Programs

  • Services for Older Adults and Caregivers

    Our third Programmatic Prong emphasis was devoted to bringing direct services to older adults, caregivers, low vision, blind, those with disabilitites and those experiencing homelessness and coordination of services for presenting veterans through VA administration. Virtual programming, more on-the-ground activities and targeted warm handoff referrals. We also began an emphasis on isolation, loneliness and services for homebound individuals. Our accomplishments included but were not limited to: Seventy two (72) virtual sessions every Wednesday from 1pm to 5pm with 30-50 participants, addressing healthy living, home care and social isolation issues (Contacts: 5,600); Fifty weekly zoom physical activity and meditation sessions led by certified fitness trainer for 30 minutes complemented with demos for home use (Contacts: 1700, 15-21 participants wkly); Expert presenters 2 hours each week addressing aging in place, healthier living, medical conditions, home care management, brain health, mental health, social isolation, caregiving solutions and safety in the home & community issues (Contacts: 2010, 35-45 attendees wkly); Positive spin on life activities including interactive peer discussions, sharing solutions, laughing, poetry, writing and singing 14 -26 participants 2hrs each and 7 participants attended a 6 wks. Addition of evening sessions every 4th Wednesday 1pm to 7:30pm (break 4-5pm) allowing physicans, dentist and other health providers who can attend during the day. (Contacts: 1290); Using NPower community Helpdesk-we travel via our BDS Networks zoom box to City Council meeting and other agency session/conferences. (300 contacts) and we mail free covid masks upon request to older adults, caregivers. Arts and crafts zoom classes with MSW (Social worker) who is also an artist, once per month 12 sessions with 25 attendees zoom (Contacts: 870); Warm handoff referrals for numerous health & social justice needs, 7-14 weekly (Referrals: 804). Total Contacts: 11,700 Services provided free by community partners, health care, social justice agencies, pro bono law & counseling firms. Operational Cost: $2700
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.5K

  • Advocacy and Leadership Development

    This Programmatic Prong involves advocacy, advisory board and technology training and leadership development to ensure long term involvement and promoting a self-sufficiency frame of mind among ourselves and others as well as active involvement in the decision making process regarding older adult needs assessment, services and evaluation. During this first year of operations, we were able to accomplish the following: Thirty older adults (30) were trained to use tele-conferencing, and three virtual platforms before choosing zoom as the preference for weekly meetings. Two trained and now serve as zoom co-host with me each week. (Contacts: 122); Our organization co-sponsored 6 advocacy and estate planning sessions for 30-40 participants each with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and Senior Legal Services (Contacts: 210); Twenty seven participants (27) have volunteered to become a part of our advocacy and outreach efforts by participating in a Monday evening meeting once per month to discuss how to become more involved in outreach & advisory board type activities. (Contacts: 297); Fourteen (14) Participated in forums, town halls as well as served on city, state and national panels, advisory committees and boards to ensure that older adults are "at the table" when agencies and providers of older adult services plan and implement services. Total Contacts: 300 Older Adults volunteered to participate in these activities. Operational Cost: In-Kind
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $0

  • Community Partnerships for Older Adults

    This Prong continues to be linked to building and maintaining partnerships and networks. We are a small nonprofit and partnering with trusted agencies and networks is essential for our growth and development. The intent of our organization is to encourage those within our group to become advocates for themselves and others thereby, creating multiple prongs of this initiative, under their individual leadership and throughout their communities in the city and across the state. Toward that goal we have accomplished the following: Partnered with NPower Community Technology Help Desk as they operated Free Tech Hotline for older adults in Baltimore City, the Free Tech Help Desk is open to all city residents five day a week; Our organization provided focus group participants for three departments in the Mayor's office as they determine where to place Broadband and Wi-Fi services throughout the city; Served as a presentation site for new science presentations regarding brain health, alzheimer's disease, Covid 19 research, RSV and Flu research with City Department of Aging, Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland and continue to participation in the flu media outreach efforts Co-sponsored caregivers activities in partnership with BCHD Family Caregivers Program; We have a strong partnering relationship with the President of the Maryland at Large Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind and their seniors' Division. People who have Low vision and are totally blind are involved in all our activities; Our members served as speaker and membership recruiters, technology referral agents and as program presenters themselves. Collaborations: highlighted here Community Partners and Older Adult Advocates joined us in this ongoing effort. We have established a BDS Networks Advocacy Group designed to meet with city and other agencies to advocate for the service inclusion of older adults and other underserved residents. The BDS Networks CEO serves as volunteer consultant and advisor to faith-based and community groups as they establish or maintain older adult ministries and initiatives. No Operational Cost for these activities
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $0