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CITY OF .ATLANTA August 7, 1969 OFFICE OF MODEL CITIES PROGRAM 673 Capitol Avenue , S.W. Atlanta , Ga. 30315 404-524-8876 Ivan Allen Jr., Mayor J. C. Johnson , Director Mr. John Martin Commissioner of Aging Department of Health, Education and Welfare Washington, D. c. Dear Commissioner Martin: The Atlanta Model Cities Program was very honored by your recent visit, and greatly appreciates your keen interest in our efforts . We have gathered together some descriptive material about the programs for senior citizens which we visited or discussed during your visit, and we are enclosing the same along with this l etter. The Atlanta Model Cities Program has benefitted tremendous l y f r om its close working relationship with the Senior Citizens Services of Metropolitan Atlanta . In the spring of 1968, du r ing o ur ear l y planning period, Senior Citizens staff provided direct as s istance to the Model Cit{es social services planner . Their professional staff drew up and conducted , with the help of Model Cities a i des , a survey of about 300 senior citizens, and obtained valuable information about the needs and services of our olde r popul a t i on. They also met with groups of senior citizens a n d with the reside nt s o cial s ervice c ommi t t ees to furthe r e x plo r e the prob l e ms and unmet need s o f o u r s enior citizens . Comb i ning t h e mate r ia l ga ined f r om the survey and t h e community meet ings with th e ir gene r a l expe r tise in the fi eld of aging, they then d evelope d with o u r s taff a n 6 u ti i ne o f the problems, causes, �-2- goals and program approaches for older persons liv i n g in t he Model Cities neighborhood . This was a valuable contribution to Atlanta's Model Cities overall plan. Senior Citizen Services will receive Model Cities supplemental funds in two major projects~ one for day care services and a second for a personal services center (see attached description). Since the beginning of this year, our respective staffs have worked closely to finalize plans for these projects. In addition, Senior Citizens has continued to lend assistance in our ongoing planning process . A timely e x ample of this . is our joint efforts, along with Fulton County Department of Family and Children's Services, to develop a protective services project for older persons in the Model Cities Area. This close working relationship between our two agencies has provided the Model Cities program with valuable e x pertise in the field of aging and has insured the inclusion of meaningful projects for senior citizens in our first year plan. Senior Citizens Services has, in effect, acted as an advocate - and a most s u ccessful one - for the senior citizens in Model Cities. Atl a n ta's Model Cities program has planned a wide vari e ty o f p r ojects which will benefit senior citizens . These p r ojects a r e described i n gr eater detail in the attached mater ial . Als o inc luded a re d es c r iptions of several projects which Senior Ci t izens Serv ices has planned fo r both the Model Cit i e s a rea and t he city as a whole . We hope that y ou will find the e n closed mater ial u seful. We will be h appy to supplement i t with mo r e d etai led information about any p a r ticular projec t. Onc e again, thank you for you r in ter e s t i n o u r program . -~ ·~ James R. Shimkus Social P l a nning Director cc: Al Horvath �