Marin Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) Overview
Mission | The
Team | Meeting
Times | Volunteer
Opportunities | Media Center
Marin FAST, Click image to enlarge.
Back row left to right: Jeannie Pagnotta, Marin FAST member; Alex Koehler, Wells Fargo Novato store manager; Rick Keefer, Marin FAST member; Joe Meesey, Marin County Sheriff's Department; Jenefer Duane, Founder & CEO, Elder Financial Protection Network ; Michael Wolfe, Ph.D, Marin FAST member; Michele Boudinot, Marin FAST member; and Ed Berberian, Marin County District Attorney.
Front row left to right: Pat Tobin, Elder Financial Protection Network program & administrative coordinator; Raminder Bhatia, Wells Fargo community development officer; Angela Wallace, Marin FAST member; Carol Parish, Marin FAST member; Tonia Wasley,CPA, Marin FAST member; Carolyn Rosenblatt, Esq., Marin FAST member; Roberta Romeo, PhD, Chair, Elder Abuse Prevention Task Force of the Marin County Commission on Aging.
In honor of International Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th,
2008, Elder Financial Protection Network is
pleased to announce the establishment of the
Marin County Financial Abuse Specialist Team (Marin FAST).
Called “the Crime
of the 21st Century,” financial abuse is the fastest
growing form of elder abuse. It is estimated that only 1 in 100 cases are reported.
According to the California Attorney Generals office, elder financial abuse occurs
when a person or entity takes or keeps an elders property for wrongful use or
with the intent to defraud. Most frequently perpetrated by self-interested family
members, caregivers, con artists or unscrupulous sales persons, financial abuse
can involve, misuse of powers of attorney, ATM theft, forgery, real estate fraud,
investment fraud, contractor fraud and identity theft.
FAST helps in many ways
by advising and educating the public and other
professionals on common schemes, scams and frauds used to fleece the
vulnerable adult population, as well as on betrayals of trust by friends,
family and caregivers who threaten financial stability and destroy
peace of mind.
Initially founded in 2005
through a grant from the Archstone Foundation under
its statewide “Elder Abuse & Neglect Initiative,” Marin FAST
has also received funding support from the Wells Fargo Bank and the Marin
Community Foundation,. Marin FAST is a program of Elder Financial Protection
Network (EFPN), an award winning non-profit organization. Marin FAST joins ranks
with more than 17 FAST’s statewide to create a county wide network of professionals
who build bridges between their disciplines in order to prevent or recover losses
and to help resolve cases effectively.
Mission of FAST
Identify
and prevent elder financial abuse by assisting
local social service agencies and law enforcement
to investigate suspected elder financial abuse;
educate professionals who serve elders and
provide information and referral to community
members.
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The FAST Team
Marin FAST consists of financial professionals:
bankers, lawyers, care mangers, accountants,
real estate professionals and financial planners
who meet monthly for training and to consult on elder financial abuse
cases; and to develop educational programs to identify and prevent
elder abuse. Marin FAST also includes representatives of the Marin
County District Attorney’s
office and the Sheriff’s
Department and is represented on the Marin
County Elder Abuse Task Force. FAST provides information, referral
and training presentations to professionals and community members.
For further information or to schedule a training
program for your consumer group or for your
professional organization, please contact the
FAST:
Phone: 415-897-9555
Email: marinfast@bewiseonline.org
Web: http://bewiseonline.org/marinFAST.html
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Meeting Times
Marin FAST meets on the last Wednesday of each month. For more information
call: 415-897-9555.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer recruitment is open. For more information
call; 415-897-9555.
- Marin
forum on preventing elder abuse by Nancy
Isles Nation, Marin Independent Journal, June 25, 2008
- Marin
Seniors get support from Marin FAST and
Wells Fargo (PDF: 367k), Marin Independent
Journal, June 21, 2008 Thank you for the
support Wells Fargo!
- Stopping elder financial abuse, By Jenefer Duane, Carolyn Rosenblatt and Tonia Wasley, Marin Independent Journal, June 15, 2008
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