Daly City ACCESS is a community partnership that is nestled structurally within The City of Daly City’s Senior/Adult Services Division and sponsored fiscally by the Daly City Partnership. This was initiated via a multicultural advisory group that eventually grew to be the greater partnership. ACCESS is an open, flexible partnership built on the collective desire to serve members of the underserved, older adult multicultural community. Seeing itself as an agent for positive, values-based change, ACCESS listens to the multicultural community and invites its members to participate in volunteer programs designed to build program capacity, value individual contribution and to create an atmosphere of self-reliance.

The key method and promising practice of the collaborative Daly City ACCESS is its approach of constant capacity building based on a strategic plan. ACCESS engaged in non-traditional approaches to organizational goal setting and activity. This includes Open Space technology, a means of owning one’s own agenda in a themed conference setting.

The goals of ACCESS are to provide multilingual Information & Referral, to build trust in our communities, and to offer wellness, nutrition and fitness programming and services. Our objectives are to acquire the necessary resources to provide culturally sensitive translations and assistance, cultural celebrations, training for staff and volunteers, and expand volunteer opportunities so that we cultivate a force of multilingual volunteer leaders. We have focused on issues of health and wellness and cultural pride, with the purpose of improving the quality of life. We have also created a positive image of aging for our youth through multigenerational programs and values. We have created a structure of listening and action through community assessment. It is hoped that we can engage new individuals in their unique communities in good conversations about how to serve their own futures.

CART uses nine (9) fundamental principles of practice when working with our families in need. They are: community outreach; individualized family assessment; tailored interventions; helping alliance; empowerment approaches; strengths perspective; cultural competence; developmental appropriateness; and outcome-driven service plans. In addition, we are able to deliver case management services in the neighborhoods where our families live. To that end, our community workers are each embedded into the local communities through a collaborative effort with the nearby neighborhood schools. This has proven effective not only in the delivery of services but also in fostering strong community relationships between families and the local resources.

By working with families to build socio-economical support, the families are more likely to avoid future re-involvement with CPS. The family’s participation in the DR Program is completely voluntary, and we have enjoyed a positive and successful engagement rate with the families we work with. CART is dedicated to the cause of supporting our families in need and “Strengthening Our Communities, One Family at a Time.”