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 p...
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