HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10082002 - PR.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
FROM Crary T. Yancey, DPetor
Al
Costa
Jahr}B. Cull
DATE: September 23,2002 County
SUBJECT Endorsement of District Attorney's Efforts with the Department of Employment and Human
Services(EHS)to Expand Public/Private Partnerships to Further Zero Tolerance for Elder
Abuse in Contra Costa County
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution commending the District Attorney, Department of Employment and Human
Services and local law enforcement for their efforts in implementing the Board's policy of Zero
Tolerance for Elder Abuse, and endorsing further public/private partnerships in this area.
BACKGROUND
None. The District Attorney,:and EHSD are working with California Community Partnership for
the Prevention of Financial Abuse (CPPFA), which is funded by financial institutions. In a
participating County, CPPFA dedicated bank funding is for use in fighting financial elder abuse in
that County.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
Since the Board's declaration of Zero Tolerance for Elder Abuse in August 2002, the District
Attorney has been working closely with EHSD and local law enforcement to combat this growing
problem in Contra Costa County. Since he established his Elder and Dependent Adult Prosecution
Unit, the District Attorney has convicted more than thirty-seven felony abuses of elders. That Unit
has also conducted investigators' and prosecutors' training for nearly every law enforcement agency
in the County, making presentations at Statewide training sessions sponsored by organizations such
as the California State Bar Association, the California District Attorneys' Association, the State
Contractors' Licensing Board and the National
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: --? YES SIGNATURE:
-- ---------__.--_..._.._--- _. _. �_� ____�.__.___y__� __.-.--.-_--...__ ---
_------
� RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMEN ION OF BOARD COMMITTE
--'APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURES)
ACTION OF BOAAAN t? 11:R APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN'
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT } AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE
AYES: NOES: SHOWN,
ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
ATTESTED
CONTACT: land NPIOtR.1 i) bbA'(l -LIGE .JOHN SWEET N, ERK OF THE
BOARD OF SUPE SORS AND
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR,)1 -r Alf I �- Affn` t +o,
BY i DEPUTY
Association of Bunco Investigators. The District Attorney has participated in numerous community out-
reach seminars across the County and developed a brochure to raise public awareness on the issues of
elder and dependent adult abuse.'`Working closely with Adult Protective Services, the District Attorney
has also developed a Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) based on successful models in other coun-
ties.
The Department of Employment and Human 'Services has;,seen an increase of reports of abuse to Adult
Protective Services of 325% in the past four years. Adult Protective Services has worked with prosecu-
tors, law enforcement, the Public Guardian, and others on a coordinated multidisciplinary team which
meets monthly to discuss approaches to particularly complex abuse cases. Workers have been designated
to specialize in financial abuse and to perform community outreach and training.
Unfortunately, staff reductions resulting from EHSbudgetary cutbacks for FY 2002-03 will limit the
availability of Adult Protective Services caseworkers to offer prevention and early intervention services in
situations of financial abuse and exploitation of elders and dependent adults. "In order to meet Adult Pro-
tective Services program mandates to protect'actual,victims of abuse, neglect, and"exploitation, EHS is
curtailing services to adults experiencing problems of self-care and self neglect who are only at risk of
abuse, neglect, or institutionalization. Nevertheless,'Adult Protective Services will continue to cooperate
with the District Attorney and with local law enforcement within the limitation of reduced capabilities.
Local law enforcement has contributed to this cooperative effort by assisting in investigations and
coordination with the District Attorney's unit and Adult Protective Services.
In:order to expand the efforts already underway to combat elder abuse, the District Attorney and Adult
Protective Services are working with the California Community Partnership for the Prevention of Finan-
cial Abuse(CCPPFA), a private/public partnership that solicits funding from financial institutions to train
staff in barks to recognize and report financial abuse and to raise community awareness of financial abuse
through community education events and the distribution of posters and brochures. The District Attorney
and Director of Employment and Human Services are requesting endorsement by the Board of participa-
tion in CCPPFA's program. This program has been successfully implemented in Marin, Sacramento,
Yolo,Napa,and El Dorado'counties.
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to support the recommendation would'diminish the momentum of the County's efforts to combat
financial elder abuse.
I
In the Matter of Endorsement of District Attorney's }
Efforts with Employment and Human Services (EHS) ')
to Expand Public/Private Partnerships to Farther Zero}
Tolerance for Elder Abuse in Contra Costa County } RESOLUTION NO. 2002/612
WHEREAS,the number of senior citizens continues to increase throughout California,and Contra Costa County
has one of the fastest growing,senior populations in p And,:.,
WHEREAS,.August 2002 marked the Second' of the Coiztra Costa County Board`of Supervisors'
policy of Zero Tolerance f gilder Abuse,and
WHEREAS,the District Attorney has created a dedicated Elder and DependentAdultAbuse Prosecution unit and
convicted more than 37&iboay'abuser s of elder;and dependent adults,
and wonted closely with Adult Protective
Services to implement a Financial Abuse Specialist'Team(FAST),wliich:has been coordinating with law
enforcement and the coMmun ty to educate professionals and increase public awareness of elder abuse,and:
WHEREAS,despite these efforts,elder financial abuse still goes largely"unreported and County seniors have lost
their lihi'savings and homes from financial abuse perpetrated by family members;caregivers,and strangers alike,
and
WHEREAS financial institutions are in a unique position to recognize and report suspected financial abuse of
elders frequenting their businesses or utilizing their services,and
WMEREAS,the California Community Partnership for the Prevention of Financial A*ue(CCPPFA),with the
endorsement 6f," iy neral Bill Locltyer,the State Snzrif�'s Association and other County Boards of
Sup€rvisors,provides n airiht to financial institutions in recognizing and reporting financial abuse,and increases
corlu unity awareness of financial abuse though community educational events,
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the Contra Costa Courtly Board of Supervisors commends the
District Attorney's Office,EHS-Adult Protective Services;and local late 6n c cement for their leadership in
fighting elder abuse.
BE IT MTHER RESOL D-that tl aContra Costa County Board of Supervises hereby endorses the
implementation of public/private partnerships between the CCPPFA,local financial institutions,the District
Attorney,Employment and Human Services,and local law enforcement to further the Zero Tolerance for Elder
Abuse policy.
PASSED by a unanimous vote of the Board 9f Supervisors members present this 81h day of October 2002.
,}01ti, IA
District I'Supervisor
C
GAYLE B.UILKEMA DONNA SER
District II Supervisor District III or
G
MARK DeSAULNIER FE ERAL D.aOVER'
District IV Supervisor District V Supervisor
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an
action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of
Supervisors on the date shown:
ATTESTED: October'8,2002
JOHN SWEETEN,Clerk'ofthe Board ofSupervisorsand
County Administrator
t
By Deputy