In a nationwide effort to end financial elder abuse, the Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime is promoting Santa Clara County's Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) as a model for the nation.

The Office for Victims of Crime will distribute a video profiling FAST to provide agencies nationwide with an instructional tool for ending the financial exploitation of the elderly.

FAST is a multidisciplinary collaboration of county agencies that has prevented the loss of or recovered more than $91 million in assets for the elderly in Santa Clara County since it was created in 1999.

Responding to the increasing number of financial abuse victims in Santa Clara County, the county's Department of Aging and Adult Services' Public Guardian and Adult Protective Services offices collaborated with the district attorney's office, county counsel and other law enforcement agencies to investigate cases of suspected financial abuse.

Organizations may obtain a copy of the FAST video by visiting the Office for Victims of Crime website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc.

Anyone suspecting abuse or neglect may call Adult Protective Services' 24-hour abuse reporting line at 800.414.2002.


County launches new 'life events' website

Santa Clara County has posted a new public portal at www.sccgov.org, a new "life events"­based website that connects visitors to information or services they need.

The group provides information for everyday life needs such as having a baby or caring for an elderly parent.

The six life-event groups are: county connection, living and working, health and human care, doing business, law and justice, and handling emergencies.