What's New in Undue Influence: Tools, Definitions, and Court Responses (November 7, 2018)

Webinar Recording

Mary Joy Quinn's slides
Nancy Hoffman's slides
Dr. Sheila Jones & Cecilia Steiner-Smith's slides


In 2015-16, a team of researchers in California created the California Undue Influence Screening Tool (CUIST) to help Adult Protective Services (APS) workers identify and document this murky, "know it when I see it" threat to older American's security, autonomy, and assets. The tool reflects the state's civil definition of undue influence that was created in 2014 to reflect current understanding of the phenomenon. Mary Joy Quinn, who directed the project, described CUIST and the new definition. Geriatric neuropsychologist Nancy Hoffman, PhD; who provides consultation, assessment, and expert witness testimony in forensic cases involving mental capacity, undue influence, conservatorships, will contests, and financial elder abuse; described how she has incorporated CUIST into her practice and how California courts are responding to the new definition.

APS workers in the District of Columbia began using CUIST in 2017 under the leadership of Dr. Sheila Jones, Chief for Adult Protective Services, Department of Human Services, Family Services Administration. This followed the passage of the Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult or Elderly Person, which established undue influence as a criminal offense the previous year. Assistant Attorney General Cecelia Steiner-Smith, JD, who represents APS in guardianship and conservatorship cases and in obtaining temporary protection orders, civil protection orders, and provisional protection orders for vulnerable adults, discussed DC’s new law for undue influence and the court’s response.

This webinar is intended for professionals and advocates who are interested in improving their communities' response to undue influence.

For copies of CUIST and more on undue influence, visit CEJC's Undue Influence Toolkit page.

Panelists included:

Mary Joy Quinn, Consultant and retired Director of San Francisco Probate Department
Dr. Nancy Hoffman, Geriatric Neuropsychologist
Dr. Sheila Jones, Chief, Adult Protective Services, District of Columbia
M. Cecelia Steiner-Smith, JD, Assistant Attorney General, District of Columbia

This National Elder Justice Advocates Academy webinar was hosted by CEJC with support from the Huguette Clark Family Fund for the Protection of Elders.
Homelessness in Older Adults: Causes, Consequences & Prevention (September 26, 2018)

Webinar Recording

Webinar Slides


This webinar featured Dr. Margot Kushel, a leading researcher in elder homelessness who described her cutting edge research and the preventative interventions it suggests.

Joining her was Ali Sutton, of the California Department of Social Services, who is responsible for implementing Home Safe, a recently funded homelessness prevention pilot project. The project, which will be carried out by APS programs across the state, is the result of successful advocacy spearheaded by the California County Welfare Directors Association and co-sponsored by CEJC and the California Commission on Aging.

Panelists included:

Dr. Margot Kushel, Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, Division of General Internal Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG)

Ali Sutton, Chief of the Housing, Homelessness and Civil Rights Branch at the California Department of Social Services (CDSS)

This National Elder Justice Advocates Academy webinar was hosted by CEJC with support from the Huguette Clark Family Fund for the Protection of Elders.
International Financial Crime: How Do We Turn the Tide and Help Older Victims? (August 1, 2018)

Webinar Recording

Webinar Slides:
Steve Baker's slides
Debbie Deem's slides

Additional Resources referenced during webinar:
Wise & Healthy Aging Romance Scam Support Group Flyer
Ventura Coalition 2018 Romance Scam Support Flyer
LA SCAMS Working Group - Tips for Avoiding Financial Scams
Senior's Guide to Online Safety
Baker Fraud Report
Steve Baker's BBB studies:

This webinar shared descriptions of international financial crimes that target the elderly, identified where to file complaints, and why to do so. It also described the challenges of working with these populations, including managing expectations and the impact of promising programs. Presenters for this webinar are fraud fighter superstars: FBI Victim Specialist Debbie Deem and Steve Baker, former Director of the Federal Trade Commission of the Midwest, who has authored reports for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the recent CEJC blog post ‘Awash in a Sea of Fraud: No Guns, No Action’.

This webinar discussed the epidemic of financial crimes perpetrated against the elderly in the USA and America’s response to these threats. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center has reported that internet romance scams targeting older adults is the #1 reported personal crime by loss of dollar amount reported to them. A new study by the BBB reports that 2,820 people reported sweepstakes and lottery scams in 2017, with a median loss of $500. There have undoubtedly been many more victims with even greater losses. Many victims are afraid to report, or see limited results when they do.

Professionals working with victims, suffering devastating losses and emotional trauma are victimized repeatedly, and may play a role in their own victimization. Some victims need help negotiating with: creditors, family members, the IRS, landlords, and/or public benefits programs after their victimizations; while others may be implicated in crimes they were unaware of.

Panelists included:

Debbie Deem, FBI Victims Specialist
Steve Baker, International Investigations Specialist, Better Business Bureau

This National Elder Justice Advocates Academy webinar was hosted by CEJC with support from the Huguette Clark Family Fund for the Protection of Elders.
Engaging Financial Institutions in Abuse Investigations (June 6, 2018)

Webinar Recording

Webinar Slides: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Financial institutions often have information critical to elder financial abuse investigations that privacy concerns prevent them from sharing with investigators. In 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other federal agencies issued guidelines explaining what information institutions can share, which is more than many thought. Getting the word out was another matter.

The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) collaborated with the Philadelphia Corporation on Aging (PCA) to create a protocol that APS and other investigators can use in requesting evidence. Florida APS Director Robert Anderson, who spearheaded its use in his state, says that getting bank records was APS' workers' #1 complaint in 2015 but had disappeared by 2016 thanks to the protocol!

Anderson joined Alan Lawitz, Director of New York's Bureau of Adult Services, which is also using the protocol, on a panel to describe their experiences. The session was led by Joe Snyder, PCA's recently retired APS Director, who spearheaded the development of the protocol, which was supported by the Huguette Clark Family Fund for Protection of Elders. The protocol won the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging's National Aging Achievement Award.
To see the Protocol, go to National Guidelines on the NAPSA website.

Panelists included:

Robert K. Anderson, State Director, Adult Protective Services, Florida Department of Children and Families
Alan Lawitz, Esq., Director, Bureau of Adult Services, New York State Office of Children & Family Services
Joe Snyder, Elder Justice Consultant, Chair of the Philadelphia Financial Exploitation Prevention Task Force, Chair of NAPSA’s Public Policy Committee, and Board Member of the National Institute on Elder Financial Exploitation

This National Elder Justice Advocates Academy webinar was hosted by CEJC with support from the Huguette Clark Family Fund for the Protection of Elders.
Building an Elder Justice Movement State by State (May 1, 2018)

Webinar Recording

Webinar Slides

Protecting the rights, safety, and security of older adults requires comprehensive public policy and programs for abuse reporting, legal assistance, victims' rights, consumer protection, patients’ rights, and long term services and supports. This webinar described 4 state coalitions in California, Minnesota, Ohio, and New York that are mobilizing stakeholders to design policies and programs that prevent abuse, counter ageism, promote autonomy and independence, and improve service delivery.  It was the first in a series of webinars as part of CEJC’s National Elder Justice Advocates Academy with support from the Huguette Clark Family Fund for Protection of Elders.

Panelists included:

Lisa Nerenberg, MSW, MPH, Executive Director, California Elder Justice Coalition
Risa Breckman, LCSW, Executive Director, NYC Elder Abuse Center
Georgia Anetzberger, PhD, ACSW, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
Iris Freeman, MSW, Adjunct Professor of Law, William Mitchell College of Law
Paul L. Caccamise, LMSW, ACSW, Vice President for Program, Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc.

This National Elder Justice Advocates Academy webinar was hosted by CEJC with support from the Huguette Clark Family Fund for the Protection of Elders.





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