'United As One' Conference to Benefit Vulnerable Adults

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- In fiscal year 2003, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Adult Protective Services Division investigated nearly 16,000 cases of adult abuse. That’s nearly equal to the population size of Alva, Perry, Arapaho, Boise City, Fairview and Arnett combined.
On April 22-23, OKDHS Adult Protective Services staff from 22 northwestern Oklahoma counties will join police officers, sheriff’s deputies, district attorneys and judges to do something extraordinary to help stem the tide of adult abuse…talk.

During the “United As One” Conference, to be held at the Autry Technology Center, located at 1201 W. Willow Rd., Enid, Adult Protective Services, law enforcement and court officials will come together to build a dialogue and share resources, best practices and war stories from the front lines of adult abuse.

Conference participants will hear from OKDHS Director Howard H. Hendrick, OKDHS APS Attorney Bonnie Clift, Fran Spain the former director of public relations for the Louisiana State Department of Education, Detective David B. Case of the Fresno, California Police Department and Paul Greenwood. Greenwood, a nationally recognized authority on adult abuse, serves as a Deputy District Attorney and leads the Elder Abuse Unit at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. Greenwood has been featured on NBC’s “Nightly News,” CBS’s “Eye on America” and BBC Television in London.

Commenting on Oklahoma’s efforts to stop adult abuse, Greenwood said, “In regards to California’s Adult Protective Services, Oklahoma is doing a fabulous job. It would take a lot to get us together like this in California.”

“A similar conference has been held in southeastern Oklahoma for the past two years,” said Billie J. Strait, Area I APS Liaison. “It has gone a long way to bring these different groups together by helping each understand the other’s role in protecting our elderly and disabled friends and neighbors. This conference is the first step in building a legal and social service infrastructure to protect the elderly and disabled and bring to justice those that would harm them.”

To report suspected abuse, contact the Adult Abuse Hotline at 1-800-522-3511, or, click on www.OKDHS.org/APS/.

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