eligible families in their journey from economic crisis to stability and self-sufficiency through these specific goals: reduction of homelessness or housing relocation for low-income working families with children; reduction of student transiency rates for school-aged children and youth. The Council continues to meet its mission by providing a broad scope of services including: Adult Day Health Care; Case Management; Care Companion; Nutrition services; Energy Assistance; Guardianship; Health Services; Home Repair & Chore; In-Home Care; Rent & Mortgage Assistance; Senior Center; Senior Housing; Special Needs Shelter; Transportation; and Weatherization Assistance. The Council’s five housing communities provided 314 low-income seniors and disabled citizens with safe, affordable rental housing in the Council’s five apartment communities that include: Kissimmee Oak Leaf Landings, Oak Leaf Landings, St. Cloud Villas I, St. Cloud Villas II; and Tracey Manor. Clients received 4,160 hours of support services provided by 2 Service Coordinators. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program provided affordable housing for 30 low-income residents residing in the Council’s twelve single-family rental homes in the City of Kissimmee. The Council works in collaboration with over 250 stakeholders to mobilize strong partnerships, maximize resources and leverage investments to combat serious social issues in Osceola County.