Minnesotan readers will be interested to know that a new leader has been appointed to run the recently founded Office of Older Americans, which is part of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The purpose of the new federal agency is to prevent the financial exploitation of seniors, such as in cases of undue influence, coercion and self-dealing.
Former Minnesota attorney general Hubert H. “Skip” Humphrey, III, was recently appointed to head the Office of Older Americans. As attorney general, Humphrey gained key experience in consumer protection that will surely inform his decisions in protecting elders in Minnesota from scams and other threats to their financial stability. Most recently, Humphrey served as president and national board member of AARP.
For readers in the Twin Cities, there was a recent opportunity on Dec. 9 to hear “Skip” Humphrey speak at William Mitchell College of Law. During his visit to the college, he met with members of the Vulnerable Adult Justice Project, which is an organization of professionals who advocate on behalf of vulnerable adults and seniors in Minnesota.
The Vulnerable Adult Justice Project is located at the Center for Elder Justice and Policy at William Mitchell College. The project was founded in 2009 and is committed to refining resources and laws that provide protections for vulnerable adults. Working in educational, policy and legislative capacities, the group offers a forum for experts like Humphrey who advocate for adult Minnesotans who are especially vulnerable to financial exploitation. Also gathered for the meeting were professionals involved in public advocacy, elder and disability rights, healthcare, law enforcement and other government organizations.
While visiting the college, Humphrey laid out some plans for the new department. He also considered opinions and ideas regarding how Minnesotans involved in the Vulnerable Adult Justice Project can help national efforts to protect vulnerable seniors.
Source: William Mitchell College of Law, “Leader of new Office of Older Americans coming to Mitchell for ideas about how to protect vulnerable adults,” Dec. 8, 2011