Brookline Community Aging Network

Relationships

How does BrooklineCAN relate to other organizations serving seniors in Brookline?

BrooklineCAN, its founding partners ( Brookline Senior Center, Center Communities of Brookline, Goddard House, Jewish Family & Children's Service) and other organizations such as the town's Age Friendly Cities Program all deal with seniors. We cooperatate and some events are co‑sponsored by several of these groups. Some people serve in more than one group.

All this can lead to confusion. This page is an effort to clarify.

BrooklineCAN, the Council on Aging, and the Senior Center

BrooklineCAN is an all-volunteer organization, mostly supported by member donations, and defined by the activities of those members. Those activities are carried out by various BrooklineCAN committees:
  • Livable Community Advocacy Committee works with town organizations to promote issues of interest to seniors.
  • Membership Committee Organizes events, publications, and activities to attract and retain members.
  • Communications Committee sends information via a monthly newsletter, press releases, Twitter, Facebook, and this web site.
  • Education Committee Runs educational events of interest to seniors and others.
  • Steering Committee Coordinates the activities of other committees and sets policy for BrooklineCAN.

You can read more about BrooklineCAN committees here.

Brookline's Age-Friendly Business initiative is sponsored by BrooklineCAN.

The director of the Council on Aging also serves a BrooklineCAN's co-chair. We hold many meetings and events at the Senior Center.

The Council on Aging is a Town of Brookline municipal department, founded in 1955, that runs the Senior Center. Though they're often seen to be one organization today, the COA was providing services to Brookline seniors for 46 years before the senior center was opened.

The Brookline Multi-Service Senior Center Corporation, which was founded in 1977, is the non-profit 501(c)(3) sister organization that raises money, beyond the Town of Brookline's contribution, for the Senior Center and the COA. Donations to BrooklineCAN go through the BMSSCC, which makes them tax deductible.

The Brookline Senior Center is the building, opened in 2001, where professional staff and volunteers provide a wide range of programs and services in health, learning, arts, socialization, nutrition, and recreation.

The town provides staff (through the COA), pays the utilities, and funds general maintenance. The town typically covers about 70% of the Senior Center's annual operating budget. The rest comes from federal, state, and foundation grants, corporate sponsors, and donors.

The Senior Center/COA provides assistance, in-kind donations, and meeting space to BrooklineCAN.

BrooklineCAN's Livable Community Advocacy Committee
and The Town's Age Friendly Cities program

People sometimes confuse BrooklineCAN's Livable Community Advocacy Committee with the town's Age Friendly Cities program.

The Age Friendly Cities program is an initiative of the World Health Organization and the Town of Brookline. In the fall of 2012, after a six month planning process, Brookline submitted its application to join the network. The program disseminates information about Brookline’s strong existing age friendly features and develops more specific initiatives in the following areas: health and human services, housing, library, public safety, parks, recreation, property tax relief for seniors, transportation, and participation. It is a collaboration among the Town of Brookline, the Brookline Council on Aging, and BrooklineCAN that is coordinated by a committee appointed by the Select Board . More than ten Town departments and boards and commissions are involved.

The Age-Friendly Cities Committee sponsors a series of Age-Friendly TV programs with the help of the Brookline Interactive Group (BIG).

More information on the town's program is available here and here.

The Livable Community Advocacy Committee is one of several BrooklineCAN committees. It works to influence policy on issues of interest to seniors and others. Some members of BrooklineCAN's Livable Community Advocacy Committee also serve on the town's Age Friendly Cities committee. The Livable Community Advocacy Committee's activities are described here.

Support Disclaimer: Inclusion of services on this website does not represent a recommendation from the Brookline Council on Aging, the Brookline Senior Center, or the Brookline Community Aging Network.

Disclaimer: Inclusion of services through this program does not represent a recommendation or guarantee of work performance from the Brookline Council on Aging, the Brookline Senior Center, or the Brookline Community Aging Network. The user of this program therefore agrees to release the above named from any and all liability. The user should make whatever investigation or other resources that they deem necessary or appropriate before hiring or engaging Service Providers.