Title
a. Approve the establishment of a Monterey County Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST); and,
b. Authorize the Department of Social Services to oversee implementation of the Monterey County Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) Memorandum of Understanding that incorporates additional members that are not part of the County governance structure.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve the establishment of a Monterey County Financial Abuse Specialist Team
(FAST); and,
b. Authorize the Department of Social Services to oversee implementation of the
Monterey County Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) Memorandum of
Understanding that incorporates additional members that are not part of the County
governance structure.
SUMMARY:
Financial Abuse Specialist Teams (FAST) are authorized under the Welfare and Institutions Code to coordinate effective and rapid responses in cases of financial abuse of elder and dependent adults. Currently, Monterey County has a Multi-Disciplinary Team that reviews and coordinates responses to elder and disabled adult abuse referrals, including financial abuse. The Multi-Disciplinary Team recommends establishing a FAST to better respond to and prevent financial abuse. It is also recommended that the FAST include additional local law enforcement agencies and volunteer private consultants, as permitted under California state law.
DISCUSSION:
California Welfare & Institutions Code Section 15763(a) mandates that each county shall establish an emergency response Adult Protective Services program, and that such program shall include policies and procedures to accomplish establishment of Multi-Disciplinary Teams. Section 15763(f) further authorizes each county to establish Multi-Disciplinary Teams including, but not limited to, adult protective services, law enforcement, probation departments, home health care agencies, hospitals, adult protective services staff, the public guardian, private community service agencies, public health agencies, and mental health agencies for the purpose of providing interagency treatment strategies.
Financial Abuse Specialist Teams (FAST) are established under these provisions of the Welfare & Institutions Code. The multi-disciplinary FAST team allows for interagency collaboration to prevent, identify and address financial elder abuse, utilizing maximum coordination with community resources to respond quickly in complicated financial abuse cases to stop and remedy depletion of the victims' financial resources. Beyond the traditional multidisciplinary team members, many counties have utilized attorneys, physicians, psychologists, gerontologists, bankers, financial planners, securities and investment brokers, realtors, insurance brokers, financial professionals and others as appropriate. FAST team members undergo training and sign confidentiality agreements, conflicts of interest agreements, and memorandums of understanding.
Monterey County currently has an established Multi-Disciplinary Team that meets bi-monthly to address physical and financial abuse of elders. This team has concluded that a FAST team specifically devoted to financial abuse cases and capable of rapid response would provide for a far more effective and productive response in complicated financial abuse cases. Including additional law enforcement agencies and private volunteer consultants who are expert in financial forensic investigation would provide valuable assistance in the effort to identify financial abuse, support victims, prevent depletion of resources, and prosecute offenders.
The various Monterey County Departments involved in working to create a FAST team in Monterey County have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The group seeks approval from the Board of Supervisors for formal establishment of the FAST before soliciting participation from local law enforcement agencies and private volunteer consultants. In addition, the group seeks authorization from the Board of Supervisors for the Monterey County Department of Social and Employment Services to oversee implementation and maintenance of Monterey County FAST.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The FAST Team presently consists of the Office of the Monterey County Counsel, the Office of the Monterey County District Attorney, the Monterey County Public Guardian, Monterey County Adult Protective Services, and the Office of the Monterey County Sheriff. Other members of the Monterey County Multi-Disciplinary Team interested in participating in FAST include a local agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and most local law enforcement agencies in Monterey County. In addition, tremendous interest has already been expressed by a number of financial experts in the community willing to donate their time.
FINANCING:
There is no fiscal impact to the County General Fund or on the budgets of the participating County Departments; it is planned for supplemental resources to use voluntary consultants such as private accountants and financial experts that will yield a significant benefit to county departments already engaged in the process of stopping and/or prosecuting elder abuse.
Prepared by: Bertha Gonzalez, Management Analyst, 4904
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director, 4434
Attachments:
Memorandum of Understanding Between County Counsel, District Attorney, Public Guardian, Adult Protective Services and Sheriff
Original on file with the Clerk of the Board