(a) An area agency shall provide for the delivery of services under the OAA, CSE and EISEP, and for the expenditure of funds pursuant to applicable requirements.

(b) An area agency shall assess the need for services in its geographic area, evaluate the effectiveness of available services, and develop a comprehensive and coordinated service system for elderly people. The scope of area agency coordination extends beyond those services administered with OAA funds.

(c) An area agency shall advocate on behalf of, coordinate services to, and monitor and evaluate programs for elderly people.

(d) An area agency shall comment upon policies, programs, hearings, levies and community actions which will affect the elderly.

(e) An area agency shall monitor its subcontractors to ensure compliance with this Chapter.

(f) An area agency shall provide for a continuing program of public information specifically to assure that information about programs and activities carried out under the plan are effectively and appropriately promulgated, including provision of information to the public upon request and, where feasible, in languages native to the client populations and in forms accessible to people with disabilities.

(g) An area agency shall ensure that any program, public information materials, or other printed or published materials concerning OAA, CSE, or EISEP gives due recognition to the office.

(h) The area agency may, using a competitive process, subgrant or subcontract for congregate and home-delivered nutrition services to providers which furnish either or both types of service.

(i) Area agencies may award OAA nutrition funds to provide meals and other nutrition services, including outreach and nutrition education and nutrition counseling to elderly people. In making these awards, the area agency must assure that congregate meals are provided, and that home-delivered meals are provided based on an assessment of need by the area agency and nutrition providers.

(j) The area agency must establish and implement an active outreach program to reach those eligible participants in greatest economic or social need with particular attention to low-income minority individuals.

(k) The area agency will ensure that preference in hiring is given to persons age 60 and over, for any staff position (full-time or part-time) for which such individuals qualify.

(l) The area agency must ensure that all programs and sites provide maximum accessibility to those elderly in greatest economic or social need, and that new sites be free from architectural barriers that would limit participation of disabled older individuals.