Coming of Age
Coming of Age, Lifestyle Television and Magazine for Seniors is the only senior-oriented lifestyle and informational print magazine and television program in Northwest Florida. Coming of Age was created specifically to meet the needs of a broad, diverse senior population, their families and caregivers. Both formats cover varied topics of interest including travel, "fun things to do," and community involvement opportunities in addition to legislative issues and health related information. Since its launch in 2005, Coming of Age has earned the Senior Vision Media Award from the Florida Council on Aging, Golden Image Awards from Florida Public Relations Association and a National Mature Media Award from the Mature Market Research Center.
Coming of Age, Lifestyle Magazine for Seniors is published quarterly in partnership with Ballinger Publishing. To read one of the feature articles from the current issue, click here. (See also our last issue).
Coming of Age, Lifestyle Television for Seniors airs on WUWF-TV, Cox Cable Channel 4 in Escambia County on Mondays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Tuesdays at 8 a.m. and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. The program can also be viewed at the same times at www.wuwf.org. New shows air weekly.
For more information on Coming of Age, please contact Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC, Vice President of Marketing Communications at jnall@coawfla.org or 432-1475.
The Role of Government
By John B. Clark, President/CEO, Council on Aging of West Florida
It’s a touchy question and one that is getting a lot of play today as our nation debates the future of health care in our country. That question is, “what is the role of government in providing healthcare and social services?” It’s a question being raised on the local, as well as the national level. It is a question that those of us in the field of human services encounter on a regular basis. There seems to be an attitude that the government has no role in “supporting charities.” Those espousing that point of view usually say that it should be up to the individual as to what “charity” they support and that government should not “force” someone to support a charity through their taxes. Many would also say that churches should be supporting human services programs, or that individuals should pay for the services they receive. We saw that argument recently when those opposed to a dedicated tax for our transit system felt that it should be paid for by those using the system. And, of course, there are the usual arguments about those who are “abusing the system.”
Council on Aging of West Florida is an organization that provides a wide array of home and community based services, such as Adult Day Health Care, Meals on Wheels, Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents, and much more. Those programs are funded in large part by the federal, state, and local government; along with support from United Way, some faith-based groups, individuals and other private sector groups. Here is the fundamental “problem;” without this governmental support these programs would not and could not exist. Likewise, many children services and services for those who are disabled would not and could not exist without governmental support. It would indeed be a dark day should the government withdraw its support from these critical and vital programs.
Support of charitable oraganizations, such as Council on Aging of West Florida, has never been totally met by the private sector or by the governmental sector. Neither sector acting alone has been able to provide the financial support necessary to insure that those who are the “least among us” have access to a reasonable quality of life; which, by the way, most of us would not consider reasonable. Every human service organization in this community and Florida that receives governmental support has always had to depend on the very generous support of the private sector, be it faith-based or secular. It is ironic that in difficult economic times, when services are most often needed, support from the private and governmental sectors becomes increasingly more difficult. Yet there is a dynamic here that that is called “the common good.” What does that mean?
Well, some people do not have children, yet they pay school taxes. Should only those who have children pay the full cost of the school system? No, we all share in the cost of the school system because it is for the common good. We don’t leave it to the private sector to bear the full cost of the school system, although they do provide some support. Likewise, government funding for a transit system or services for the aged and disabled; many people may never use these programs/services, yet they provide critical, and in many cases, life sustaining services to those who often have no where else to turn and, therefore, make for a more just society and like our school system provide for the common good of our society. Granted in an ideal society, with perhaps the help of families or churches, everyone would be able to provide for the care and assistance needed to lead full and productive lives, and there would be no need for human service organizations. Yet we live in a real and very complex society where the ideal is often not attainable. Therefore, all segments of society; government, churches, individuals, organizations, etc. have an obligation to provide support for the least among us in support of the common good and it is our role as advocates to remind everyone of that obligation.
