Foundation News


Media Contact: Aimee Leeper, Marketing & Communications  |  (901) 529-4783  |  [email protected]

January 13, 2021

SHCPF Impact Report 2021 online

2020 – a year that we will never forget. The impact this year has made on all of us will be long lasting. Moreover, the impact on seniors has been unequaled. Thank you for your support of our mission to protect seniors, especially now.

Our mission is to provide safe and secure living environments for residents of senior care facilities. As you will see, our bank partners are protecting thousands of senior housing residents nationwide by funding our proven elder abuse and crime prevention programs – and we are so grateful for your support.

In this report, we share how banks protect low- to moderate-income seniors and earn CRA credit by supporting our turnkey programs. We are excited about the launch of two new programs – Senior Secure and Senior Sentry, in addition to our flagship program – Senior Crimestoppers. All these programs advance our mission of protecting seniors and helping banks earn CRA credit. In the ever-changing financial, healthcare and regulatory landscape, it is truly an exciting time.

It is a privilege to work with such a hard-working, enthusiastic staff and board of directors who are passionate about our mission of protecting seniors. Furthermore, I’d like to thank our network of partners—banks, bankers associations, and healthcare associations—across the country that are dedicated to enriching their communities. Our work would not be possible without you, so I extend my deepest appreciation to you in your support of our mission.

David Lenoir
President & CEO

October 1, 2020

Banks all across the US, are making a real difference in the lives of senior citizens confined to nursing facilities and veterans’ homes. We all know how hard residents of senior homes have been impacted by the pandemic. As all resources are stretched thin to protect the most vulnerable among us, senior facility directors can use all the help they can get to ensure the safety and comfort of those they care for. It has become increasingly difficult to keep spirits up while visitation is restricted. That is a niche that community banks are filling by sponsoring programs put forth by the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation.

When banks participate in foundation programs like Senior CrimestoppersTM, Senior SecureTM, and Senior SentryTM, everyone benefits. The seniors of course get all the various the safety and security components that increase their well-being, among them education on financial abuse prevention, while banks earn CRA credit. But especially as senior homes face unprecedented challenges, the Wish Comes True grants included with a bank’s sponsorship of Senior CrimestoppersTM have become especially valuable.

As part of a bank’s sponsorship of a facility, the Foundation makes an annual grant for the facility to use on a “Wish”. Wishes that have been fulfilled in the past were typically for fun things like a piano for a recreation room, or to take residents on outings to places like the zoo or the ballpark. We are seeing a new trend now where facilities are using these grants to deal with the challenges presented by the pandemic. The fact is that at many facilities that serve those with low to moderate income, there often isn’t enough budget to absorb the increased costs associated with fighting Covid-19.

Here is a representative list of how many facilities are using the funds to supplement their budget for hard to get essentials:

  • Supplementing PPE for staff and masks for residents
  • Proving individual cleaning and sanitation supplies for each resident’s room
  • Supplementing purchases for those on food stamps for uncovered items like toiletries and even pet food

And here is how some have gotten creative in order to fight the isolation experienced through months under quarantine:

  • Recognition event for Certified Nursing Assistants
  • iPad purchases and other video streaming equipment so residents can visit online with loved ones
  • Purchase of robotic pets for patients in memory care
  • Acquisition of new puzzles, games, etc. to occupy residents
  • Reading material and stationary for residents
  • Patio furniture so residents can have socially distant, outdoor BBQ activities

As banks are looking for ways to extend additional support and care for the communities they serve, working with the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation along with CRA Partners is a fantastic option to make an immediate impact in your community where it is most needed.

September 3, 2020

We are delighted to welcome our newest Senior Crimestoppers Field Rep, Rich Widerynski. He will be serving senior housing and healthcare facilities in Southern California, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona.

Rich has 20+ years within the nursing home administration business and has worked closely with the California Healthcare Association. He comes to us with experience in a variety of management positions in the acute care setting before beginning his 23-year career as a nursing home administrator in the Los Angeles area. Rich has held positions in clinical patient care, consulting, mental health services, disaster preparedness and management, and brings a deep understanding of the challenges facing the skilled nursing center profession. He has built and led effective teams and has worked to motivate people in challenging work environments while always focusing on improving patient care.

Rich received his Masters of Social Work from West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia and a Masters in Health Care Administration from California State University in Long Beach, California. A lifelong learner and avid reader, Rich lives in Long Beach, CA with his wife, 2 German shepherd females and his Siamese cat, Cleo. Cleo is the only girl in the house that really listens to him.

Welcome Rich! We are excited to have you as a part of our team!

 

August 13, 2020

Here we share with you .pdf files for download that senior facilities can print out and use as placemats or handouts with their residents on a variety of topics that will help prevent seniors from becoming victims of fraud.

Grandparent Scam

IRS Scam

Romance Scams

Charity Scams

Mail Fraud Alert

Medicare ID Fraud

July 10, 2020

In our inauguaral episode, host Ron Brooks, CRA Partners Vice President, Midwestern Region, interviews Brian Waters & Ben Loehle, Co-Founders of findCRA and discusses how their business came about, how they provide data and info to community bankers for managing CRA efforts, and CRA modernization.

Listen here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1211591/4515032-july-2020-brian-waters-ben-loehle-co-founders-of-findcra

 

July 9, 2020

(Springfield, IL) July 9, 2020 – Today, Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI), through its business services subsidiary Community BancService Corporation, Inc (CBSC), just announced its endorsement of CRA Partners as a means to help reduce incidents of crime in area nursing homes, while offering banks the opportunity to earn CRA credit. CRA Partners is a subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).

The Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation is a 501(c)(3), established in 2000 as a way for banks to earn Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) credit through CRA-qualified loans and investments. The structure of the SHCPF opens a segment of society to service by banks – the residents, family members and staff of nursing homes and senior HUD housing properties. Supporting low-to-moderate income Senior housing residents is an approved CRA activity designated by the federal regulatory agencies, allowing banks to receive CRA credit for supporting Foundation programs in nursing homes, HUD senior housing projects and the nation’s Veterans Nursing Homes. The focus of the SHCPF is to reduce all aspects of crime and provide ongoing, effective crime prevention programs that ensure a safe and secure environment for the residents of senior housing. In part, this is accomplished through the installation of the Senior Crime Stoppers Program.

“It’s fitting that Illinois banks be the leaders in this initiative to make a difference in the quality of life for nursing home residents, particularly in light of the economic impact the age 50+ group – the group with parents and grandparents in these facilities – has on society,” according to Shawn Davis, President, CNB Bank & Trust, N.A., and CBSC Board Chairman. “In doing so, our community bankers will demonstrate their understanding, sensitivity, and responsiveness to issues affecting this large and important group in our state. We invite and encourage all member banks to be a part of this initiative.”

“It’s a win-win proposition for everyone,” said CRA Partners CEO David Lenoir. “The banks receive a return on their investment while helping nursing home, HUD housing residents and elderly veterans live in safe, crime free environments. “

“My experience with this organization during the last several years has been wonderful. I especially enjoy our visits to the senior homes and witnessing the smiling faces of the residents.” John Eilering, President, Mount Prospect Bank, Glenview, IL (A branch of Glenview State Bank).

For more information about the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation or to enroll in the program, visit www.SHCPFoundation.org or contact Ron Brooks at the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation at (901) 500-7538.

June 15, 2020

Thanks to First Columbia Bank & Trust Co, the residents of the Emmanuel Center for Nursing & Rehab in Danville, Pennsylvania will live in a safer and even more secure environment. The bank recently joined with CRA Partners to help vulnerable seniors by funding the Senior Crimestoppers program to protect those who live and work in this local senior care facility.

CRA Partners, powered by the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation, is a national organization that guarantees banks federally mandated CRA credit through the operation of the turn-key Senior Crimestoppers program providing safe and secure living environments for our nation’s low to moderate income seniors. Through flexible funding options such as CRA- qualified community development loans, investments or grants, banks provide the program in senior housing facilities, HUD communities and state Veterans homes while garnering positive public relations exposure in their communities.

Crime against the elderly in our society is a longstanding, constant battle that can be reduced and prevented through the operation of the Senior Crimestoppers program in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Senior Crimestoppers is a coordinated set of components that work together to create a zero tolerance to crime platform in senior housing facilities. Components include cash rewards up to $1,000 paid anonymously for information about wrongdoing of any kind, personal lockboxes for the residents, and effective, on-going education and training for staff members and residents. Senior Crimestoppers has reduced all aspects of crime in participating facilities by 95%.

“Senior Crimestoppers is a way for an administrator to further enhance the lives of the residents they serve. They all work very hard to provide safe, secure, comfortable living environments and their desire to implement the program is just one more example of this. Implementing this program does not mean that the facility currently has a crime problem, but that the administrator is proactively finding a way to keep problems from occurring in the future,” said Terry Rooker, president of Senior Crimestoppers.

Lance Diehl, First Columbia President & CEO, offers additional perspective, “As a bank, we know firsthand the importance of ensuring the safety of consumers’ money and valuables. The physical lockboxes will provide residents of Emmanuel with even more security, and safety will be further enhanced with the additional education and information provided to residents, their loved ones, and employees. Helping everyone learn what to be on the lookout for in terms of scams and wrongdoing is essential and can stop potential crime before it occurs.”

About First Columbia Bank & Trust Co.

First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. has been a local community bank for more than 120 years. With $738.3 million in assets as of March 31, 2020, First Columbia offers a full complement of banking and financial services to individuals and businesses throughout Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland Counties and the surrounding area. The locally owned and managed bank operates fourteen branch offices in the communities of Benton, Berwick, Bloomsburg, Buckhorn, Catawissa, Danville, Elysburg, Lightstreet, Orangeville, Millville, and Scott Township. Member FDIC

 

About the Senior Crimestoppers program

CRA Partners and Senior Crimestoppers are operated by the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation (SHCPF), headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. The SHCPF mission is to provide protection and an enhanced quality of life for vulnerable senior housing residents through meaningful turnkey CRA compliance for community focused banks. Funded exclusively by the banking industry and endorsed by the ICBA and over 30 state bankers associations, the Foundation has developed a low-risk, profitable solution — CRA Partners — for banks of all asset sizes and charter types – to fulfill their federally mandated Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements in the form of qualified loans, investments or grants through the operation of the nationally acclaimed Senior Crimestoppers program. For more information about Senior Crimestoppers, visit SeniorCrimestoppers.org or call 800-529-9096.

 

May 27, 2020

The Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation (SHCPF) today announced that Community Capital Management, Inc. (CCM), a leading impact and CRA investment firm, has committed $100,000 to SHCPF to support senior housing facilities with COVID-19 relief efforts in South Florida; Boston, MA; and Bergen County, NJ.

David Lenoir, SHCPF president & CEO said, “We are incredibly grateful to CCM for their generosity at this critical time. The senior housing facilities that we serve need help more than ever with the elderly being disproportionately affected by COVID-19.”

One of the immediate ways senior facilities will benefit from this funding is the rapid, remote deployment of Senior SentryTM online video training. The training educates healthcare staff and caregivers on ways to protect seniors from online scammers and fraud like many that have arisen as a result of COVID-19. Other ways senior facilities will benefit from funding include purchases of PPE, cleaning, and sanitary supplies, as well as items like toilet paper, shampoo, pet food and other necessities that food stamps do not cover. Some facilities are even purchasing ipads so that residents can remain connected to loved ones while visitation is restricted.

“CCM has worked with SHCPF for nearly 10 years and their support and expertise in helping seniors is unparalleled,” said Alyssa Greenspan, president and COO of CCM. “In looking at ways our organization could support seniors with COVID-19 relief efforts, we knew that SHCPF would be a perfect partner and we are honored to be able to support their initiatives in helping the elderly.”

“The facilities in our program are facing unprecedented challenges, but the response from the banking and financial communities has been amazing,” said Terry Rooker, president of Senior Crimestoppers. “Community banks have pulled together in order to help our neighbors and our banking industry partners are leading the way and showing us all how to be good neighbors in response to the COVID-19 crisis.”

“This program is absolutely amazing and we feel grateful and honored to be part of the initiative” said Jeremy Frehner, administrator at Seasons Health & Rehabilitation in St. George, UT. “Our seniors are our top priority and we need to ensure they are well-cared for during this time of crisis.”

Learn more at: https://www.seniorcrimestoppers.org/how-to-help-local-seniors-fight-covid-19-virus-scams/

*****

CRA Partners and Senior Crimestoppers are operated by the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation (SHCPF), headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.  For two decades, the SHCPF mission is to provide protection and an enhanced quality of life for vulnerable senior housing residents through meaningful, turnkey CRA compliance for community focused banks, nationwide.

Funded by the banking industry and endorsed by the ICBA and over 30 state bankers associations, the Foundation has developed a low-risk, profitable solution — CRA Partners — for banks of all asset sizes and charter types – to fulfill their federally mandated Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements in the form of qualified loans, investments or grants through the operation of nationally acclaimed elder abuse and crime prevention programs. For more information, visit shcpfoundation.org or call 800-529-9096.

*****

Community Capital Management, Inc.

Community Capital Management, Inc. (CCM) is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale with employees in Boston, Charlotte, the New York City area, and Southern California, CCM was founded in 1998 and manages approximately $2.8 billion in assets.  The firm believes a fully integrated portfolio – one that includes environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors – can deliver strong financial performance while simultaneously having positive long-term economic and sustainable impact.  For more information, please visit: www.ccminvests.com.

April 27, 2020

From: https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Fraud Alert: Be aware that criminals are attempting to exploit COVID-19 worldwide through a variety of scams.

  • Be cautious of unsolicited healthcare fraud schemes of testing and treatment through emails, phone calls, or in person.  The U.S. have medical professionals and scientist working hard to find a cure, approved treatment, and vaccine for COVID-19. Learn more about what to avoid
  • Be the lookout for an increase in cryptocurrency fraud schemes including but not limited to blackmail attempts, work from home scams, paying for non-existent treatments or equipment, or investment scams. Read more on how to report these scams
  • Be wary of unsolicited telephone calls and e-mails from individuals claiming to be IRS and Treasury employees.  Remember IRS first form of communications is by mail – not by phone.  Learn more about fraudulent schemes related to IRS

Criminals will likely continue to use new methods to exploit COVID-19 worldwide. Stay alert and stay informed about common fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Find out more about types of scams.

If you think you are a victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving COVID-19, you can report it without leaving your home by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at [email protected]

April 7, 2020

Many thanks to the South Dakota Bankers Association for coverage on this important topic in their April issue of SDBANKER. Read the article HERE about new tools that help to protect senior citizens from fraud, scams, and other types of abuse. This is especially timely in light of the many new scams targeting the elderly with fraudulent testing and treatments for COVID-19.