Partner Agencies

Current Participants in the San Francisco Elder Abuse Forensic Center from the public and private sector.

San Francisco Public Agencies

Adult Protective Services (APS)

The San Francisco Adult Protective Services Program (APS) is mandated under Welfare and Institutions Code 15600 and is part of a statewide program of the California Department of Social Services. The goal of Adult Protective Service is to provide protective services to elders and dependent adults who are unable to protect their own interests or to care for themselves. APS strives to:

Prevent and remedy abuse neglect or exploitation
Maintain the elder or dependent adult in their own homes
Strengthen a person's capacity for self-maintenance
Provide direct services or linking victims to community services

Forensic Center Role:
Adult Protective Services caseworkers are on the front lines of elder abuse cases and provide the forensic center with in-depth information on the situation of each client. APS participates in the forensic center case meetings and helps to shape the course of action for each case.

Public Guardian (PG)

Website: www.sfhsa.org/publicguardian.htm

Many San Franciscans have physical and mental limitations that render them unable to handle basic personal and financial needs. The San Francisco Superior Court, under the authority of the California State Probate Code, regularly appoints this office to serve as the conservator to these people. The circumstances and situations of these people vary greatly, but all are highly vulnerable to either physical, emotional or financial abuse and neglect. The department's Estate Investigators perform a number of important services for our clients, including locating appropriate housing or shelter, establishing eligibility for government and private benefit programs, securing client property and assets, ensuring appropriate medical care and social work, money management and budgeting, and securing overall client well being.

Forensic Center Role:
The Public Guardian provides consultations regarding conservatorship and financial services eligibility. Representatives from the PG attend the forensic center case meetings to provide information regarding any needed financial documentation and help to shape the course of action for relevant cases.

District Attorney (DA)

Website: www.sfdistrictattorney.org

The District Attorney’s Office is committed to fighting elder and dependent adult abuse and improving the quality of life for San Francisco seniors and dependent adults. The office’s Elder Abuse Unit consists of specially trained prosecutors dedicated to prosecuting all types of crimes perpetrated against the elderly and dependent adults. By vigorously prosecuting elder abuse cases, the District Attorney’s Office communicates a clear message to offenders that the conduct is serious, illegal and will not be tolerated.

Forensic Center Role:
The District Attorney participates in the Forensic Center by providing consultations regarding: victim services, prosecution requirements for criminal cases, legislative updates, and general information about criminal law. The DA’s office participates in the Forensic Center Case meetings and prosecutes criminal cases involving elder and dependent adult abuse.

Police Department (SFPD)

Website: www.sfgov.org/site/police_index.asp

We, the members of the San Francisco Police Department, are committed to excellence in law enforcement and are dedicated to the people, traditions and diversity of our City. In order to protect life and property, prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime, we will provide service with understanding, response with compassion, performance with integrity and law enforcement with vision.

Forensic Center Role:
SFPD has detailed a fraud and domestic violence inspector to the Forensic Center to facilitate the investigation of elder abuse cases. Inspectors attend the Forensic Center Case meetings and consult on all policing related issues.

City Attorney’s Office

Website: www.sfgov.org/site/cityattorney_index.asp

The City Attorney's Office is committed to providing the highest quality legal services to the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, San Francisco Unified School District and the 94 departments, boards, commissions and offices of the City and County of San Francisco.

The City Attorney's Office responsibilities include:

Representing the City and County in legal proceedings
Providing advice or written opinions to any officer, department head, board, commission or other unit of local government
Making recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for or against the settlement or dismissal of legal proceedings
Approving as to form all surety bonds, contracts and ordinances
Examining and approving title to all real property to be acquired by the City and County
Preparing reviews annually and making available to the public a codification of ordinances of the City and County
Investigating, evaluating and recommending disposition of all claims made against the City and County.

Forensic Center Role:
The City Attorney’s office provides consultations regarding civil matters related to elder abuse.

San Francisco Private Sector Participants

Institute on Aging (IOA)

Website: www.ioaging.org

Institute on Aging (IOA) is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that touches the lives of thousands of seniors in San Francisco, Marin, and the Peninsula each year. IOA's mission is to enhance the quality of life for adults as they age by enabling them to maintain their health, well-being, independence, and participation in the community. We fulfill this mission for a diverse community by developing and providing innovative programs in health, social service, creative arts, spiritual support, education, and research.

Forensic Center Role:
IOA is one of the founders of the Forensic Center. Archstone grant monies are channeled through the IOA for the Forensic Center project. Both the Geriatric Assessment Center and the Elder Abuse Prevention (EAP) programs of the IOA contribute to the Forensic Center team.

The Geriatric Assessment center provides psychological evaluations of clients as well as reviewing medical records and meeting with clients to give opinions regarding mental capacity.

The EAP program provides consultations regarding education and community resources in cases of elder abuse. EAP Director Heidi Li has also worked with the District Attorney’s office to develop a Public Service Announcement on the subject of elder scams.

Long Term Care Ombudsman

Website: www.ltcombudsman.org/static_pages/memex/California.cfm

To visit, to advocate for frail elderly, and disabled adults who are institionalized. To protect against abuse and neglect, through third-party monitoring and complaint investigation.

Forensic Center Role:
Participates in meetings on a case by case basis to consult on issues involving long term care facilities and residents.

Geriatricians

Elder Consult

Website: www.elderconsult.com

ElderConsult Medical Associates is a group of board-certified physicians and geriatric nurse practitioners providing top-notch medical care to elderly patients. We strive to practice medicine in a manner that’s expert, humane, realistic, sensitive and honest.

Forensic Center Role:
Consults with the Center on a case-by-case basis by providing psychological evaluations of clients as well as reviewing medical records and meeting with clients to give opinions regarding mental capacity.

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