Title
Grant Application - Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ) FY25 Research and Evaluation on the Financial Exploitation of Older Adults
Action
ACTION:
1) Approve the submission of an application for up to $1,600,000 for a five-year research and evaluation project focused on the financial exploitation of older adults within Mecklenburg County.
2) Recognize, receive, and appropriate funds (if awarded) for the amount awarded to the General Grant Fund (G001) within Child, Family, & Adult Services for the duration of the five-year performance period; and
3) Adopt the required grant project ordinance for the NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on the Financial Exploitation of Older Adults grant in the General Grant Fund (G001).
Staff Contact: Letecia Loadholt, Interim Director, Child, Family and Adult Services
Presentation: No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
Financial exploitation (FE) is a burgeoning public health crisis, with annual losses estimated in billions of dollars, affecting up to 11% of older adults annually. Beyond economic impact, FE is linked to severe psychosocial decline, including increased anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
The current framework is reactive and operates at its limit. Fewer than 2% of reports originate from victims, indicating that waiting for a report is an ineffective strategy. To safeguard the health and wealth of Mecklenburg County’s seniors, we must transition from reactive reporting to a community-based, proactive screening model.
This project shifts the paradigm toward proactive resilience by bridging the gap between financial security and mental health. The proposal evaluates an integrated model that combines wellness screenings with targeted exploitation prevention. By leveraging community partnerships, including senior centers, YMCA programs, faith communities, The Umbrella Center, and UNC Charlotte, this research seeks to determine if addressing "upstream" wellness factors...
Click here for full text