HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08012000 - SD2 64Q,
FHS #45
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ' ' ""�- ` CONTRA
tlarr+; COSTA
FROM: Family & Human Services Committee - COUNTY
DATE: August 1, 2000
SUBJECT: Elder Financial Abuse
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
ON(ft
1, AGREE to expand the definition of domestic violence under the Zero Tolerance for
Domestic Violence Initiative to include elder abuse, particularly elder financial abuse.
2. REQUEST the District Attorney to take the lead in working with the Aging and Adult
Bureau of the Employment and Human Services Department, the Public Guardian of the
Health Services Department , the United Way and others to develop a coordinated system
of interventions to deal with the growing issue of elder financial abuse.
3. EXPRESS appreciation to the United Way of the Bay Area for their interest in the issue of
elder abuse, their offer to partner with the County to address the issue of elder abuse and
their commitment of$40,000 to elder abuse activities.
4. AGREE on the need to add the issue of elder abuse to the County's legislative platform, as
discussed at the Board's July 20, 2000 budget workshop, and to include the possibility of
amendments to Section 27388 of the Government Code to increase the current $2.00 fee
on every real estate recording to provide funding for elder financial abuse interventions.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: —YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR—RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
..APPROVE —OTHER
SIGNATUR ) of CANCIAMILLA J(Q)HN M. G101A
ACTION F ARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED.Y,,OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
.. _UNANIMOUS(ABSENT 1 TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact:Sara Hoffman,335-1090
Cc; CAO
Kapey Dorm,Elder Abuse Prevention(via CAO) ATTESTE A I anion
.Nm Sepulveda,DA IL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF
Bob Seseler,EHSDT E BOA D OF SUPERVISORS
Anne Hauge,Public Guardian AND CO i ADMINISTRATOR
Roper H",United Way BYrD DEPUTY
Carol Newkirk,United Way
I oo
RECQMMENDATIQNS (co trLd):
5. DIRECT the County Administrator to work with the District Attorney to assess the extent that
resources are available to address elder financial abuse.
BACK ND/FLEA N EC M NDATI N S :
On July 24, 2000, the Family and Human Services Committee heard a request from Kagey Dorosz,
Executive Director, Elder Abuse Prevention for additional positions in the District Attorney's Office to
respond to allegations of financial abuse of the elderly and dependent adults (see attached letter).
Ms. Dorosz stated that the problem Is growing rapidly with the increasing number of elderly people in
the County. Specifically, she emphasized the need for a specialized vertical prosecution unit that
would link with other private and public agencies. Alameda County, according to Ms. Dorosz, has
what they call a FAST (Financial Abuse Specialist Team) that provides this coordinated system of
intervention. Ms. Dorosz recommended the addition of two deputy district attorneys and one
investigator.
Anne Hause of the Public Guardian's Office in the Health Services Department stated that any
increase in the District Attorney's resources would trigger the need for additional resources in County
Counsel's Office and in the Public Guardian's Office. County Counsel acts on behalf of the Public
Guardian to file for temporary conservatorship in financial matters. In addition, they would need
resources in the estate unit of the Public guardian to secure assets of seniors, to evict someone
who is inappropriately occupying the property of a senior and to provide financial conservatorship
and case management.
Jim Sepulveda of the District Attorney's Office stated that the District Attorney prosecutes elder
financial abuse cases as part of its overall financial fraud effort; however, there is no orchestration of
elder financial abuse cases. Mr. Sepulveda stated that the San Diego District Attorney's office
instituted FAST (Financial Abuse Specialist Team) which resulted in a significant increase in
prosecutions, from approximately S per year to 58, according to the latest information. In response
to a question by Supervisor Joe Canclamilla, Mr. Sepulveda said that, at minimum, his office would
need one district attorney and one investigator for this effort.
Joe Partansky, a concerned citizen, stated that he had read that the governor had allocated $146
million for local district attorney activities which might be a source of funding. In addition, Section
27388 of the Government Code (SB 537, Hughes) allows for collection of $2.00 fee per real estate
recording for the purpose of determining, investigating and prosecuting real estate fraud crimes.
These funds currently support the District Attorney's existing financial fraud team; however, an
increase in fees could be dedicated to elder financial abuse cases.
In addition to receiving testimony of those present at the Family and Human Services Committee
meeting, the committee members reviewed a letter from Roger Henry, Chair of the County
Leadership Board, and Carol Newkirk, Chair of the Grant Making Committee of the United Way of
the Bay Area expressing their interest in elder abuse issues. The letter expressed interest of the
United Way in exploring opportunities to partner with the County to quantify the need for elder abuse
services and to design and support effective response and prevention programs. The United Way
has set aside $40,000 this year for activities in this field (see attached letter).
After further discussion, Supervisors Joe Canciamilla and John Gioia agreed to recommend that the
Board of Supervisors act to expand the definition of domestic violence under the Zero Tolerance for
Domestic Violence Initiative to include elder abuse; to request the District Attorney to take the lead in
developing and coordinating a system for dealing with elder financial abuse; to express the interest
of Contra Costa County in working with the United Way in partnering on elder abuse issues; to seek
funding to increase the County's capacity to deal with elder abuse issues, including reaffirmation of
the Board's interest in adding elder abuse to the County's legislative platform, as discussed by the
Board at the July 20, 2000 hearings; and to request that the County Administrator work with the
District Attorney to assess the extent that resources are available to address elder financial abuse.
2
S7 '---
HOUR HOUSE PREUENF2tt3ti
A Catsertive Serviag Ajaaeda cad Cagle Costa Ca■rrits
May 4, 2000
Supervisor ,toe Canciamilla, Chair
Family & Human Services Committee
Board of Supervisors
651 Pine Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Dear Supervisor Canclamilla:
Elder Abuse Prevention and the Committee to Address Self Neglect have long felt that
one of the key components to an effective elder abuse prevention program is a
vigorous prosecutorial response. We would like to request that the Board of
Supervisors allocate additional positions to the District Attorney's staff to respond to
allegations of financial abuse of the elderly and dependent adults. We have met with
District Attorney Gary Yancey, and he was very supportive of the need to dedicate
additional staff to respond to this rapidly growing problem.
We have watched as, one by one, the surrounding Bay Area counties have formed
specialized vertical prosecution units and formed linkages with other public and
private agencies to address this issue.
At a full- fay conference on April 13, sponsored by Elder Abuse Prevention, both
Alameda and Santa Clara Counties described their intensive, coordinated response.
Both emphasized that this heightened prosecution has resulted in significant revenue
retrieval to the County. Alameda now has two investigators and three Deputy
District Attorneys assigned to their Elder Abuse Unit. They have also taken the lead in
the development of a FAST (Financial Abuse Specialist Team), bringing other affected
organizations and Individuals to the table. Their next effort will be working with
individual police departments to develop a training programfor their jurisdictions.
Santa Clara County's District Attorney's Office has also developed an aggressive
prosecution unit, and have paired with the Public Guardian's Office, Adult Protective.
Services, and the County Counsel's Office in a rapid response program that involves
immediate evaluation and Joint plan development in financial abuse cases.
We would like to have time allocated at your meeting on May 22, to present this
1015 Nevin Ave. :9102- Mchmand. GA 94601 SIC) 233-342 510.834-4-A- 71
request to you. The very demographics of this County, coupled with the additional
resources available to Adult Protective Services, and the dramatic increase in reports
of elder abuse, speak to the need to address this problem now.
1 look forward to hearing from you. if you need any additional information, 1 can be
reached at 510-233-3427.
Sincerely yours,
Kaigey Dorosz
Executive Director
cc: Supervisor John Gioia
Gary Yancey, District Attorney
M,ichnnl . Murrsy
LinITE D YYAK ani:W;i,un
OF THE. uAY AAAA
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of tha Osy♦,ea
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July 21, 2000
Rita Semct
Supervisor John Gioia Shell R
.Krhtila Mit!•faiorx
Family and Human Services Committee
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
651 Fine Street east e.y Region
Martim, CA 9..4553 Afamveu C*unty Office
.'Su,E 316
Dear Honorable Grow. 7,R..ax:.CA ffAttt7
it was recently brought to the attention of the United Way of the Say Area-Contra Costa
County Leadership Boards Grantmak3ng Committee by one of its members that you have coy"„1y Offitu
on your July 24 agenda a request for establishing a mechanism to more effectively /tf 27dwv t,�reRw:
prosecute elder abuse crimes that are becoming an Increasing concern In this county. ca-•;,��a:, =A S4W
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While not speaking to the particular request before you at the meeting of the Family and �7.i.a d'eust, peek,
Human Services Committee, our members felt that we should take the opportunity to North fray Region
sure with you our Interest In the field of elder abuse services. We are Interested in Marin county Offtca
appropriate opportunities for partnership in quantifying the need for such services in our S;; :es ;:`CA eSWII`
community and designing and supporting effective response and preventive programs. St.•Erj7•yl+� rer.uRs
In token of this interest we have set aside $40,000 this year for activities in this field
under a process to be determined. Nina County Office
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The County Leadership Board has looked for ways in which we can partner to leverage HA",C4 V t;U
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limited dollars and to attract additional funds to support community needs In a way that 747 64t asxa fAx
produce Results You Can See. An example of that is our recent partnership with the sotxna County Ctfice
Health Services Department Insupport ort of the MediCal and Health FamilyEnrollment ".6+Au+:,„K s"w.>,
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Outreach Services.
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We would appreciate being kept Informed of the disposition of the matter before you on
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July 24; but also of efforts by other county departments and their community partners to
systemically address the problems of elder abuse and the needs of our grooving senior Coo ty Offica
population. Carole Watson, U1tV8i s Regional Vice President--East gay will contact you S `n"2100 .
4a`""R'`"`'
to arrange a meeting with you and our Volunteer Leadership to discuss our mutual 4; ' ;i=- °A
interest in eliminating elder abuse in Contra Costa County, *:4- �.•;k,
Sincerely, sin M.t«c
C` Whtl Guice
ECQ i7R6s6 , :'
CA 440c::
Roger Henry, fair Carol Newkirk, Chair
County Leadership Board Grant Making Committee W.i:17te
cc: Joe Goglio, Chair-Community Partnership Committee
Carole Watson—Regional Vice President—East Say
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Mithar.l 1. Murray
UNITED WAYS
Anew Wilvon
df 1'tt&: RAY AREA
United Wiy
of the Day Area
July 21, 2000 MiN.• Keri
Ritu SenlCl
Supervisor Joseph+Canciamilia
Family and Human Services Committee
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
651 Pine Street
Caet Ray Rdyron
Martinez, CA 94553 AiGmtda Cownty oillce
14l0 a';rar:a:Y
$ re JiU
Dear Honorable Canciamilia:
5tg
It was recently brought to the attention of the United Way of the Say Area-Contra Costa h I t' W i F.,
CountyLeadership Board's Grantmakin Committee b one of its members that you have Cancra om:
P g Y y Cttunry tiTt,.t
on your July 24 agenda a request for establishing a mechanism to more effectively 1070 Cc-wwKv Aveu,.e
prosecute elder abuse crimes that are becoming an increasing concern in this county. CA y,UG
?'xY•tioo•1'S5 inn;
While not speaking to the particular request before you at the meeting of the Family and
Human Services Committee, our members felt that we should take the opportunity to Noah Day Roy,an
share with you our interest In the field of elder abuse services. We are interested in marsh county otricc
appropriate opportunities for partnership in quantifying the need for such services in our s;° CALL.;AJ 1);'rn",�`
community and designing and supporting effective response and preventive programs. a,5••Is2•je40 OncN,
In token of this interest we have set aside $40,000 this year for activities in this field a�'"''' .:,5!
under a process to be determined. aap. Ca,Icy 0lrite
The County Leadership Board has looked for ways in which we can partner to leverage
limited dollars and to attract additional funds to support community needs in a way that
produce Resu/fs You Can See. An example of that is our recent partnership with the �alana CCunt> oftitt
Health Services Department in support of the Medical and Health Family Enrollment <D, •A i:ii J i Y:.N I
Outreach Services. - c,4 y+asd•sasc
We would appreciate being kept Informed of the disposition of the matter before you on
July 24; but also of efforts by other county departments and their community partners to Watt lily"'fila°
systemically address the problems of elder abuse and the needs of our growing senior County'rt
oif e
population. Carole Watson, UWBA's Regional Vice President W East Bay will contact you
to arrange a meeting with you and our Volunteer Leadership to discuss our mutual `
interest in eliminating elder abuse in Contra Costa County.
,:t�r
Sincerely,
Sau Mite'
County office
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51.v!Kr CA VA002
CD9 i&3 a7C?. Yr.:rhi
Iztager Hen ,'Chair Carol Newkirk, Chair a:+o•aai• Iss
County Leadership Board Grant Making Committee $, tt
. a«w itro:+tetl.vay.taK
cc: Joe,Gogllo, Chair-Community Partnership Committee
Carole Watson—RegIonal lice President—East Bay