Age-Friendly Community Logo, silhouettes of people bordered by olive branches

The Brookline Age-Friendly Cities Committee is a Select Board committee responsible for identifying and reporting on age-friendly activities and needs of Brookline residents.

In 2011, Frank Caro and Ruthann Dobek initiated Brookline Community Aging Network (BrooklineCAN) in order to expand the advocacy and resources for older adults in Brookline by utilizing volunteers. In 2012, one of the first projects and major accomplishments was to have Brookline become an Age-Friendly community through certification by the World Health Organization (WHO). BrooklineCAN’s efforts were the catalyst for Brookline’s proud achievement of becoming the first community in New England to be cited as Age-Friendly. Since that time Brookline has had an Age-Friendly Cities Committee (AFCC) guided by a Select Board committee.

Mission

The charge of the Age Friendly Cities Committee is to coordinate Brookline's Age-Friendly City initiative. The committee's duties will include refinement of the town's action plan and coordination of implementation of the action plan. The committee will keep the Select Board informed about the progress of the initiative and make recommendations to the Board on policy issues that arise. The committee will monitor the progress of the initiative in achieving its objectives.

The committee will advise the Select Board when the Board is expected to communicate with the WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. On routine matters, the committee will communicate on behalf of the town with the WHO Global Network. The committee will report to the network on the town's plans and accomplishments. The committee will assume responsibility for preparing applications for renewal of the town's participation in the network. The committee will forward renewal documents to the Select Board for the Board's review and action.

The committee will work through subcommittees concerned with specific aspects of the initiative. At the outset, there will be subcommittees concerned with health and human services, transportation, housing, library, and social participation. The committee may form other subcommittees if they are needed. The committee will recruit members for the subcommittees.

The committee will seek cooperation of various town departments and boards and commissions with specific initiatives. The committee will inform town departments, boards and commissions, and the general public about the initiative's activities, and accomplishments. The committee will also encourage more effective communication among town departments on matters involving older residents. The committee will be available to assist town departments and boards and commissions in communicating with residents on matters involving older residents.