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The following profiles are just a sampling
of the diverse and innovative programs across the United
States. Many have been replicated or adapted for use in
other communities. Financial Abuse
Outreach
- "Not
Forgotten" Outreach Campaign. Although designed
by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Service's
for use within the state, the materials and information
produced under this project provide an excellent model
for other communities. Resources include a website with
sample outreach materials.
- Senior
Crime Prevention Program. Developed by the Ventura
County (California) District Attorney's Office Senior
Crime Prevention Program, this campaign was designed to
reach "hard to reach" groups including homebound and Spanish
speaking seniors.
- The
Dance. This 25 minute video, produced by the Maricopa
Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance (MEAPA), is of theatrical
piece developed to sensitize audience members about older
battered woman.
- Elderly
Pennsylvanians Deserve Honor and Respect, Not Abuse, an
Outreach Campaign. After conducting focus groups
with African American, rural, and Hispanic seniors, the
Beech Advertising Firm developed a culturally specific
outreach campaign. Resources include a replication manual
for other communities.
Financial
Abuse
The
Massachusetts Bank Reporting Project: An Edge Against Elder
Financial Exploitation
The
Massachusetts' Executive Office of Elder Affairs, in collaboration
with the Executive Office of Consumer Affairs, the Attorney
GeneralŐs Elderly Protection Project, and the Massachusetts
Bank Association, developed the bank reporting project
to provide training to bank personnel in how to identify
and report financial exploitation. The project has been
successfully replicated in numerous communities. Sample
materials, including model protocols, procedures for investigating
and responding to abuse, and training manuals are available.
Contact:
Gillian Price
One Ashburton Place, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-7750 ext. 222
(617) 727-9368 (fax)
Fiduciary
Abuse Specialist Team (FAST)
The
Los Angeles FAST team was developed to provide expert
consultation to local APS, Ombudsman, Public Guardian
and other case workers in financial abuse cases. The team
includes representatives from the police department, the
district attorney's office, the city attorney's office
private conservatorship agencies, health and mental health
providers, a retired probate judge, a trust attorney,
an insurance agent, a realtor, an escrow officer, a stock
broker and estate planners. The FAST coordinator and consultants
have also provided training to bankers and police officers
across the state of California. They have developed a
manual and have helped other communities start up FAST
teams.
Contact:
Rena R. Fountain-MSG
Director of Elder Abuse Prevention Program
WISE Senior Services
1527 Fourth Street, Ste 250
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 394-9871
www.wiseseniors.org
Elderly
Financial Management Project at the Jacob Reingold Institute
Brookdale Center on Aging of Hunter College
The
Reingold Institute conducted a survey of two hundred case
management and health care providers in New York City,
which revealed that nearly 83.9% of the participating
agencies had encountered cases of financial abuse including
self neglect; financial abuse by a substance abuser who
had moved in with the senior; someone living off the income
of the senior; abuse by a home care worker; misappropriation
of cash; and abuse of powers of attorney. Based on their
findings, the project staff concluded that the problem
of elder financial abuse could be significantly reduced
by promoting the development and expansion of daily money
management services and developed training programs in
how to develop daily money management programs. The Institute
now provides technical assistance in setting up money
management programs, and a manual, Daily Money Management:
a "How To" Manual for Care Management Agencies.
Contact:
Jacob Reingold Institute
Brookdale Center on Aging of Hunter College
425 East 25th Street
New York, N.Y. 10010-2590
(212) 481-4426
Website: www.brookdale.org
Or click
here to go directly to information on this project
(you will leave this site).
Retiree
Response Technical Team (R2T2)
Initiated
with a mini-grant from the National Committee for the
Prevention of Elder Abuse, the Retiree Response Technical
Team (R2T2) recruits and trains retired persons with expertise
in financial affairs to assist APS workers investigate
financial abuse cases and participate on multidisciplinary
teams. The aim is to increase prosecutions of complex
cases, particularly those in which victims are unable
or unwilling to testify. The project is a collaboration
of the Senior and Disabled Services Division of the Oregon
Department of Human Services, the Oregon Attorney General's
Task Force on Elder Abuse, the Oregon Bankers Association,
and Oregon AARP for their assistance. We project is currently
is currently being piloted in eight communities. If successful,
it will expand throughout the state.
Contact:
Stephen J. Schneider, Attorney at Law
Abuse Prevention Unit
Department of Human Services, Senior and Disabled Services
Division
P.O. Box 14750
Salem, OR 97309-0466
(503) 378-2546
Email: Stephen.Schneider@state.or.us
Probate
Court Mediation Project
In
July 1998, San FranciscoŐs Superior Court initiated a
mediation program to resolve conflicts related to trusts
and estates of decedents. The mediators are experienced
probate attorneys who agree to do the mediations. In selected
cases, the judge formally orders the 2 parties into mediation.
Building upon the success of the program (80% of the cases
were mediated successfully), the court started a second
mediation panel for guardianships of children and conservatorships
of adults. The court selected and met with 20 local probate
attorneys who agreed to serve without pay. The attorneys
were provided with 4 days of training. Over twenty cases
have been mediated with a success rate of 95%. Litigation
has been avoided in a number of cases. In one case, conservatorship
was avoided completely. The guardianship and conservatorship
cases are closely monitored by the Court and an attorney
is appointed for every child or elder. Only certain issues
are considered appropriate for mediation, including certain
cases involving elder abuse and neglect. If abuse and
neglect is discovered while mediation is in progress,
court appointed attorneys are charged with immediately
informing the Court.
Contact:
Mary Quinn,
Director of Probate Services
San Francisco Superior Court
(415) 551-3657
Email: mquinn@sftc.org
Outreach
"Not
Forgotten" Outreach Campaign
The
Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Service's
The
state of Texas has launched a statewide outreach campaign
to raise awareness about abuse. Sample materials, press
releases, proclamations, and fact sheets from the campaign
can be accessed at the Department's website. To visit
the website, click
here (you will leave this site).
Senior
Crime Prevention Program
Ventura
County (California) District Attorney's Office
As
part of its Senior Crime Prevention program, the AGŐs
office designed placemats with elder abuse prevention
messages, which are distributed to homebound seniors by
home delivered meals providers. They also produce "Rx
cards," colorful paper strips with anti-fraud warnings
that local pharmacists attach to prescriptions or place
at checkout stands. The cards describe types of abuse,
offers tips for prevention, and provide information about
resources.
Contact:
Jose Velasco
Anti-telemarketing Fraud Team
Office of the District Attorney,
Victim Services Division
County of Ventura
Hall of Justice
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009.
(805) 654-3314
The
Dance
The
Maricopa Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance (MEAPA)
This
25 minute video is of a theatrical piece in which an older
battered woman reminisces about love, laughter, and dancing.
It is available for $100 from the Phoenix Area Agency
on Aging (602) 264-2255.
Elderly
Pennsylvanians Deserve Honor and Respect, Not Abuse
Pennsylvania
Department of Aging
When
Pennsylvania's Department of Aging decided to target African
American, Hispanic, and rural elderly for outreach, they
hired an advertising firm, Beach Advertising, to plan
and carry out a campaign. Focus groups with members of
the targeted groups revealed that seniors responded most
favorably to messages that promoted respect and dignity
rather than evoking sympathy or fear. "Elderly Pennsylvanians
Deserve Honor and Respect, Not Abuse," became the keystone
of the campaign. Drawing from its findings and experiences,
the department produced a Manual for Implementing Elder
Abuse Prevention Media Campaigns for Special Audiences,
which is available free of charge, from the Department
of Aging at (717) 772-2934.
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