DPSS Annual Report 24_25 FLIP v16_compressed

Annual Symposium Strengthens Safety Net for Vulnerable Adults Adult Services Division

The Annual Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Symposium on June 5 drew more than 500 professionals united in their commitment to protecting vulnerable elders and dependent adults from harm. Designed to strengthen collaboration across the county’s safety net system, the event featured 24 breakout sessions led by experts in social services, law en forcement and medicine. Sessions tackled some of the most pressing issues facing professionals to day, including decision making capacity, documenting abuse, financial exploita tion and emerging fraud schemes. Key presenters included Barry Dewing, as sistant director of the DPSS Adult Ser vices Division; Dr. David Franklin, director of the Elder Abuse Forensic Center; and Maureen DuMouchel, managing depu ty district attorney. Each offered critical insights into the complex dynamics of elder and dependent adult abuse and the coordinated response required to address it. Participants engaged in deep-dive dis cussions and hands on workshops, gain

ing practical tools to strengthen both their professional practice and their abil ity to support clients. The symposium, held annually at the Riverside Convention Center, also serves as a powerful net working forum, connecting attendees from agencies across the county who share responsibility for frontline protec tion and advocacy. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 93 percent of participants rating the

symposium highly successful. Attend ees praised the relevance of the content, the expertise of presenters and the im mediate applicability of the resources provided. The symposium remains a central driver of the county’s efforts to equip professionals with the knowledge, skills and partnerships needed to safe guard elders and dependent adults and to build a safer, more responsive com munity for those most at risk.

Riverside County Department of Public Social Services | Annual Report 2024 - 2025

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