Sequoia's 70 Strong partnership with PFS a failure

Two million dollars later, CEO Pamela Kurtzman wants the district to go-it-alone, armed with a computer "app" designed to connect seniors with services. If that "app" is worthwhile, PFS should use it. Only they can decide. See: Web Link

Pamela says: "At the time, District staff lacked the specific expertise and capacity to operate the program in-house, so Mr. Michelson and the District Board chose to partner with Peninsula Family Service because of their experience with providing a variety of services in the community for older adults and because of their deep knowledge and commitment to older adult health and wellness."

Currently, Pamela has a staff of 2.5 FTE's! Where's the "specific" expertise? She plans on hiring someone.

Peninsula Family Services is in a much better position to take 70 Strong countywide. Web Link

Where are the source documents originally from?

NOT the ones you put up on your website....

Don't worry about it -- Hickey won't be on the Board much longer.

Of course, the question will be what he will do with all of that free time...

Source documents were from an e-mail
From: Heidi Stamper
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2018 5:18 PM
To: Art Faro (AJTR3@comcast.net) ; Griffin, Kim, RN (pedihearts@sbcglobal.net) ; Gerald Shefren (gshefren@gmail.com) ; 'Katie (Kathleen) Kane' ; 'Jack Hickey'
Cc: Pamela Kurtzman ; Mark Hudak ; Karen Li ; Jenny Bratton ; Heidi Stamper
Subject: Agenda and attachments for the SHD Regular Board meeting on Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Attached is the agenda and attachments for the SHD Regular Board meeting on Wednesday, December 5, 2018. Paper copies of the packet are available at the office.

I believe they are now posted on the district website.

Web Link

Take a look at the staff(CEO + 2.5 FTE's) which has the "...specific expertise and capacity to operate the program in-house..."

Heidi, Jenny and Karen, did you buy into this?

Web Link

Funny how Hickey *never* seems to have the time to provide actual evidence about his accusation of ballot fraud in San Mateo County.

Oh Well...

From CEO Report(upcoming meeting)
"Member of Sequoia Hospital Grants Committee. Will attend grant reception on December 14th to disperse funds to the non-profits selected to receive funding. My involvement on this committee has been an important avenue for me to learn about other grant-making processes."

Pamela seems to be following in the footsteps of one of her predecessors, Stephani Scott, who also has political interests.

From 2014:
"Latest campaign filing by Committee to Support San Mateo County Community Colleges - Yes on Measure A shows $116,500 in contributions from Oct. 1 to Oct. 18. Notable is a $50,000 contribution from the San Mateo County Community College District Foundation. Foundation CEO Stephani Scott is on the District payroll at $148,000 per year."

See: Web Link

See also: Web Link

Oh, good heavens... is this the guy asking all those loaded questions about ballot fraud in San Mateo County?!?!?!?!?

Jack Hickey - did you ever provide any evidence to back up your allegations?

Even on your own server?

Neighbors,
I want to update you on 70 Strong, Sequoia Healthcare District’s program, connecting older adults with community resources, and with each other. A recent post you may have seen about 70 Strong is inaccurate.

The District partnered with Peninsula Family Service (PFS) to launch and develop 70 Strong. Since 2017, PFS has worked tirelessly to develop and grow this program and they have been an outstanding partner. We are very proud of the role they have played in the development and operations of 70 Strong.

As a website and referral service, 70 Strong has reached more than 19,500 in the community this year. However, despite rigorous efforts, the concierge component of the model has not resulted in the outcomes we expected. As a result, we are looking to focus our attention on the very successful website and referral service, and discontinue the concierge component. This new model would reduce costs going forward. We’ll discuss the plan at the December 5, 2018 Sequoia Healthcare District board meeting.

Please visit 70Strong.org to see the activities and services in our community. For more on 70 Strong, see this recent article in Climate Online.

Pamela Kurtzman
CEO, Sequoia Healthcare District

> connecting older adults with community resources, and with each other

Clearly Jack Hickey is trying to protect us from some Putin-led, Chinese Communist style conspiracy against our seniors. Next thing you know, Jack, the website of 70 strong will suggest these folks register to vote.

Is this the ballot fraud Jack Hickey was talking about?

As I said, Peninsula Family Services is in a much better position to take 70 Strong countywide. The 70 Strong website can be accessed by anyone.

Notice how Hickey suddenly won't talk about his accusations about ballot fraud in San Mateo County, much less provide actual evidence?

Won't it be fun when he no longer will be in *ANY* kind of political office...

Web Link

Substitute Sequoia Healthcare District for Los Medanos. Same thing. Same need to dissolve the district.

In response to a comment I made on the PFS Facebook page Web Link PFS said this:
"Peninsula Family Service utilized its expertise in older adult services to develop the content and structure for the pilot phase of the 70 Strong program, which provides multiple resources to aid older adults in our community. Over the last year, this pilot program has supported 19,500 in our community. We are proud of the role Peninsula Family Service has played in the development of 70 Strong and wish Sequoia Healthcare District all success as they carry 70 Strong forward. Peninsula Family Service continues on with our programs for older adults, through our Senior Peer Counseling Program, our Fair Oaks Adult Activity center, our Second Careers program and in many other ways.

My response:
"If the 70 Strong "app" is so good, why doesn't Peninsula Family Service Senior Peer Counseling Program take it countywide? If you have no use for it, have the courage to say so! We also have the fee-based Villages which provide similar services. It makes no sense for Sequoia Healthcare District to hire staff and recruit volunteers for an activity which will compete with PFS and the Villages."

I urge seniors in the community, with an interest in senior outreach, to volunteer with PFS Older Adult Services Web Link or, join the Villages. Web Link

Please, avoid the Sequoia Hospital District(a.k.a. Sequoia Healthcare District) which will do anything to protect their "district without a hospital".
See: Web Link and, Web Link

Well, Pamela did it. Despite my urging's not to compete with PFS, the Sequoia Healthcare District Board of Directors voted to take the 70 Strong Program in-house. They now will hire a 70 Strong Program Manager, costing the District more than $100,000/year, who will recruit volunteers and coordinate volunteer activities. Let's hope she doesn't raid PFS's team of volunteers which numbers in the hundreds.

Heather Cleary, CEO of PFS, had nothing but good things to say about their partnership with the Sequoia Healthcare District. What else could she say? They still receive grant money from the District.

I admonished the District for entering into an adversarial relationship with PFS.

By doing this, of course, the District can ensure that only residents of the District get to use the program for free. That will get the Grand Jury off their back.

You found the key to the lock they put on your computer keyboard, didn't you? Try as they might, you manage a way to get loose once a week...

Jack, talk to family. This time - please listen.

122:

instead of attacking the messenger do you have anything to say about the subject? You know, a stupid move by a corrupt health care district?

How's about Jack Hickey providing some ACTUAL evidence for his accusations recently about ballot fraud in San Mateo County? You know, he STILL hasn't provided any actual evidence to back up his claim...

@menlovoter - I actually find some issue with the district. Hickey happens to be the worst person to lead any attempt at change, as clearly demonstrated over years. His seat sitting hindered positive change by blocking the ability to seat an able advocate and giving him/her the platform. What serious advocate would want to be associated? His seat over all this years was associated with what winning message! Harley? Michael? Hickey doomed any chance at change or dissolution. Go back and read his rants with an unbiased eye.

@menlovoter - instead of attacking the messenger

The messenger *is* the point. Specifically 12,278 points.

Don't disagree - if the 'messenger' is incapable of messaging, maybe a poli-sci course or two at Foothill might help.

Or Creative Writing.