requires further analysis*

Recommendations 3

• R1
  Supervisors should establish a one-year independent, volunteer commission, consisting of private citizens (including members of various oversight committees), to conduct a comprehensive study of the effectiveness of elder abuse resources in Orange County focusing on the following: Α. The prevalence of elder abuse and the probable increase in the future; В. The efficacy of individual county agencies and departments; C. Interactions with Orange County agencies/departments and non-profit organizations that provide senior resources; The availability of outreach and communication to citizens concerning D. elder abuse; Ε. The procedures of law enforcement agencies to investigate reports of abuse; and The procedures used by the District Attorney's office to determine F. prosecution. Original Response: The recommendation requires further analysis. There are currently four groups that deal with and study aging issues within Orange County. These include the Office on Aging, APS, the Grand Jury and the Board of Supervisors. The Orange County Office on Aging serves as the lead advocate, planner and facilitator relative to all aging issues on behalf of all older persons in Orange County. As an advocate, the Office on Aging is responsible for understanding the needs of Orange County's older adults and utilizing the federal funding and programs available to meet those requirements. In addition, the Office on Aging is charged with directing or participating in coalitions to drive new ideas, services, and legislation in support of Older Adults. Finally, Office on Aging takes a proactive view and helps those in the senior services industry, public and private, plan for future needs. APS is directed towards preventing or remedying neglect, abuse or exploitation of adults who are unable to protect their own interests because of age or disability. APS provides services without regard to income or resources. Each report of elder abuse is assigned to a Senior Social Worker for investigation and case planning. The assigned social worker attempts to have a private face-to- face meeting with the victim within 10 calendar days of the report. The Grand Jury is composed of members of the public who serve for a term of one year. The Grand Jury has civil, or "watchdog" responsibilities which include the examination of all aspects of county government, including special districts, to ensure the county is being governed honestly and efficiently. The Board of 2011-12 Follow Up to Grand Jury Open Implementation Items Supervisors is composed of 5 elected officials and has oversight over the operations of the County Departments. An evaluation will be conducted to determine the need for a volunteer commission to study the effectiveness of elder abuse resources over the next 90 days. Current Status: The recommendation continues to require further analysis. Additional time is necessary to evaluate what appropriate action should be and to coordinate any action with existing community and local resources.
• R2
  Direct Performance Audit to Evaluate Effectiveness: By October 1, 2012, the Board of Supervisors should direct the Office of the Performance Audit Director to evaluate Adult Protective Services, The Office on Aging, Adult Mental Health Services and The Public Guardian. The evaluation would determine their individual effectiveness; assess their coordination and communication; and discover any overlap in services among them. Original Response: The recommendation requires further analysis. The Office of the Performance Audit Director works for and reports directly to the Board of Supervisors. As such, staff are representatives of the Board and pursue work only if it is assigned by the Board. Work is assigned to the Office of the Performance Audit Director by Board approval of a slate of audit assignments as part of a periodic work plan, or by Board approval of ad-hoc audit/advisory assignments. Recognizing that issues arise intermittently during the course of normal County operations, the Office of the Performance Audit Director developed and the Board approved a formal ad-hoc audit/advisory assignment policy and procedure for the approval of audits not included within the initial Audit Work Plan. The department's ability to conduct department performance audits has been reduced significantly due to ongoing budget constraints and limited staffing, allowing the Office of the Performance Audit Director to work on only one audit at a time. The evaluation of APS, The Office on Aging, Adult Mental Health Services and The OC Public Guardian is not included in the current Audit Work Plan approved by the Board. Should the Board decide to pursue this evaluation, the Board may either choose to add the evaluation as an ad-hoc audit assignment or direct the Office of the Performance Audit Director to include a performance audit of the County's efficiency/effectiveness in dealing with Elder Abuse in the next annual Performance Audit Work Plan. The audit will identify which County departments are involved in this issue, evaluate the quality of services provided on this issue by these departments, identify any duplications of effort, and make necessary recommendations to improve the County's service delivery in these areas. 2011-12 Follow Up to Grand Jury Open Implementation Items Current Status: Currently, the Office of the Performance Audit Director has not been directed to conduct an evaluation of Adult Protective Services, The Office on Aging, Adult Mental Health Services and The Public Guardian either as an ad- hoc audit/advisory assignment or as part of its annual work plan. The next work plan will include this recommendation as part of the county-wide risk analysis for Board review.
• R3
  Direct Information Technology Department to Evaluate Computer System: By October 1, 2012, the County Executive Officer should direct the Information Technology Department to evaluate the computer system of The Public Administrator/Public Guardian to insure that this agency has a full capacity to report, coordinate and monitor elder abuse. Original Response: The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future. County Executive Office/Information Technology along with OC Public Guardian are currently reviewing the business processes in order to conduct a Request for Proposal to be released in February 2013 for replacement of the current OC Public Guardian computer system. The current system does not identify referrals by category, and elder abuse referrals are identified manually by the one Supervising Deputy Public Guardian receiving and reviewing all probate conservatorship referrals. Automation of this capability would be a requirement in the new system. The new OC Public Guardian computer system should be implemented by June 2014. Current Status: County Executive Office/Information Technology along with OC Public Guardian have completed the business process review and released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify and select a system to replace the current OC Public Guardian system. The RFP bid process will close approximately February 14, 2013 and system selection process will follow. System selection will be done by June 2013 pending budget and Board of Supervisor approval. Report: Orange County Detention Facilities: Part I – Adult and Part II - Juvenile Released: June 20, 2012