Financial Abuse Specialist Team
A 2011 initiative of the
Center for Elder Justice & Policy
with support from the
Stevens Square Foundation
FAST?
 It’s not one of those New Year’s resolution diet schemes.
FAST?
 It’s not about being glued (holding fast).
FAST
 If you’re thinking speed, there’s a connection.
FAST
 Fiduciary Abuse Specialist Team or
 Financial Abuse Specialist Team
 Generally county oriented
 Some do case consultation only.
 Some do consultation and intervention.
 Some are composed solely of county staff.
 Many have extensive professional volunteer involvement.
 Some provide consultation and training to wider audiences (e.g.
health care providers).
A first in Minnesota
 Early models developed in California – LA County and Santa
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Clara County
Hennepin County is project focus
The spark: Carla Hagen, Hennepin County Attorney,
prosecutes financial exploitation cases
Grant: Stevens Square Foundation
Project timeline: January 1 – September 30, 2011
Project Director: Iris C. Freeman, CEJP
Research Assistant: Rachel Bakke, WMCL student
Phase 1: January & February
 Work with Hennepin County officials to assure that the FAST
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will be designed to fit contemporary and emerging needs.
Publicize project through VAJP and other networks.
Hire student research assistant.
Research existing models, their planning, operations, and
evaluation components.
Research confidentiality, ethics, and liability issues affecting
FAST operations.
Phase 1: January & February
 Develop charge to planning group and overall work plan.
 Outreach to establish advisory planning group
 We are seeking advice from the public and private sectors.
 Adult Protective Services and Ombudsman
 Law Enforcement and Prosecutors
 State and federal input (DHS, FBI, FTC)
 Geriatrician, geropsychologist
 Bankers, bank investigators, other financial services regulators
 Guardians…insurance experts…many more
Phase 2: March – August
 Conduct 6 monthly meetings to develop a blueprint for the
FAST, and reach agreement on
 Decide on a model: Roles and functions of a Hennepin County
FAST (March)
 Recruitment (who should be on the FAST), terms of service,
orientation, types of cases that will be addressed (April)
 Operations: regular meetings? emergency consultations? other
roles? (May)
 Leadership and resources – what does it take to carry this on
for the long haul? (June)
Phase 2: March - August
 The agenda for July is “loose ends from the prior four
meetings.” Just guessing, of course.
 Determine the kinds of policies and record-keeping that will be
necessary; planning for evaluation (August)
Phase 3: September
 Reach a formal commitment and memoranda of understanding as
necessary based on decisions reached at the planning meetings.
 Circulate documents for signatures.
 Publicize the establishment of MN’s first FAST.
 Final report to Stevens Square Foundation
 And if, despite best efforts, the project does not result in a FAST,
the project team will prepare a full report on work done, barriers
encountered, and alternative means to strengthen the county’s
ability to detect and respond to financial exploitation of vulnerable
adults.
The possibilities
 Santa Clara County’s FAST Team has reports that they have
recovered and/or prevented the loss of $127 million. (Malks,
May 16, 2006).
 Real property
 Liquid assets
 Stocks, bonds
 Restitution/recovery/
settlement
The sum = $127,087,196
$79,417,800
$27,360,508
$10,344.569
$ 9,964,319