Denver Forensic Collaborative for At-Risk Adults Enhancement Project

The purpose of this award, funded under the OVC FY 2019 Transforming America's Response to Elder Abuse: Coordinated, Enhanced Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) for Older Victims of Abuse and Financial Exploitation Program, is to support elder abuse multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) as enhanced MDT’s (E-MDTs) at the rural, tribal, local or state levels, including existing and new teams. Through this solicitation, OVC seeks to support organizations which demonstrate innovative strategies to create, expand, or enhance the use of technology initiatives on a national scale or that can be relicated nationally to improve response, services, and access for victims of crime.

With this funding, the City of Denver will enhance the Denver Forensic Collaborative for At-Risk Adults (DFC), a multidisciplinary team of experts who examine high­ risk cases of elders being physically abused, neglected. or financially exploited. The project will address three goals. First, the project will improve support for the investigation and prosecution of elder abuse cases by bringing in experts including forensic accounting services in complex financial exploitation cases, neuropsychologists who can evaluate victims when necessary, and geriatricians who can provide case consultations prior to filing charges. The District Attorney will work with those experts to create a sound structure in cases destined for trial. Second, the project will make services available to individuals identified as requiring assistance but not living in circumstances that warrant criminal justice intervention. Third, the project will provide after-hours emergency housing for victims when offenders are arrested. The project will support one full-time victim advocate to work with elders identified as needing more support and to develop an emergency housing program; eight neuropsychological evaluations annually; four forensic accounting evaluations annually; and 24 hours of analysis and consultation from a geriatrician annually.

CA/NCF