Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups

Each week, INBusiness Magazine features a “Professional Profile of the Week” of an executive who has been recognized as a community and business leader in the greater Dane County Metro Area. This week’s In Business Professional Profile is a Question and Answer interview with CWAG’s President/Executive Director, A.J. Nino Amato. InBusiness Professional of the week – Nino Amato

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Save the date! CWAG’s 35th Annual Statewide Convention will be held on July 26 & 27, 2012 at the Holiday Inn in Steven’s Point WI. We have a great line up this year – hope to see you there!

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As the nation prepares to observe Elder Abuse Awareness Month in May, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today introduced legislation to help protect vulnerable seniors from financial scams. The Senior Financial Empowerment Act of 2012 (H.R. 4846) will help stop abusive mail, telemarketing and Internet fraud targeting seniors.

“I became aware of the seriousness and scope of fraud targeting seniors when I helped my own grandmother in her later years,” said Congresswoman Baldwin. “These crimes can have severe financial and emotional consequences for older Americans and their families. My bill will educate the public, seniors, their families, and their caregivers on how to identify and combat fraudulent activity,” Baldwin said.

Although it is difficult to estimate the prevalence of fraud targeting seniors due to severe under-reporting, millions of senior Americans have fallen victim to financial exploitation, including mail, telemarketing and Internet fraud.

The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) estimates that more than 38,000 seniors in Wisconsin were victims of financial exploitation in 2011. According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the most common category of consumer complaint last year was telemarketing and the fastest rising category was identity theft, which can involve telephone, mail or Internet fraud.

The daughter of one such victim contacted Congresswoman Baldwin, desperate to stop fraudulent calls to her mother. Nina Kurt of Dane, Wisconsin reported that her elderly mother in Waunakee had been convinced by one caller to write a $3,000 check.

Fortunately, Nina’s mother did not send that check, but the calls continued, some from as far away as Kingston, Jamaica. Nina believes that one aggressive scam artist sold her mother’s phone number to others.

“How many elders are out there being preyed on by these people?” Nina asked. “These people are ruthless…They don’t give up. They haunt them with their calls…I am told this is the type of harassment that elderly people have to put up with. Is there anything I can do to help make this stop?” Nina pleaded.

Baldwin’s bill would help put a stop to mail, Internet, and telemarketing scams like those targeted at Nina Kurt’s elderly mother.
The Senior Financial Empowerment Act of 2012: Creates a centralized service for consumer education on mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud targeting seniors; Authorizes the Attorney General to award competitive grants to carry out locally-focused mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud prevention and education programs for seniors; and Establishes a National Senior Fraud Awareness week to bring the issue to the public attention it warrants.

According to a 2009 report by the MetLife Mature Market Institute, the annual financial loss by victims of senior financial abuse is estimated to be at least $2.6 billion. In 2007, postal inspectors investigated almost 3,000 mail fraud cases in the U.S. and arrested more than 1,200 mail fraud suspects. Further, the FBI has confirmed that criminals are modifying their targeting techniques to include online scams such as “phishing” and e-mail spamming.

“Fraud targeting seniors, such as the ‘Grandma scam’, is particularly despicable,” said John Hendrick, Attorney, CWAG Elder Financial Empowerment Project. “The Senior Financial Empowerment Act would provide much needed help for Wisconsin’s older adults against the ever-changing variety of Internet, mail and telemarketing fraud. We applaud Congresswoman Baldwin’s work on this issue because we need the tools to stop this epidemic,” Hendrick said.

In a letter of support for the legislation, Robert Blancato, National Coordinator of the non-partisan, 705 member Elder Justice Coalition, called the bill a much-needed tool in the fight against elder abuse. A copy of that letter may be found here.

“Representative Baldwin is one of the foremost champions of elder justice in Congress,” said Blancato. “Financial abuse, including the newest form, Internet abuse, costs seniors billions a year and must be addressed. Enacting this bill is one key solution,” Blancato said.

In the last session of Congress, Baldwin’s Senior Financial Empowerment Act was passed by the House, but the Senate did not take it up.

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This unique collaboration aims to utilize the unique experiences and abilities of members to create a network of support for victims of identity theft. Banks and credit unions are the first line of defense in spotting identity theft and they can generate goodwill and prevent further losses by early detection. Social workers can spend the time to encourage reluctant victims to make police reports. First responders such as law enforcement can learn simple and helpful ways to respond to victims. CWAG will work with coalition members to create, enhance, and deliver victim assistance training to provide better coordinated responses to identity theft victims. WI ID Theft Coalition Press Conference from CWAGWisconsin on Vimeo.

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PRESS RELEASE – Tuesday, January 31, 2011

Thousands of seniors soon will pay higher property taxes according to a report released today by the Wisconsin Budget Project. The Homestead Credit, which puts money back into the pockets of low-income seniors and helps them stay in their homes, will shrink this year, because state legislators voted to stop adjusting the credit for inflation.

As a result, a senior relying on Social Security can expect his or her tax credit to drop by $209, or 28 percent over the next five years, according to the analysis. Other seniors will lose the tax credit altogether because their Social Security income will increase, but the income level that determines eligibility for the tax credit will be frozen.

Full Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2012
Contact: Lynn Becker or Dawn Schueller Phone: (202) 224-5653

Washington D.C. – The federal government today released $26,292,906 in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to Wisconsin, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced. The funding is part of more than $863 million released nationwide by the Administration. Senator Kohl has been a long time supporter of LIHEAP. This month, Kohl sent a letter, along with his colleagues, to the President urging him to maintain funding levels for this vital program.

“January and February in Wisconsin are often filled with snow, ice and cold. It is a miserable time of year for fixed-income senior citizens and low-income workers without the funds to provide their families with heat,” Kohl said. “This federal funding gives low income households the ability to pay their hearing bills and stay warm during the cold and bitter winters.”

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, LIHEAP assists low-income households, including families with children and seniors, with their home energy needs such as heating in the winter, cooling in the summer, and insulating their homes to make them more energy-efficient and to reduce their energy costs.

To find out more information about LIHEAP, residents can call 1-866-HEATWISC (432-8947)

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CWAG has 2 open positions we are looking to fill. If interested please submit your information to HR@cwag.org

DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AND PROGRAM SERVICES /ATTORNEY
The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG), a non-profit, statewide grassroots membership organization providing advocacy, education and leadership development for senior citizens, is looking for a full time DIRECTOR/ATTORNEY to assist us in advocating for the rights of seniors across the state of Wisconsin. We’re looking for a dedicated individual who has the passion and motivation to provide leadership for the Legal Services Department.
This position requires a law degree from an accredited law school, a license to practice law in Wisconsin, and minimum of five (5) years experience providing legal services to low-income clients, elder rights, supervision and grant management, or equivalent.
This position reports to the Executive Director and is responsible for service delivery and community education activities provided through the Legal Services Department. Responsibilities include: supervision of staff working in the legal services department and compliance with grant requirements relating to programs within the department. Oversee the ongoing operation of legal services and programs assisting older persons, their families and caregivers through the Elderly Benefit Specialist Program (in 65 counties), the Elder Financial Empowerment Project, the Guardianship Support Center, the Prescription Drug Helpline, the Senior Medicare Patrol, building a network in the aging community, working with volunteers and other projects as assigned. This position also serves on the CWAG Senior Management Team and coordinates legal and program services with other agency activities consistent with the CWAG mission.
Salary range: $55,000 to $65,000, plus a generous benefit package and flexible work schedule. The position involves some travel.

SMP INTAKE/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Statewide non-profit intergenerational advocacy organization seeks a highly motivated individual to provide research, complex analysis, and administrative support to Wisconsin SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) staff.
This is a program funded, 80% professional position @ $15.50 per hour/30 hours per week (6 hours per day-five days per week) with pro-rated benefits through September 29, 2012.
Primary duties include, but are not limited to, handling incoming and outgoing calls and emails that come into the Healthcare and Consumer fraud and abuse helpline; administering healthcare and consumer fraud complex cases; and managing a complex database in compliance with federal guidelines.
Additional duties include presenting healthcare and consumer fraud group education sessions: writing articles for the monthly Wisconsin SMP Fraud Alert newsletter; creating training materials on topics related to Healthcare and Consumer Fraud. Duties also include researching, writing, and completing grant reports and other assignments; maintaining electronic and hard-copy calendars, scheduling meetings, maintaining client and other agency files. Further duties include providing logistical support for outreach and education events such as senior expos and health fairs, SMP all-day trainings, group education sessions, presentations and trainings for Medicare beneficiaries and retired professionals; and assisting the Wisconsin SMP volunteer coordinator with a variety of tasks including outreach and other volunteer management activities.
Position involves flexibility, some travel, and is based in the Madison, Wisconsin office.
Qualifications:
Experience using Microsoft Office applications at an intermediate level; the ability to research and learn how to process and manage Healthcare and Consumer Fraud cases; the ability to manage community outreach events and do public speaking. Qualifications also include excellent oral and written communication skills, and the willingness to provide exceptional customer service.
Strong analytic skills and grant writing experience a plus.
Please send resume, writing sample, three references from former supervisors, and letter of intent (no later than the close of business on January 13th).

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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