An Elder Justice Initiative (EJI) Webinar

Financial exploitation of older adults is evolving fast. Scammers are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to clone voices, spoof family members, and stage realistic fraud schemes. This webinar will highlight recent scam trends and explore how multidisciplinary teams (MDT) can best respond to these crimes in a coordinated, thoughtful manner while working with older adults, utilizing trauma-informed and person-centered best practices. It will also cover how this work can be time consuming and emotionally and morally draining, and how to work through these challenges with your team when they occur.

Imposter scams affect everyone, but older adults are increasingly being affected by this scam. As part of National Consumer Protection Week (March 1-7, 2026), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is hosting a discussion on top scams affecting older adults. Join representatives from the FTC, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and AARP for a one-hour discussion to empower older adults to spot and avoid scams and help others do the same.

To join the webinar at 2pm ET/1pm CT/11am PT:

• URL:https://ftc.zoomgov.com/j/1606218468?pwd=5FPB10waoOMzsGw07Q8InD293E4HP4.1

• Meeting ID: 160 621 8468

• Passcode: 911624

• By phone (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): 646 828 7666 US (New York); 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line); 669 216 1590 US (San Jose); 833 568 8864 (US Toll-free)

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An Elder Justice Initiative (EJI) Webinar

This session will focus on what is needed to create a successful multidisciplinary team (MDT) for elder abuse case reviews, including building a strong foundation and overcoming common challenges. This webinar will feature teams funded by the Office for Victims of Crime and developed through the National MDT Technical Assistance Center, and review the Center's evaluation of team needs at various stages. It will also include a panel of seasoned MDT coordinators who can speak from direct experience about the lessons they learned as they planned and built their teams. 

National Adult Protective Services Association’s (NAPSA’s) Monthly National Scam Advice Forum

Financial institutions are facing growing challenges in protecting client accounts from increasingly sophisticated transnational frauds and scams. As fraud schemes evolve across borders, banks must navigate complex legal, regulatory, and operational constraints while striving to safeguard vulnerable clients—particularly those who experience chronic revictimization.

Laurel Sykes will share practical insights from the front lines of risk management, including: legal and regulatory constraints that impact what institutions can and cannot do, strategies for supporting chronically revictimized individuals, and protective tools such as “trusted contacts” — and the limitations institutions may encounter when using them.

With over 30 years’ experience in the banking industry, Laurel currently serves as EVP, Chief Risk Officer for American Riviera Bank. She leads the Bank’s consumer compliance and anti-money laundering/financial crimes divisions, and oversees the Human Resources, Marketing and Product Management functions. Ms. Sykes has comprehensive executive-level experience in risk management, specializing in governance, internal audit, BSA/AML, compliance, CRA, financial privacy, fair lending, fraud management and elder financial abuse prevention, vendor management, business continuity planning, and human resources management. American Riviera Bank received a Community Commitment Award from the ABA in the Protecting Older Americans category in 2024, honoring the Bank’s financial elder abuse and fraud prevention program.

This virtual training is presented by Lifespan of Greater Rochester

When older adults face abuse or mistreatment, many seek support from their faith communities—places they trust for guidance, comfort, and care. This training equips clergy, lay leaders, and congregants with the tools to recognize signs of elder abuse, understand its impact, and respond with compassion and clarity.

Questions? Ask Rev. Susan M. Frawley - sfrawley@lifespanrochester.org. Need help registering? Ask Emily Rozek at 585-287-6444 or erozek@lifespanrochester.org

ASL interpreting available upon request. We kindly ask that those in need of interpretation register at least one week in advance. Contact hours for CEUs are available for LM- and LCSWs. Lifespan of Greater Rochester SW CPEis recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0089.

This Zoom workshop, presented by Lifespan of Greater Rochester, is geared towards professionals to raise awareness of ageism, understand its negative impacts, and explore effective strategies for creating more inclusive and age-friendly environments. *Social work CEUs available

Note: the workshop will be offered on 4 separate days, but attendees should just choose one.

Hosted by the Center for Healthier Communities at Dignity Health Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

This action-driven forum will spotlight how Enhanced Multidisciplinary Teams (E-MDTs) are strengthening collaboration, improving safety, and better supporting vulnerable adults, featuring an outstanding lineup of experts including Maureen Feldman; Lori Resnick (ONEgeneration); Darryl S. Neier (DLG Consulting); Andres Colmenares (211LA); Michelle Conover, Ph.D., QME (SoCal Neuropsychology); Lisa G. Furr (Lifespan/Upstate Elder Abuse Center); and Susan Strick, Esq. (Elder Abuse Prevention Program).

National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) Research to Practice (R2P) webinar.

Senate Bill (SB) 21-118 authorized an Alternative Response (AR) pilot within the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Adult Protective Services (APS). This pilot creates a dual-track model for tailoring APS response to risk level. Allegations of low-risk mistreatment and self-neglect are tracked to AR and higher-risk allegations are tracked to Traditional Response. The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver serves as the independent evaluator for the legislatively required outcomes study. The goal of the study was to understand the effectiveness of AR and inform the future of this practice model. This webinar will review the evidence building approach for AR and present select reach, implementation, and impact outcomes for a 2-year study period (January 2023 through December 2024). Participants will discuss ways to translate AR pilot learnings into implementation and policy action in their locale, to advance best practices in APS through a data-informed lens.  

Presenters: Courtney L. Everson, PhD is the Senior Project Director of the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver. Stefanie Woodard is the State Director of Colorado’s APS Program, in partnership with 60 county APS programs.

This Elder Justice Initiative (EJI) webinar will discuss the findings from the 2025 National Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Listening Sessions and the 2025 National Elder Abuse MDT Needs Assessment Survey. Key takeaways from both reports will be presented, and the audience will be engaged to provide feedback on the findings and refine and prioritize planned educational offerings and materials. In addition to highlighting MDT needs, there will be a discussion about promising practices and novel ideas that teams currently employ to meet their clients’ unique needs.

Presenter: Talitha Guinn-Shaver is the executive director of ReGenerations Aging Services and serves as the MDT technical advisor for the Elder Justice Initiative at the U.S. Department of Justice. Her experience with MDTs includes her prior role as director of the Elder Abuse Prevention Program at the Institute on Aging, where she served as the director of the San Francisco Elder Abuse Forensic Center and chair of the San Francisco Elder Abuse MDT. She has also participated in other MDT models, including serving on the San Francisco Elder Death Review Team and the Hoarding and Cluttering Task Force. She has also proudly assisted the National Center on Elder Abuse with elder abuse projects as a consultant and has collaborated with the New York City Elder Abuse Center.

Identity theft can happen to anyone, and every year it’s one of the top problems reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This Identity Theft Awareness Week, join the ABA Foundation and experts from the FTC for a one-hour webinar to learn more about free tools you can use to help your customers spot, avoid, and recover from identity theft. 

The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) Monthly National Scam Advice Forum

Join for a webinar exploring why some older adults are more vulnerable to poor financial decisions, scams, and exploitation. There are multiple reasons why certain older adults may become poorer decision makers and consequently more vulnerable to scam, fraud, and financial exploitation. This presentation will provide an overview of research focused on financial decision making in older age, which spans neuroimaging, behavioral economics, cognitive neuroscience, and other empirical approaches.

Speaker: Duke Han, PhD, is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and tenured Professor of Psychology, Family Medicine, Neurology, and Gerontology at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on cognition and decision making in aging, with particular attention to factors that increase vulnerability to financial exploitation and dementia-related risk. Dr. Han directs an NIH-funded research program integrating neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience, and behavioral economics, and holds leadership roles with the USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and several national and international research initiatives. He is Editor-in-Chief of The Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and a recipient of the prestigious Paul B. Beeson Career Development Award from the National Institute on Aging.

This webinar is presented by the Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care, Jewish Federations of North America.

During this webinar, the Center will present findings from the most recent National Study. Conducted every five years, this study explores the capacity of aging service organizations to support individuals with a history of adverse experiences with the PCTI approach. These results shape national conversations on how to improve our nation’s aging services so that we can all achieve healthy aging. Ahead of the webinar, a full report, executive summary, and infographic will be released.

Please join the National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions (NCSTEJC) for this webinar presented by Anna Thomas, on how public benefits intended to support older adults can become targets for exploitation.

Public benefits are meant to provide stability and dignity for those who need them. But for some older adults, their government funds become tools of exploitation. This session explores real-world examples of benefits trafficking, identifies red flags across sectors, and offers practical strategies for coalitions to strengthen cross-system response and accountability.

The New York State Family Court is a crucial resource for victims of domestic violence seeking civil orders of protection, child custody, and financial support. Most family court litigants file pro se petitions without legal guidance, relying on petition forms promulgated by the NYS Unified Court System. Victims may receive limited information from non-attorney advocates stationed in the courthouse, including support during the ex parte hearing process, and often succeed in obtaining a temporary order of protection. Unfortunately, the reprieve offered by such temporary orders is often brief, and pro se petitions frequently fail to establish the foundation necessary for long-term success in litigation. Practitioners must, therefore, promptly review and amend pro se petitions.

This webinar covers topics including: Family Offense Basics: who has standing; what is a family offense; why you should file; Temporary Orders of Protections: Stay Away versus Refrain from Provisions; Emergency Custody Petition Pit Falls.

Despite the legislative requirement that judges consider the impact of domestic violence on custody decisions, “willingness to foster a relationship” between the child and other parent has effectively become a super-factor forcing domestic violence victims to somehow demonstrate a willingness to foster a relationship between the child and the other parent without minimizing the abuse.

Presenter: Jennifer L. Storm, Esq., Deputy Legal Director, The Legal Project

A hearing on elder fraud by The US Senate Special Committee on Aging, broadcast via video. See the link below to connect live.

Witnesses: Nathan Picarsic (Senior Fellow, The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Washington, DC); Kathy Stokes (Senior Director, Fraud Prevention Programs, AARP, Washington, DC); Jacqueline Burns Koven (Head of Cyber Threat Intelligence, Chainalysis, New York, NY) and Seto Bagdoyan (Director, Audit Services, Forensic Audits & Investigative Service, Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC)

The Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) will present this online Expert Q&A discussion with Anastasiya Bolton and Krista R. Flannigan, J.D.

Victim service providers often feel ill equipped to effectively manage crisis communications and unleash the power of social media, while also maintaining the privacy and dignity of victims. Do you have questions about how to communicate effectively during a crisis and develop crisis plans? Do you want to learn how to leverage social media ethically to both advance your agency's mission and support and advocate for victims? Then join for this interactive Expert Q&A webinar! This webinar is ideal for professionals working in victim services, including social workers, counselors, law enforcement officers, and communication specialists, as well as anyone involved in crisis management and public relations within victim service organizations

Presented by the New York State Caregiving and Respite Coalition NYSCRC), this is part 1 of a 4-part webinar series: Understanding Aging & Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD), empowering caregivers with essential insights and resources for their journey with loved ones who have IDD.

The term “dementia” is used to describe a group of symptoms indicating a change in how someone thinks, behaves, and/or performs routine tasks or self-care. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) may present symptoms of dementia differently than the general population. This webinar will review the different types of dementia as well as symptoms and risk factors for adults with IDD. Discussion will also include how to support adults with IDD through these changes.

Hosted by: Laura Robinson, Program Coordinator, Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Third Age Committee

Upstate Elder Abuse Center (UpEAC) at Lifespan’s NYS E-MDT Initiative Webinar Series

Scams and frauds are prevalent, robbing older adults of millions of dollars each year. Recognizing this, Lifespan’s NYS E-MDT Initiative added a new position to assist with both education and case consultations for our teams. Please join us as Amanda, who has wholeheartedly embraced this new position of E-MDT Scam Prevention Coordinator, explains: 1) Ways that funds are typically sent during scam crimes 2) Types of transactions that may occur as these crimes unfold 3) Use of technology as a weapon to facilitate financial crimes

Presenter: Amanda Irons-Rindfleish, MBA, M.S. Criminal Justice Administration E-MDT Scam Prevention Coordinator Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan

A virtual training from the NYS Department of Health, co-sponsored by the Finger Lakes Regional Training Center.

Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) is specifically designed to provide proactive violence prevention strategies for clinical, case management, and other human service and law enforcement staff who serve young adults and older adults with mental illness in community settings. The SAVE program promotes safe practice by teaching staff to identify warning signs of impending violence, and to utilize proven methods for approaching high-risk individuals in community settings.

Content will cover: Need for safety training; impact of violent incidents on providers, clients and others; risk factors for violence among mentally disordered individuals and general populations (interpersonal, institutional and physical plant/environmental); prediction of violence; tips on evaluating dangerousness; case-based scenarios with increased risk; team approach to safe practice; risk reduction (short staffing, high-risk situations); situational awareness models; linear aggression sequence; avoiding common pitfalls; teamwork, communication and practical support in crisis situations; safe transport, field work and home visit safety; self- defense techniques (hands-off approach); incident review and lessons learned (post-incident debriefing and mentorship/supervision).

Lifespan’s Gerontology Certificate Course, in partnership with the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center (FLGEC) at the University of Rochester

This 31-class, non-credit program is designed to deepen understanding of a wide range of age-related topics for professionals, older adults, care partners, and volunteers. Classes start January 14th and are offered weekly every Wednesday from 4-6:30 pm, via Zoom. They are taught by experts including University of Rochester faculty and other experienced specialists. You may take the whole course or unit(s) of interest. The target audience is anyone interested in furthering a career or gaining knowledge about aging and longevity.

More information (including course schedule, cost, CEUs and other FAQ) can be found on Lifespan’s website:

https://www.lifespan-roch.org/gerontology-certificate

Early bird registration ends December 29th.

In partnership with Lifespan of Greater Rochester, LiveOn NY is offering a FREE webinar series for aging service professionals.

As the number of people living with dementia continues to grow, it’s essential that our network of providers feels confident and prepared to offer meaningful support—both to individuals experiencing dementia and to the family and friend care partners who support them.

This workshop is designed to equip staff and program providers with the knowledge and practical strategies they need to respond with empathy, respect, and confidence when dementia becomes part of the picture. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of dementia and how it affects individuals; learn to recognize signs that someone may be experiencing cognitive changes; and receive guidance on how to approach individuals and/or their care partners to express concerns.

Speakers: Stephanie Montero, Community Liaison & Care Manager, Lifespan of Greater Rochester; Cassidy Macdonald, Education Coordinator, Lifespan of Greater Rochester; and Katy Allen, Division Leader, Caregiver Services, Director, Finger Lakes Caregiver Institute, Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc.

This Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) webinar is hosted by Angela Keen and Bridgette Butler.

Many victims of crime envision a more expansive definition of justice outside of the offender-focused criminal justice system we all know. This expansion of justice options can be found within the spectrum of restorative justice. This Vital Subjects webinar is designed to provide an overview of restorative justice practices and principles that can provide opportunities for victims' voices to be elevated and for offenders to learn more about the impact of the harm they have caused. 

The "Restorative Justice Expands Victim Choices and Elevates Victim Voices” webinar is part of the Vital Subjects series. This series will address topics that are critical to the victim services field across the country. 

Access to nutritious food is vital to maintain health in older age and to manage chronic conditions, which are more prevalent in aging populations. However, more than half of older New Yorkers struggle to access quality, affordable food. Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), congregate and home-delivered meals, and food pantries help older adults access the food they need, but recent federal budget changes threaten many of these programs.

Join experts as they discuss the findings from the New York Health Foundation’s newest report examining food insecurity among older adults in New York State. Learn about the experiences and challenges older adults face getting the food they need and the impacts of recent federal policy changes.

Speakers: Colleen Heflin (Professor and Author, Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs), Macie McGowan (Director of Kitchen Programs, FoodLink), Emilia Cobbs (Policy and Research Associate, NYHealth), Julia McCarthy (Senior Program Officer, NYHealth-moderator)

The Elder Abuse Prevention Certificate Course (EAPCC) is presented by the Upstate Elder Abuse Center (UpEAC) at Lifespan in partnership with the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center (FLGEC) at the University of Rochester.

This is a ten (10) class online course (20 hours) for professionals that takes a deeper dive into elder abuse topics, including legal aspects, challenges of underserved populations and legislation surrounding elder justice, to name a few. Participants are welcome to take all ten classes or attend just the ones of interest to them. UpEAC brings in professionals from other disciplines to share their knowledge.

This course is designed to equip professionals with: evidence-based approaches to identifying and responding to elder abuse; legal and ethical considerations in reporting and intervention; tools for cross-sector collaboration and advocacy; case studies and practical scenarios relevant to your field.

More information (including course schedule and descriptions, CEUs and cost) are on the Lifespan website -- Elder Abuse Prevention Certificate — Lifespan  

Early bird registration (20% off) is valid until Friday 12/5/2025. Classes start Tuesday 1/6/2026.

Join virtually to discuss books and share ideas 3-4 times yearly. Members of the Elder Justice Community are welcome. Co-presented by the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)and National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) Research to Practice (R2P) Interest Group.

Book title: The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

Please contact elaine.chen@med.usc.edu if you have any questions about the book club. 

Join the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault for an in-depth workshop on the purpose and collection of sexual assault forensic exams. This workshop is intended for anybody who works with survivors of sexual violence and/or community members who would like more information on the resources available to survivors in a hospital setting. This workshop will cover: the components of a forensic exam and a drug-facilitated sexual assault forensic exam, the role of an advocate, the New York State Sexual Assault Survivor Bill of Rights, and the options that survivors have for reporting, getting kits tested, and accessing support resources.

By the end of the training, participants will be able to: -Provide accurate, trauma-informed information to survivors or community members about what to expect during a hospital visit following a sexual assault. -Communicate survivors’ legal rights clearly, particularly those outlined in the New York State Survivors Bill of Rights. -Describe the handling, storage, and potential legal implications of sexual assault forensic exam kits. -Refer survivors to appropriate advocacy and healthcare resources in New York City and nationwide.

Join for an interactive virtual training designed specifically for aging service professionals working with older adults in community-based settings and programs.

In this session, we will explore the ethical principles of supporting older adults with mental health challenges. We will examine ageism, intersectionality and discrimination as they relate to the ethics of social work practice. We will discuss our collective ethical responsibility to the people we support, and examine how to apply ethical principles to set and maintain professional boundaries in our work.

Speaker: Alexandra Webb, LCSW, SVP for Training and Initiatives, Service Program for Older People

Upstate Elder Abuse Center (UpEAC) at Lifespan’s NYS E-MDT Initiative Webinar Series

Social connections that create a sense of caring, contributing, and community have a range of benefits for health and well-being at all ages and are especially important as we age. While most older people do not experience social isolation and loneliness, those who do are at risk for negative outcomes as they age, including lower quality of life and poor physical and mental health. They may also be more vulnerable to fraud, scams, and elder abuse. Social connection may help to mitigate these risks and improve quality of life.

In this presentation, Abigail Hoffman from the HOPE Lab at the University of Rochester will describe reasons why attending to one’s ‘social health’ is important and social connection is a form of medicine! She will discuss research on the links between SIL and vulnerability to financial scams, as well as evidence-based strategies to increase quantity and quality of social connections. She will also discuss our attitudes about ageing and how those shape how we engage with others as we age. She will share resources for increasing social connection and describe current research to increase social connection and well-being.

The National Adult Protective Services (NAPSA) Monthly Scam Advice Forum

Every day, countless fake websites mimic trusted banks, retailers, and organizations — fooling consumers and evading takedown efforts. But who’s really behind these scams, and why are they so hard to stop? Join for an eye-opening forum featuring Derek Smyth of Artists Against 419, a volunteer group dedicated to exposing fraudulent websites and supporting law enforcement. Derek will take us behind the scenes of online fraud, exploring how domain and hosting companies play a role and what’s being done to make the internet safer for everyone.

Description: Crooks use a variety of fake websites to further their frauds, often copying those of banks and other real companies. How often does this happen, and why aren’t these easily removed? What is the role of domain name companies and web hosting companies? Who is behind creating these sites?

Presenter: Derek Smyth from Artists Against 419. Derek joined them at the end of 2003 shortly after it was created as an anti-scam consumer activist group. Derek spends his free time wandering around on the internet in all the wrong places, trying to make sense of threats folks don't normally recognize. This information is shared with partner groups such as anti-virus vendors and law enforcement in an effort at making the internet a slightly safer place for consumers.