January/February 2018 |
News & Updates Archive
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CEJC News
CEJC Co-Sponsors Budget Request to Prevent Homelessness
A recent study found that 44% of the homeless population is over the age of 50, which is the threshold for what is considered "elderly," reflecting the fact that homeless people experience age-related disabilities at a younger age. CEJC is joining with the County Welfare Directors Association of California and CCoA in co-sponsoring a $15 million General Fund request for Home Safe, a 3-year pilot project in 15 communities aimed at demonstrating ways to prevent homelessness. Assemblymember Ash Kalra, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-term Care, has agreed to champion the project in the budget process.
Home Safe pilots would be operated by APS programs, which would identify clients at risk of losing their homes and provide short-term rental and utility assistance, heavy cleaning, immediate mental health treatment, intensive case management and other services to stabilize their housing. It would also include an evaluation component to provide information on the impact of the services, costs, and clients. For more on Home Safe go to CEJC's Current Policy Priorities.
Home Safe co-sponsors are seeking individuals who lost or risked losing homes to testify at upcoming hearings in support of the request. While we recognize that some victims are reluctant to share their stories, others find it empowering to help spare others from what they've gone through.
For more on how you can help, visit CWDA's website: Home Safe: Homelessness Prevention for Vulnerable Seniors.
CEJC Co-Sponsors Budget Request to Prevent Homelessness
A recent study found that 44% of the homeless population is over the age of 50, which is the threshold for what is considered "elderly," reflecting the fact that homeless people experience age-related disabilities at a younger age. CEJC is joining with the County Welfare Directors Association of California and CCoA in co-sponsoring a $15 million General Fund request for Home Safe, a 3-year pilot project in 15 communities aimed at demonstrating ways to prevent homelessness. Assemblymember Ash Kalra, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-term Care, has agreed to champion the project in the budget process.
Home Safe pilots would be operated by APS programs, which would identify clients at risk of losing their homes and provide short-term rental and utility assistance, heavy cleaning, immediate mental health treatment, intensive case management and other services to stabilize their housing. It would also include an evaluation component to provide information on the impact of the services, costs, and clients. For more on Home Safe go to CEJC's Current Policy Priorities.
Home Safe co-sponsors are seeking individuals who lost or risked losing homes to testify at upcoming hearings in support of the request. While we recognize that some victims are reluctant to share their stories, others find it empowering to help spare others from what they've gone through.
For more on how you can help, visit CWDA's website: Home Safe: Homelessness Prevention for Vulnerable Seniors.
National Elder Justice Advocates Academy Comes to 2018 ASA Conference
As part of its National Elder Justice Advocates Academy, CEJC is bringing together leading figures in the elder justice movement in two sessions at the upcoming American Society on Aging Conference:
The 2018 Aging in America Conference (AiA18) will take place March 26-29 in San Francisco. AiA18 has more than 35 sessions related to elder mistreatment and elder justice including innovative models of prevention and treatment within diverse communities, interventions, financial exploitation, policy recommendations and more. In addition to sessions focused on elder mistreatment and elder justice, you can choose from more than 400 sessions on topics critical to aging and quality of life for older adults. Topics include caregiving, health and wellness, Alzheimer's, lifelong learning, engagement, mental health, policy, diversity, religion, spirituality and meaning, care transitions and more. And earn up to 20 CEUs at no additional cost.
To register and for more information:
As part of its National Elder Justice Advocates Academy, CEJC is bringing together leading figures in the elder justice movement in two sessions at the upcoming American Society on Aging Conference:
- Building an Elder Justice Movement State by State This symposium will highlight how CEJC and coalitions in Ohio, Minnesota, and New York are mobilizing to prevent elder abuse and promote older people's rights as citizens, consumers, and crime victims. Presenters are Risa Breckman, Director of the NYC Elder Abuse Center; Georgia Anetzberger, who was instrumental in founding Ohio's Elder Abuse Commission and Coalition for Adult Protective Services; Iris Freeman, the founding board chair of the Minnesota Elder Justice Center; Paul L. Caccamise who oversees the New York State Coalition on Elder Abuse; and CEJC Executive Director, Lisa Nerenberg.
- The Elder Justice Coalition Policy Peer Group provides an opportunity for advocates to share their thoughts on what elder justice is, what a national elder justice agenda should look like, and how advocates can lead the way to achieving it. The discussion will be led by Georgia Anetzberger, Consultant and Adjunct Assistant Professor Medicine at Case Western Reserve University; William Benson, Policy Director for the National Adult Protective Services Association and long time leader in aging policy, and Lisa Nerenberg.
The 2018 Aging in America Conference (AiA18) will take place March 26-29 in San Francisco. AiA18 has more than 35 sessions related to elder mistreatment and elder justice including innovative models of prevention and treatment within diverse communities, interventions, financial exploitation, policy recommendations and more. In addition to sessions focused on elder mistreatment and elder justice, you can choose from more than 400 sessions on topics critical to aging and quality of life for older adults. Topics include caregiving, health and wellness, Alzheimer's, lifelong learning, engagement, mental health, policy, diversity, religion, spirituality and meaning, care transitions and more. And earn up to 20 CEUs at no additional cost.
To register and for more information:
- Register now and use Promo Code CEJC50 to save $50.
- View or download the announcement
- Learn more about volunteering at AiA18 or for details on the sessions and presenters, go to Aging in America. (http://www.asaging.org/aging-in-america)
CEJC Welcomes New Advocates Academy Coordinator and New Steering Committee Member
CEJC is delighted to welcome 2 new members to our team:
CEJC is delighted to welcome 2 new members to our team:
- Kevin Biglow recently joined CEJC's team as Coordinator of the National Advocates Academy. Previously an APS supervisor, Kevin is currently a trainer and consultant for national organizations, including the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), where he coordinates a Training Certificate Program. His other areas of expertise include emergency planning for elders and persons with disabilities, policy development, and designing innovative training programs. He welcomes your input and information!
- Nicole Fernandez is CEJC's newest Steering Committee member. She currently serves as Training and Outreach Specialist for the Elder and Dependent Adult Protection Team (EDAPT) of San Mateo County. She came to EDAPT after a decade-long career with the California State Legislature where she specialized in community relations, senior services, veterans, and health policy.
National News
Tax Cuts Pose Threat to APS
Social Services Block Grants (SSBG) provide funds for Adult Protective Services (APS) in 36 states and are the only source of APS funding in some. The Trump Administration has expressed skepticism about the value of the SSBG (it eliminated the program entirely in its proposed budget for 2018). Advocates are sounding the alert that the recent massive tax cuts may jeopardize APS funding in the future. Because the cuts are not "revenue neutral" —that is, they will result in revenue losses and add to the deficit—they would ordinarily trigger the "pay as you go" or "paygo" rule, which requires automatic cuts to certain programs to offset revenue losses. The SSBG, which also provides social services for vulnerable children and families, is among the programs that would automatically be cut or eliminated if the rule goes into effect. Congress, however, has the prerogative of waiving the rule and did so December, 2017, extending the program for one year.
Tax Cuts Pose Threat to APS
Social Services Block Grants (SSBG) provide funds for Adult Protective Services (APS) in 36 states and are the only source of APS funding in some. The Trump Administration has expressed skepticism about the value of the SSBG (it eliminated the program entirely in its proposed budget for 2018). Advocates are sounding the alert that the recent massive tax cuts may jeopardize APS funding in the future. Because the cuts are not "revenue neutral" —that is, they will result in revenue losses and add to the deficit—they would ordinarily trigger the "pay as you go" or "paygo" rule, which requires automatic cuts to certain programs to offset revenue losses. The SSBG, which also provides social services for vulnerable children and families, is among the programs that would automatically be cut or eliminated if the rule goes into effect. Congress, however, has the prerogative of waiving the rule and did so December, 2017, extending the program for one year.
D.C. Circuit Panel Assert CFPB's Independence
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on January 24 that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) can remain an independent agency with a sole director who can only be fired by the president for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.” Mortgage lender PHH had successfully sued the CFPB in 2015 over a $103 million fine, challenging not only the fine's legality but the constitutionality of the bureau’s independent leadership structure. The new decision upholds the lower court's ruling against the fine but protects the CFPB’s legal foundation as established under the Dodd-Frank Act that created it.
The ruling comes amid fears about the future of the Bureau, which is currently being run by Mick Mulvany, Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Industry leaders have called on the Administration to replace the Bureau's Director with a bipartisan commission. Mulvany has attempted to stop or rein in CFPB regulations, including the "fiduciary rule," which requires financial advisors to act in the best interests of their clients. The Bureau issued the rule in 2017 and was set to go into effect last April but was delayed when the Trump administration called for its postponement pending a review, which has since come into question.
Ironically, the ruling gives Mulvaney greater authority to weaken the Bureau by affirming his independence as its director. Former Director, Richard Cordray still sees the ruling as positive. He is quoted by The Hill as saying “There were always going to be ebbs and flows over what I have faith will be the long history of the CFPB.” For more on the Fiduciary Rule review, see Opposition to the Fiduciary Rule is Fake. For more on other issues CEJC is watching, go to Under the Radar: Developments We're Watching.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on January 24 that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) can remain an independent agency with a sole director who can only be fired by the president for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.” Mortgage lender PHH had successfully sued the CFPB in 2015 over a $103 million fine, challenging not only the fine's legality but the constitutionality of the bureau’s independent leadership structure. The new decision upholds the lower court's ruling against the fine but protects the CFPB’s legal foundation as established under the Dodd-Frank Act that created it.
The ruling comes amid fears about the future of the Bureau, which is currently being run by Mick Mulvany, Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Industry leaders have called on the Administration to replace the Bureau's Director with a bipartisan commission. Mulvany has attempted to stop or rein in CFPB regulations, including the "fiduciary rule," which requires financial advisors to act in the best interests of their clients. The Bureau issued the rule in 2017 and was set to go into effect last April but was delayed when the Trump administration called for its postponement pending a review, which has since come into question.
Ironically, the ruling gives Mulvaney greater authority to weaken the Bureau by affirming his independence as its director. Former Director, Richard Cordray still sees the ruling as positive. He is quoted by The Hill as saying “There were always going to be ebbs and flows over what I have faith will be the long history of the CFPB.” For more on the Fiduciary Rule review, see Opposition to the Fiduciary Rule is Fake. For more on other issues CEJC is watching, go to Under the Radar: Developments We're Watching.
Critics of the "Fiduciary Rule" Are Fake
According to a study by the research firm Mercury Analytics in collaboration with two Washington Post reporters, as many as 40% of the comments critical of the "fiduciary rule" that were submitted as part of an online stakeholder feedback process were fake. The Department of Labor (DOL) rule, written during the Obama administration, would compel financial advisers to abide by a “fiduciary standard,” requiring them to act in the best interests of their clients when providing guidance about retirement accounts. The rule was originally scheduled to go into effect in April of 2017 but the Administration directed DoL to suspend implementation until July 2019 pending a review. The hijacked identities of real Americans to show fake support for administration policies is part of a trend, which has affected online comments related to other proposed changes, including the contested repeal of net-neutrality rules. For more see Comments Critical of the fiduciary Rule are Fake.
According to a study by the research firm Mercury Analytics in collaboration with two Washington Post reporters, as many as 40% of the comments critical of the "fiduciary rule" that were submitted as part of an online stakeholder feedback process were fake. The Department of Labor (DOL) rule, written during the Obama administration, would compel financial advisers to abide by a “fiduciary standard,” requiring them to act in the best interests of their clients when providing guidance about retirement accounts. The rule was originally scheduled to go into effect in April of 2017 but the Administration directed DoL to suspend implementation until July 2019 pending a review. The hijacked identities of real Americans to show fake support for administration policies is part of a trend, which has affected online comments related to other proposed changes, including the contested repeal of net-neutrality rules. For more see Comments Critical of the fiduciary Rule are Fake.
Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act Implementation Begins
The Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (S 178), which passed late last year, focuses on enhancing the criminal justice system's response to elder abuse and contains provisions for addressing guardianship reform and older victims' rights. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced that Kathleen Benway, Chief of Staff of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, will serve as the FBI's Elder Justice Coordinator as required under the new act, assuming responsibility for the agency's consumer education, enforcement, and policy activities. Other departments that are required to designate Coordinators to work together to implement provisions under the Act have not yet announced them. In a webinar co-hosted by the Elder Justice Coalition (EJC) and the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, Evelyn Fortier, a staffer for the Senate Judiciary Committee on Aging, indicated that Committee members are also interested in doing more on guardianship issues. To view the webinar, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/8043984574724082690.
The Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (S 178), which passed late last year, focuses on enhancing the criminal justice system's response to elder abuse and contains provisions for addressing guardianship reform and older victims' rights. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced that Kathleen Benway, Chief of Staff of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, will serve as the FBI's Elder Justice Coordinator as required under the new act, assuming responsibility for the agency's consumer education, enforcement, and policy activities. Other departments that are required to designate Coordinators to work together to implement provisions under the Act have not yet announced them. In a webinar co-hosted by the Elder Justice Coalition (EJC) and the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, Evelyn Fortier, a staffer for the Senate Judiciary Committee on Aging, indicated that Committee members are also interested in doing more on guardianship issues. To view the webinar, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/8043984574724082690.