Title
Grant Application to the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to fund forensic accounting services for victims of elder financial exploitation
Action
ACTION:
1) Approve the submission of an application to fund forensic accounting services for victims of elder financial exploitation in the amount of $468,000; and
2) If awarded recognize, receive, and appropriate funds for the affirmed amount awarded of up to $375,000 to the General Grant Funds (G001) within Child, Family, & Adult Services; and
3) Adopt the required grant project ordinance for the Victims of Crime Act grant in the General Grant Fund (G001).
Staff Contact: Kimberly Henderson, Director, Child, Family and Adult Services Department
Presentation: No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
Mecklenburg County Department of Child, Family, & Adult Services (CFAS) requests approval to apply to the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant to fund forensic accounting services needed to assist victims of elder financial exploitation. Financial exploitation referrals consist of determining if a caretaker, family member, or other individual who has an ongoing relationship with an older person or person with a disability, attempts or uses the resources of the victim for their own personal benefit or gain without the informed consent of the person.
Through November in FY25, Adult Protective Services (APS) has received a total of 521 non-repeat referrals with 42% of them being for exploitation evaluations. In FY2024, exploitation referrals made up 44% of all APS referrals. The number of referrals has increased from 347 in FY2021 to 527 in FY2024. As of December 2, 2024, APS is currently serving 37 clients with assets exploitation investigation cases. Of these clients, 67.57% are female and 62.17% are 70 years or older.
Financial exploitation cases are often referred to APS through financial institutions, but the process to gather and review the corresponding documentation can be complex and difficult for social workers assigned to the case. The same social workers are responsible for the ongoing case management and support needed for the victims to ensure their safety and recovery from any ongoing neglect or abuse. Having experts available to conduct forensic accounting of bank records, credit card statements, and other financial documentation will help alleviate the work on APS social works, provide better and more thorough services to victims, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the exploitation to help with any possible recovery or criminal charges.
The grant application will be for a total cost of $468,000 which is comprised of $375,000 in Federal funds for 3 years and $93,000 in matching local funds as required by the grant. The $375,000 in Federal funding will fund the fees associated with hiring a forensic accounting firm to assist with complex cases as determined by APS management. The $93,000 for the required match will be provided utilizing in-kind match from existing staff time and the corresponding salary and benefit costs.
The staff time utilized for match will be used to provide oversight for the cases identified as needing forensic accounting services, contract management for the forensic accounting services, grant management, data collection and evaluation reporting as required by the grant funding source.
The grant period is October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028.
The grant application is due January 31, 2025.
PROCUREMENT BACKGROUND:
N/A
POLICY IMPACT:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
General Grant Fund (G001) increase of up to $375,000 in revenue and associated expenses