Department
Senior Services
Requested Action
title
Request approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Fulton County Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Enhanced Multidisciplinary Team (EMDT) on behalf of the Department of Senior Services and the Department of Emergency Management to participate in a multiagency, multi-partnered approach to assessment, investigation, prosecution, and review of abuse cases involving elder persons; authorize the Chairman or any other duly authorized official to execute the MOU on behalf of the department; and authorize the County Attorney to approve the standard form agreement as to form and substance and make necessary modifications thereof prior to execution.
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Requirement for Board Action
O.C.G.A. § 36-10-1 requires that all official contracts entered into by the County governing authority with other persons on behalf of the County shall be in writing and entered on its minutes.
Strategic Priority Area related to this item
Health and Human Services
Commission Districts Affected
All Districts ☒
District 1 ☐
District 2 ☐
District 3 ☐
District 4 ☐
District 5 ☐
District 6 ☐
Is this a purchasing item?
No
Summary & Background:
The Fulton County EMDT MOU is a formal agreement between different multiple agencies and departments who collaborate to provide coordinated care and services to older adults. The Department of Senior Services is the county-based agency that provides home and community-based services to older adults residing in Fulton County. Employees of the Senior Services Department are mandated reporters. The Department of Emergency Management oversees Fulton County Animal Control, managed by LifeLine Animal Project, which responds to reports of animal cruelty. Cases of animal cruelty frequently correlate with reports of elder abuse. Employees of the Emergency Management Department are also mandatory reporters.
Scope of Work: The MOU outlines the intentions, roles, and responsibilities of the parties involved. The Fulton County EMDT was founded in the State of Georgia pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 30-5-11. The purpose is to bring together prosecutors, law enforcement, governmental, regulatory, nonprofit, and social service organizations who assist, serve, investigate, or enforce state and federal laws with respect to the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of in cases of elder persons. The Senior Services and Emergency Management Departments’ role in the Fulton County EMDT is to 1) Increase awareness of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation and 2) Connect elder persons who have been victimized with supportive resources to aid in recovery and prevent future victimization.
Community Impact: The intent of the Fulton County EMDT is to impact the condition or experience of older adults facing abuse, neglect or exploitation. The Fulton County EMDT is designed to enhance knowledge, response and coordination of multidisciplinary teams involved and wholistically provide support and resources to the community.
Department Recommendation: The Department of Senior Services and the Department of Emergency Management recommend approval of this item.
Project Implications: N/A
Community Issues/Concerns: Seniors face the greatest risk of fraud and various forms of threats including cybersecurity attacks. The community is concerned about this issue and ever-evolving scams threatening older adults.
Department Issues/Concerns: The Departments are concerned about persistent threats targeting Fulton County’s aging population and desire to work across agencies to address these concerns.
Contract Modification: N/A
Exhibits Attached
1. EMDT MOU
Contact Information
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Ladisa Onyiliogwu, Director, Department of Senior Services, 404-281-4042
Joseph Barasoain, Director, Department of Emergency Management, 404-612-5660
Fiscal Impact / Funding Source: n/a (Fiscally Neutral)