GCSS names new Executive Director
By Mary Alice Murphy
Frank Kenney has been named the Grant County Senior Services executive director by the board of directors, chaired by Horace Jaramillo.
Kenny most recently served as the Director of the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program, (RSVP) one of several programs that fall under Senior Services.
“What I want to do, is be known as a clearinghouse for Senior Services,” Kenney said. “Outreach is a huge part. I also want a bigger emphasis in the mining district, with an emphasis on low-income seniors.
The agency has a $1 million budget and employs more than 50 workers, including 25 homemakers who work with more than 100 homebound elderly residents. Senior Services also oversees the senior centers in Silver City, Santa Clara, the Mimbres Valley and the Gila Valley. The centers serve more than 40,000 meals onsite and deliver more than 30,000 meals a year.
The volunteer programs include RSVP, with more than 275 active volunteers contributing more than 43,000 hours of service annually, and the Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program, with 40 volunteers donating more than 15,000 hours a year
Kenney said RSVP is the only Senior Services program that is not low-income based. FGP and SCP are grant-funded with stipends being provided that are slightly above minimum wage.
“The grant funds are restricted and depend on age and/or income,” Kenney said. “Our job is to keep seniors in their homes longer.” He said RSVP gives newly relocated seniors and retirees, who have “so many skills, the opportunity to do something meaningful.”
Kenney would like to see RSVP grow in the area of developing the resources of the many non-profit agencies in the region, because they are “service delivery organizations.” He said retirees are a “huge resource. The more we keep them active, the better off they’ll be. “Putting their resources to work benefits the communities.”
“One of my major questions to citizens and government is…What does society owe to our seniors?” Kenney said. The agency’s values and guiding principles at least partially answer that question. The principles are:
“respect for the value and quality of life; excellence, innovation, compassion, concern, and respect in all we do; seek opportunities to partner; serve seniors today while always searching for new ways to unlock the potential of our service tomorrow; and ours is the leadership role that serves as the ‘conscience of the community’ concerning our seniors.”
As for partnerships, Senior Services collaborates with The Volunteer Center. “We deal with seniors and volunteering opportunities. Kenney said. ‘The Volunteer Center has programs in the high schools to cultivate to do services.
The agency’s mission is “to promote independence, preserve dignity and enhance the quality of life through the provision of services for older adults and people with disabilities.”
The vision statement proposes being “known as the premier provider of services for our elders, where their physical, emotional and social needs are met; where they can sustain their independence and remain active; and where the contributions made in the past and the vital role they play in the future are recognized and celebrated.”
For more information on the Senior Services programs, call 388-2523; e-mail Kenney at rsvpgrant@zianet.com; or visit the Web site www.grantcountyseniorservices.org
Mary Alice Murphy may be reached at mamurphy@cybermesa.com.