|
The First of its Kind: Elder Abuse Forensic Center of Orange County, CA
Launched in May 2003, the Elder Abuse Forensic Center has changed the way elder abuse cases are investigated through an unprecedented collaborative process.
The Forensic Center is staffed by professionals from legal, medical, social services and law enforcement agencies. Forensic Center members conduct case reviews; check in-home medical and mental status; do evidentiary investigations; tape victim interviews; educate; consult and do research.
The collaboration brings these experts together to better understand, identify and treat elder abuse, determine more efficient ways to successfully prosecute elder abuse cases and support the prevention of elder abuse through greater awareness and education among those professionals who work with older and disabled adults.
The United States Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime honored the Elder Abuse Forensic Center of Orange County with a 2011 Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services.
The Orange County Elder Abuse Forensic Center houses professionals from the following local agencies:
Creating an Elder Abuse Forensic Center: Tools for Your Community
|
Since the Orange County Elder Abuse Forensic Center was launched, we have been approached by other communities interested in starting their own centers and have assisted in the creation of three new centers. The Forensic Center has served over 800 older adults and adults with disabilities. |
 |
The manual and DVD toolkit provides any agency that hopes to develop an Elder Abuse Forensic Center (EAFC) with the preliminary structure and ideas that have proven useful to those who have already embarked on this endeavor.
Creating an Elder Abuse Forensic Center manual and companion DVD addresses:
- What are the benefits?
- Tips from practitioners who started their own Centers
- Multidisciplinary considerations and logistical help
Download the Creating an EAFC flyer (PDF) for more information.
Purchase these materials here
View all sample forms from the Appendices (PDF).
Selection of Sample Materials:
- Sample Case Presentation Format
- Sample Forensic Center Meeting Agenda
- Collaborative Agreement for EAFC
- Medical Assessment Template
- Psychological Consultation Report Template
- HIPAA letter from Office of Civil Rights on releasing medical information to Adult Protective Services
For journal articles about the Elder Abuse Forensic Center of Orange County and related research studies, visit the Publications page.
Elder Abuse Forensic Center in the Media
- Elder Abuse--Inside E Street February 6, 2012
- “Forensic Skills Seek to Uncover Elder Abuse” by Jane Gross, New York Times, Article and audio slide show, September 27, 2006
- Le CSI des vieux with Frederic Arnould from Le Telejournal, Radio-Canada, Canadian Broadcasting Company (in French), 4-minute streaming video features several members of the Elder Abuse Forensic Center, December 18, 2006
- “Team Tackles Cases Of Elder Abuse” by Doug Brunk, Clinical Psychiatry News, August 1, 2007 (Vol. 40, Iss. 15, p. 1-5)
- "Nation’s First Elder Abuse Forensic Center Wins U.S. Attorney General’s Award" BIFOCAL: Bar Associations in Focus on Aging & the Law, Journal of the American Bar Association, Commission on Law and Aging, Mar-Apr 2011, Special Elder Abuse Issue (Vol. 32, No. 4, p. 57)