Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elder Abuse Reporting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Burns resident urges Harney County to bolster elder-abuse reporting and mandatory-reporter training
Summary
During public comment, Mister Smallwood urged county officials to ensure mandatory reporters are informed and to distribute state guidance on elder abuse (ORS 124.050 and related ORS sections); the court agreed it can add the material to department-head staff meetings.
Mister Smallwood addressed Harney County Court during the public-comment period on Nov. 18 to urge vigilance and broader training on reporting elder abuse and abuse of people with disabilities. He distributed materials, including an Oregon Department of Human Services pamphlet titled Reporting Abuse of Older Adults and People with Physical Disabilities and a copy of the Oregon Municipal Handbook on Abuse Reporting, and recited statutory citations that define mandatory-reporting responsibilities.
Smallwood told the court the state hotline number in the materials can be used to report suspected abuse confidentially and encouraged county employees and the public to report even small suspected concerns. He referenced legislative definitions, including ORS 124.050 and material from the ORS 410 series, to explain who is a mandatory reporter and which populations (those 65 or older, children under 18, and people with physical disabilities) are covered.
Commissioners and staff said the county follows state statute and agreed staff meetings and department-head briefings are appropriate venues to distribute the materials and refresh employees on reporting obligations. "There's definitely nothing confidential in this...communication plan," one county speaker said of outreach materials; staff offered to make copies and provide training at a department-head meeting.
Why it matters: clarifying mandatory-reporting duties and distributing state guidance affects public employees' legal obligations and the county's ability to identify and respond to elder abuse. The court agreed to circulate materials down through department heads and incorporate the topic into staff meetings.
Next step: county staff will add elder-abuse reporting materials to a future department-head meeting and distribute copies to department heads for sharing with employees.
