SENIOR & DISABILITY SERVICES (SDS)

As the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for this district, the RVCOG has developed a network of services to help seniors and adults with disabilities live with dignity and independence. An 11- member Disability Services Advisory Council and up to a 21-member Senior Advisory Council appointed by the RVCOG Board of Directors assist in planning and advocacy. RVCOG AAA provides some services directly and contracts with local agencies for others. Direct services are provided through a central administration office, located in Central Point, and field offices: two in Jackson County – the Senior Services Office and Disability Services Office – and the combined Senior and Disability Office in Josephine County. Under its intergovernmental agreement with the State of Oregon RVCOG partners with the Medicaid Long-Term Care and financial assistance programs which are directly provided by District 8 Aging and People with Disabilities (APD). RVCOG and APD’s goal is to provide a seamless service system to Seniors and People with Disabilities in the two county area.

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

RVCOG’s transportation planning services are primarily focused on the Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RVMPO) and Middle Rogue Metropolitan Planning Organization (MRMPO). Federal transportation law requires that transportation planning activities in urbanized areas with a population in excess of 50,000 be coordinated through Metropolitan Planning Organizations, which were created to ensure that existing and future expenditures of governmental funds for transportation projects and programs are based on a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) planning process.

LAND USE PLANNING

RVCOG’s Planning Department offers land use planning services to member jurisdictions. These services are available on a short- or long-term contract basis, for both current and long-range planning. Ordinance development and updates, Comprehensive Plan updates, Periodic Review, and collaborative planning processes are among the services available. RVCOG’s ability to provide contract planner services to jurisdictions is an excellent example of the benefits of RVCOG membership. Our member jurisdictions are able to purchase only the services they need when they need them, without incurring the costs of a full- or part-time employee.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Community Development can provide public outreach, emergency planning, ordinance development, opinion surveys, grant writing, grant management, RFP/RFQ preparation, and labor standards compliance.   Increasingly, RVCOG’s grant/loan management services have been the most requested offering under Community Development.   RVCOG can provide our members with expertise in even the most complicated and burdensome federal and state grant and loan programs such as Community Development Block Grants, Water/Wastewater Financing Program, State Energy Program Grants, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program, Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund, Special Public Works Fund, Water and Wastewater Revolving Loan Fund Grants, and Rural Development Loan Assistance.   Depending on the grant program, RVCOG’s services can be free of cost to the jurisdiction.

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Natural Resources program is directed at improving the health and vitality of our watersheds, natural systems, and recreational assets by providing RVCOG members and other partner organizations with specialized technical assistance, regionalized coordination and implementation, and organization support. Staff works with numerous partners, including cities and counties; federal, state, and local agencies; conservation organizations; public and private schools; special interest groups; and members of the public.

MEMBER SERVICES

RVCOG’s Administration Department offers a range of services to its members, such as computer network design, accounting services, human resources, technical writing, procurement, customer satisfaction surveys, executive recruitment, and special projects.  RVCOG also provides staff support and assistance to a variety of regional meetings to promote the dialog among local units of government and state agencies.