Be the Difference: Stop Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults

Melissa Elliott Related Seminars and Products

Area Agency on Aging

Melissa Elliott is an MSW who has worked with older adults for over 20 years in both social services and therapeutic recreation programming. She has been at the Area Agency on Aging, Region One in Phoenix for 16 years and is currently the Senior Vice-President of Programs & Services. Melissa was selected as a 2017 Virginia G. Piper fellow. She has been an adjunct faculty member in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University since 2011.

Caleb S Lihn Related Seminars and Products

Lihn Law Group

Caleb Lihn is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) focusing on elder law, estate planning, disability and special needs planning, and probate. Using his knowledge, empathy, and creative solutions, Caleb enjoys guiding his clients through complex issues.

Caleb is the Chair of Board of Directors for the Arizona Center for Disability Law and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (“NAELA”), where he also serves as a member of the NAELA Journal Editorial Board, the Bylaws Committee, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Caleb is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Western New England University, College of Law, and was asked to design and teach a law school course in Special Needs Trust Administration. Caleb is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner.

Molly McCarthy Related Seminars and Products

Assistant Director of the Division of Aging and Adult Services

Molly McCarthy, as Assistant Director of the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) since 2019, is responsible for program areas in Adult Protective Services, Aging and Disability Services, and the Refugee Resettlement. Molly joined DES in 2011 and has supported multiple programs in Financial Services and served as Deputy Assistant Director for the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS).

Her track record of continuous improvement while working in collaboration with internal and external partners has built programs ready to support the growing vulnerable populations we serve. She has led efforts to modernize investigation management systems, opportunities for automation, provide data transparency for public and internal management for data driven decision making, develop Academy style training for Investigators while integrating safety, expand coordination with partners on Aging and Refugee services, and continue work on client centered feedback driving change.

Molly received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Finance from the University of Arizona and a law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law. A third generation Arizona native, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three young children.

Rachael Marie Mitchell Related Seminars and Products

Lihn Law Group

Rachael Mitchell is an attorney at Lihn Law Group. She focuses her practice on elder law, including estate planning, probate and trust administration, guardianship, conservatorship, and special needs planning. Rachael graduated from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. During law school, Rachael participated in the American Bar Association’s Jurimetrics Journal, judicial and non-judicial externships, and served as President of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law’s Business Legal Assistance Program (BLAP). She presently serves as Chair of the State Bar of Arizona’s Elder Law, Mental Health and Special Needs Section and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Rachael is dedicated to advocating for the unique needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities. In her free time, you’ll find Rachael with her family, hiking, or horseback riding.

Mary Lynn Kasunic Related Seminars and Products

President & CEO of the Area Agency on Aging, Region One

Mary Lynn Kasunic, M.S., CPM is the President & CEO of the Area Agency on Aging, Region One since 1990. Under her leadership, the Agency provides over 50 programs and services to more than 100,000 Maricopa County residents each year. Mary Lynn has responded to the unmet needs of older adults, adults with disabilities and special populations by developing many innovative programs including ElderVention®, a licensed behavioral health program, and DOVES® for older victims of domestic violence and elder abuse. Mary Lynn serves on the USAging Board of Directors. She has received the Excellence in Leadership award from USAging and was selected for a Piper Fellowship for exemplary nonprofit leadership.

Joei O'Grady Related Seminars and Products

Bureau Chief of Adult Protective Services

DES

Joei O’Grady, Bureau Chief of Adult Protective Services, since 2022 and joined DES in 2007.

Joei has been working with various vulnerable populations for the past 25 years. While working with adults diagnosed as severely mentally ill (SMI) she created an innovative day program designed to increase social skills and self-care. Joei worked at the Department of Child Safety in Arizona working with families from investigations to management. She co-created, developed the first team designed to reduce caseload size. Currently, Joei has been managing Adult Protective Services that serves vulnerable adults over the age of 18 years. Working to improve outcomes and processes for vulnerable adults.

Joei graduated from Arizona State University and completed a program to become a Certified Public Manager.

Regan Smith Related Seminars and Products

Area Agency on Aging, Region One

Regan Smith has a master’s degree in social work and has been working with older adults and long-term care for 25 years. Regan is currently the director of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program with the Area Agency on Aging, Region One. She has been an Ombudsman for twenty-two years providing advocacy for residents in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in Arizona and previously in Michigan. Before her career as an Ombudsman, she also held social work positions in skilled nursing facilities. Regan believes in upholding the human and civil rights of residents in long-term care along with their quality of care and life. When she has a free moment, Regan enjoys reading, watching movies, running, and spending time with her friends and family.