Project Evaluation

Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Service (CSU) staff conducted an evaluation process to measure the effectiveness of the CASE Partnership in addressing the issue of elder fraud in Denver. CSU designed survey evaluation instruments to determine the level of awareness and knowledge gained related to fraud, changes in behavior for avoiding fraudulent situations, and changes in financial fraud detection and reporting.

At the conclusion of the clergy and lay leader training and the "Power Against Fraud" seminars, CASE staff asked participants to complete a training evaluation. Completion of the evaluation was voluntary and confidential by excluding identifying information, such as the name of the victim and the name of the church, synagogue, or mosque.

Followup Surveys: CASE Partners

In June 2003, followup surveys were given to more than 200 clergy and lay leader participants of a CASE Partners Conference in their registration packets. CSU mailed an additional 57 surveys to faith community partners who did not attend the conference. In evaluating the opinions of CASE partner clergy, CSU found the following:

  • Prior to training, the majority of clergy were not prepared to help their congregations regarding elder fraud. Following training, 100 percent were prepared, with 70 percent reporting to be "well prepared."
  • Ninety percent of clergy reported that the monthly fraud alerts were helpful.
  • Seventy-nine percent of clergy reported that their working relationship with the Denver District Attorney's Office was enhanced.

One clergy member stated, "The training that the DA's office provided to our clergy was really more than training. It opened our eyes. I strongly recommend this training as a way to form real partnerships in our community."

Followup Surveys: Older Adults

CSU also designed a followup survey for participants of the "Power Against Fraud" seminars. Most of these participants were adults who were older than 60 years of age. In August 2003, CSU mailed 657 surveys using lists collected by the Denver District Attorney's Office during the seminars. Inclusion on the mailing list was voluntary. After evaluating the impact of the CASE program on older adults who had attended "Power Against Fraud" seminars, CSU found the following:

  • Before the seminars, 18 percent of older adults reported that they were not informed about types of fraud and only 10 percent were "well informed." Following the seminar, 99 percent reported to be informed with 87 percent stating that they were "well informed."
  • Before the seminars, 40 percent of older adults reported they did not know the steps to take to avoid fraud and only 7 percent were "well informed." Following the seminar, 95 percent reported to be informed with 83 percent stating that they were "well informed."
  • Before the seminars, the majority of older adults reported that they were not prepared to report fraud. Following the seminar, 96 percent reported to be prepared to report fraud with 87 percent stating that they were "well informed."

One older adult stated, "I am normally a very trusting person and give everyone the 'benefit of doubt.' I have been taken advantage of several times. Now I have your fraud guidelines posted by my telephone. Thank you so much for your service to prevent fraud. I do feel more empowered to defend myself against fraudulent intentions."

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Partnering With Faith Communities To Provide Elder Fraud Prevention, Intervention, and Victim Services
April 2006