COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, DETAILS ON THE STATE FAILING TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDS BEFORE THOSE FUNDS EXPIRED... ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT INCREASING CONCERNS OVER INCREASING INCIDENTS OF ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE... AND, UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY OF CENTRAL ARIZONA BREAKS GROUND O AN UPGRADE TO SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE DAY-OLD DEMOCRATIC TICKET O KAMALA HARRIS AND TIM WALZ MADE A CAMPAIGN STOP IN WISCONSIN TODAY.

THE EVENT WAS PART OF A WEEK-LONG TOUR OF SWING STATES, INCLUDING AN APPEARANCE FRIDAY EVENING HERE IN THE VALLEY.

NO WORD AS YET ON THE DETAILS OF THAT CAMPAIGN STOP.

WALZ TODAY EMPHASIZED HIS MILITARY RECORD DURING THE WISCONSIN APPEARANCE.S >> AT 17, I JOINED THE NATIONAL ARMY GUARD.

[ CHEERING ] FOR 24 YEARS I PROUDLY WORE THE UNIFORM OF THIS NATION.

[ CHEERING ] AND THAT SERVICE, JUST AS IT DID FOR MY DAD, A KOREAN WAR VETERAN, AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS, I GOT THE GI BILL, AND IT GAVE ME A SHOT AT A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

[ CHEERING ] >> WALZ LATER RECUSED J.D.

VANCE OF DUCKING SERVICE TO IRAQ.

VANCE WAS IN WISCONSIN TODAY, TOO, AND AFTER ATTACKING WALTZ' MILITARY RECORD, HE HAD THESE THOUGHTS.

.

>> I'M SCANDAL LEADS TO BY THIS GUY WHO PRETENDS HE WORKS FOR WORKING PEOPLE.

WORKING PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A BUSINESS AND KNOW THAT SOME LOCAL MAN ISN'T GOING TO COME ALONG AND BURN TO THE GROUND BECAUSE OF A LEGAL ISSUE.

WORKING PEOPLE NEED THE POLICE TO BE SUPPORTIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNOR WALZ HAS BEEN A FAILURE ON ALL THOSE THINGS.

>> AND DONALD TRUMP TODAY SAID THAT HE WAS, QUOTE, "THRILLED," THAT WALZ WAS CHOSEN AS KAMALA HARRIS'S RUNNING MATE.

TRUMP APPEARING ON FOX NEWS, SAID THAT HARRIS AND WALZ WANT THE COUNTRY TO, QUOTE, "GO COMMUNIST IMMEDIATELY, IF NOT SOONER."

ONE MORE HEADLINE, THREE TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERTS IN VIENNA HAVE BEEN CANCELLED AFTER AN ALLEGED TERROR PLOT WAS REPORTEDLY DISCOVERED.

THE ALLEGED PLOT ALSO INVOLVED OTHER MAJOR EVENTS IN THE AREA.

AUTHORITIES TODAY SAID THAT TWO SUSPECTED EXTREMISTS WERE ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO THE PLOT, WITH ONE OF THE SUSPECTS 19-YEAR-OLD AUSTRIAN CITIZEN BELIEVED TO HAVE PLEDGED AN OAT OF ALLEGIANCE TO ISIS AFTER HAVING BEEN RADICALIZED ON-LINE THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS GIVING BACK $25 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFTER SCHOOLS AFTER MISSING THE DEADLINE TO SPEND THE FUNDS.

FOR MORE ON THIS, WE WELCOME MARISOL GARCIA, PRESIDENT OF TH ARIZONA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

>> GOOD HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, I WANT TO YOU HELP EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS GOING ON.

WE BASICALLY HAD WHAT $29 MILLION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT BUT WEREN'T BECAUSE -- WHAT HAPPENED?

>> I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN LIMITED IN GIVING OUT INFORMATION AND BEING VERY CLEAR.

HOWEVER, GRANTS WERE APPLIED FOR WHICH HAPPENS EVERY YEAR AND GIVEN TO THE STATE LEVEL, SO TO THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND GIVES IT OUT TO SCHOOLS OR DISTRICTS TO SPEND, AND IF THAT MONEY ISN'T SPENT IT HAS TO GO BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> AND IT HAD TO BE SENT BY, WHAT, SEPTEMBER 30th OF LAST YEAR?

>> LAST YEAR.

>> OKAY.

SO WHY WASN'T IT SPENT?

>> WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S JUST A LACK OF REALLY UNDERSTANDING SYSTEMS OR HOW THINGS WORK AT DEPARTMENT OF ED.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE FOLKS THAT THIS HURTS THE MOST ARE THE STUDENTS, WHO NEEDED THOSE FUNDS.

THIS MONEY WAS GONNA BE USED TO HIRE PROFESSIONALS, ADDITIONAL STAFF SPECIFICALLY FOR SCHOOLS THAT WERE DESPERATELY IN NEED.

>> HOW MANY SCHOOLS DO YOU THINK WERE AFFECTED.

>> I'M NOT REALLY SURE BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS WAS A GRANT THAT WAS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

SO THE SCHOOLS ARE NOW HAVING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO MAKE UP THAT MONEY.

>> AND THESE ARE THINGS -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE SCHOOL'S IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

WHAT IS A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANT.

>> THE PARAMETERS ARE USUALLY BASED OFF OF STANDARDIZED TESTS THAT HAPPEN AT END OF THE YEAR.

IF YOU SEE A SCHOOL THAT IS NOT KEEPING UP TO PAR WITH PARTICULAR SUBGROUPS, THAT COULD BE SPECIAL EDUCATION, SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS, SO THESE GROUPS ARE NOT INCREASING THE WAY THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS, THESE GRANTS ARE USED TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL STAFF TO HELP THE STUDENT MEET THE GOALS.

>> AND CUT BY -- THE MONEY WAS CUT BY LIKE 50% TO SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS -- NOT A LOT OF SCHOOLS, BUT THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE TARGETED FOR THIS GRANT WOULD BE USING THIS MONEY AND WOULD HAVE ALREADY PLANNED TO HIRE PEOPLE.

>> AND MY IMPRESSION IS THEY WERE ENCOURAGED TO GO BIG BECAUSE WE GOT THE BIG MONEY.

LET'S GO FOR IT.

>> AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY MUCH TOUTING FOR THEIR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, THIS IMPROVEMENT GRANT SYSTEM THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TARGET THESE SCHOOLS AND REALLY HELP THEM AND USE IT AS A MODEL TO BE USED FOR OTHER SCHOOLS.

>> SO THE MONEY -- AND I'M GOING THERE -- DID SOME OF THIS MONEY NEED TO BE CLAWED BACK?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

AGAIN, NOT REAL GOOD WITH COMMUNICATION THIS YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

BUT WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS THAT WHEN YOU HIRE FOLKS, YOU HIRE THEM TO HELP STUDENTS, AND SO WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE IF THOSE FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP THE JOB.

>> OH, OKAY.

TOM HORN'S OFFICE, THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, RELATIVELY NEW, HE SAID THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION WAS TO BLAME.

HAS HE GOT A POINT?

>> WELL, AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T REALLY LIKE BLAMING PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS OR PRIOR WORK.

THE ISSUES IN FRONT OF YOU, THE PROBLEMS IN FRONT OF YOU, WE GOTTA FIND A WAY TO FIX IT.

AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE'VE HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT.

>> IS HE SAYING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, CATHY HOFFMAN, THE SUPERINTENDENT, DIDN'T ALERT THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THE DEADLINE.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> I MEAN, IT COULD MAKE SENSE BUT YOU'RE IN OFFICE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AT THIS POINT, THERE HAS TO BE A WAY FOR THEM TO SEE THERE ARE DEADLINES, WE NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON THEM.

YOU CAN'T REALLY BLAME SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN OUT OF OFFICE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

>> CATHY HOFFMAN SAID IT'S BASICALLY A LACK OF COMMUNICATION ON THE WAY OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> THAT DOES MAKE SENSE.

AGAIN, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD MASSIVE COMMUNICATION ISSUES WITH DISTRICTS AND DISTRICTS BEING ABLE TO MAKE PLANS.

>> IS THERE A WAY -- COULD THE SCHOOLS, COT DISTRICTS HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO MAYBE RATTLE THE CANDLE A LITTLE BIT AND SAY, HEY, BY THE WAY, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO A DEADLINE HERE, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, IT ASSUMES THAT THE GRANTS ARE COMING.

UNLESS YOU'RE TOLD THEY'RE NOT, THE STATE IS THE ONE WHO APPLIES FOR THEM, SO THE STATE WOULD SAY WE HAVEN'T GOT THE GRANT OR IT HASN'T BEEN FULFILLED, SO ONE PIPELINE NEEDS TO BE TALKING TO THE OTHER.

WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD 100%.

>> HOW DOES THIS CHANGE THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS?

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND ANYTHING FURTHER SUPERINTENDENTS, WILL LOOK AT THIS AND SAY MAYBE WE NEED TO KEEP ON TOP OF THIS.

>> YEAH, AND BE REALLY TRANSPARENT.

WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND MORE SO FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

IT PUTS NEWS A SPACE OF HAVING TO PROTECT THEIR BUDGETS AND MAKING SURE THAT WHAT THEY'RE BEING TOLD IS TRUE.

>> GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF A SCHOOL THAT NOW HAS TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING THEY WERE NOT PLANNING?

>> IT REALLY DEPENDS.

THE SYSTEM 23 GRANT IS DIFFERENT THAN A 24 GRANT.

I KNOW WE RELIED ON SOME OF THESE GRANTS WHEN I WORKED IN THE SCHOOLS TO BRING IN PROFESSIONALS, BUT WE WOULD KNOW WHAT WE NEEDED BASED ON THE STUDENT, WHAT THE SCHOOL STUDENTS' NEEDED AND THEN THE GRANT SPECIALIST WOULD MAKE SURE WE HIRE THE PERSONNEL AND THEN THEY'D BE IN THERE WITH THE STUDENTS.

SO WE PLANNED WAY BEFORE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS GET WHAT THEY NEED.

>> AND NOW YOU GOTTA PLAN ON DE-PLANNING BECAUSE EVERYTHING YOU PLANNED ON IS OUT THE WINDOW.

>> THEY MAY HAVE TO DIP INTO PLACES WHERE THEY WERE HOLDING ON TO FOR AN EMERGENCY.

THEY MAY HAVE TO LET FOLKS GO.

>> WILL THIS AFFECT THE STATE'S ABILITY TO GET MORE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR EDUCATION PURPOSE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I MEAN, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T REALLY GO AFTER STATES NOT SPENDING THEIR MONEY.

THEY'RE GONNA WANT THE MONEY BACK, THEY MAY REALLOCATE IT.

BUT I THINK IT REALLY PUTS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DO WHAT THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO, AND THAT IS LOOK OVER AIL THE STUDENTS THAT ARE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> I WAS JUST WONDERING NOT NECESSARILY PUNISHING BUT SAYING DO YOU HAVE YOUR ACT IN ORDER BECAUSE WE HAD THIS LAST TIME.

>> YEAH, WE REACHED OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ED AND HAVEN'T HEARD BACK YET JUST TO MAKE SURE IF THIS IS AN ISSUE, HOW CAN WE HELP KEEP COMMUNICATION FLOWING BECAUSE THE BOTTOMLINE IS IT HURTS OUR KIDS.

>> WE'VE GOT A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT, IS EDUCATION A BIG ISSUE HERE, THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OF SCHOOL STARTS BACK.

WHAT ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> ALMOST 90% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL?

>> ALREADY.

>> YES.

>> HOLY SMOKES.

>> SOME OF THEM STARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY.

SO WE HAVE HE TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOR A MONTH.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FORWARD TO?

WE HOPE THAT WE KEEP RETENTION AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KEEPING TEACHERS THERE.

THERE'S ALWAYS STORIES OF TEACHERS OUT THERE LIKE I DID GOING OUT AND TRYING TO FIND COLORED PENCILS THAT WERE ON SALE BECAUSE I NEVER WAS ABLE TO GIVE THEM TO MY STUDENTS.

WE'RE HOPING THAT STUDENTS FEEL SAFE IN THEIR SCHOOLS, WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF SCHOOLS, ARE MAKING KIDS FEEL WELCOME AND SAFE, AND PARENTS WELCOME AND SAFE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> I WAS GONNA SAY, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM TEACHERS?

OBVIOUSLY, THE SAME ISSUES I WOULD THINK WOULD BE COVERED, BUT WHAT ELSE.

>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE STILL LOOKING TO FILL JOBS.

THERE ARE SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE HIRED PEOPLE FROM OUT OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE WAITING FOR THEM TO GET THEIR VISAS CLEARED TO COME IN AND TEACH, WHICH MEANS THAT STUDENTS ARE STARTING WITH DIFFERENT TEACHERS THAN THEY'LL HAVE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> $29 MILLION, IT'S GONE WITH THE WIND, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT NOW IT IS.

>> IT'S NOT COMING BACK.

>> NOT RIGHT NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, MAYOR SO GARCIA, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

EACH YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 1 AMERICANS OVER THE AGE OF 60 REPORTS EXPERIENCING SOME FORM OF ABUSE.

AND THAT INCREASINGLY IS INCLUDING FINANCIAL ABUSE.

TONIGHT, AS PART OF OUR MONTHLY AARP SPONSORED SEGMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OLDER ADULTS IN ARIZONA, WE TAK A CLOSER LOOK AT ELDER FINANCIA ABUSE.

AND JOINING US IS RACHEL CABALLERO OF TRUE WEST CREDIT UNION.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> THIS IS A TOUGH THING TO TALK ABOUT.

ELDER ABUSE IN GENERAL, IT'S INCREASING, CORRECT?

>> IT IS, YES.

>> OKAY.

FINANCIAL ELDER ABUSE, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> STILL INCREASING.

>> YEAH.

>> IN 2023, THERE WAS 101,000 REPORTS THAT MADE IT TO THE FBI ON ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE ALONE.

AND THAT'S ONLY THE ONES THAT MADE IT THERE, THE ONES THAT WERE ACTUALLY REPORTED, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY NOT EVERYBODY DOES.

>> YEAH.

I WAS GOING TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND HERE, BUT DEFINE FINANCIAL ABUSE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OLDER FOLKS.

>> ESSENTIALLY WITH FINANCIAL ABUSE IT'S ANYBODY THAT TAKES CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES IN ANY ASPECT BUT DOESN'T HAVE THE BUSINESS TO BE DOING THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY IT'S HAPPENING A LOT WITH OUR ELDERS THAT ARE AGING.

60-YEAR-OLD AGE RANGE IS THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO HAVE IT HAPPENED AND IN THE 70s IT'S THE MOST LIKELY TO LOSE MONEY.

2023 HAS $36 BILLION OF LOST INVESTMENTS AND FUNDS FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE ELDER ABUSE CATEGORY.

>> AND THAT, AGAIN, IS WHAT'S BEEN REPORTED.

WHY ARE THEY OFTEN NOT REPORTED >> I THINK THAT PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT THE SIGNS ARE, OR THEY THINK THAT BECAUSE IT'S -- YOU KNOW, THE ELDER IS LEFT IN THE CARE OF A FAMILY MEMBER, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROTECTED.

BUT ACTUALLY, THE MAJORITY OF CASES, 60% OF CASES IS DONE BY A FAMILY MEMBER.

2/3 OF THAT BY THEIR CHILD OR SPOUSE.

>> HOLY SMOKES.

SO YOU MENTIONED SIGNS.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF FINANCIAL ELDER ABUSE?

>> SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SIGNS.

ONE OF THEM IS GONNA BE A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR FOR THAT PERSON, A CHANGE IN HABITS FOR THAT PERSON, IF THEY'RE WRITING MORE CHECKS, IF THEY'RE OPENING CREDIT CARDS, IF THEY'RE TAKING THEIR DOCUMENTS AND ALTERING THEM IN SOME WAYS TO ADD SOMEBODY ON TO THE ACCOUNT.

AND A LOT OF TIMES IT CAN BE A CONTROL THING WHERE SOMEBODY ALL OF A SUDDEN HAS THEIR CAREGIVER WITH THEM 24/7 AND THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, AND IT MAKES IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE PERSON THAT'S HAVING THE ABUSE DONE AGAINST THEM TO WANT TO COME OUT OF THAT AREA, BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.

>> YEAH.

AND SO BASICALLY, YOU'RE SEEING DIFFERENT FINANCIAL ACTIVITY GOING ON THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE SENSE?

THAT'S THE WARNING FLAG RIGHT THERE, ISN'T IT?

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES.

SO IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE FAMILY THAT VERY RARELY WRITE CHECKS AND WHEN THEY DO IT'S FOR VERY SPECIFIC THINGS, YOU CAN GO THROUGH THEIR CHECKBOOK HISTORY, AND A LOT OF TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY'LL START VERY SMALL.

THEY'LL CONSTANTLY, GO ASK GRANDMA FOR A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY NEEDING IT FOR RENT AND YOU SEE IT GETTING LARGER AND LARGER AND MORE FREQUENT AND MORE FREQUENT.

EVEN AT THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHEN THAT STUFF IS HAPPENING, BE ABLE TO LOOK THROUGH THE ACCOUNTS AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR HAPPENING, ANY CHANGES ON THE ACCOUNT HAPPENING, PEOPLE BEING ADDED OR DELETED FROM THE ACCOUNT, AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND BE ABLE TO STEP UP AND ADVOCATE FOR THOSE ELDERS THAT ARE HAVING THE ABUSE HAPPEN.

>> WE HAVE TECH SCAMS AND INVESTMENTS, DATA BREACHES, THAT ALL FOLLOWS UNDER THE UMBRELLA, CORRECT?

>> IT DOES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> TALK ABOUT THOSE.

>> AS WE KNOW, TONIGHT'S INCREASING.

AS TECHNOLOGY INCREASES, THE SCAMS INCREASE, AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING DESPERATE TO PRY ON THE VULNERABLE.

WITH ELDER ABUSE, IT HAPPENS AS PEOPLE LOSE MOBILITY AND COGNITIVE ABILITY AND ALSO DON'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THESE THINGS.

PEOPLE ARE PREYING ON THEM.

SO IT COULD BE SOMEBODY CALLING SAYING, HEY, I'M FROM MICROSOFT, I SEE THAT THERE'S A VIRUS IN YOUR COMPUTER, LET'S SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH IT.

OR IT COULD BE SOMEBODY CALLING OR SENDING AN EMAIL.

THAT'S A HUGE ONE.

SENDING AN EMAIL SAYING, HEY, I'M YOUR INVESTMENT ADVISER.

THEY KNOW THE NAME OF THE PERSON, THEY MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT COMES FROM THE PERSON, AND THEY SAY WE NEED TO UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION, CLICK ON THIS LINK.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THE SIGNS TO LOOK FOR TO MAKE SURE THAT'S SAFE.

BUT WE ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE DON'T CLICK ON ANYTHING, DON'T GIVE ANY INFORMATION, IF YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR A LOTTERY, IT'S PROBABLY NOT HAPPENING.

AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU GO AND CONSULT SOMEBODY WHO CAN HELP YOU THROUGH THAT.

>> I NOTICE LOOKING OVER THESE THINGS, THIS IS A ROUGH ONE.

ROMANCE SCAMS.

THEY'RE OUT THERE TOO, AREN'T THEY?

>> THEY ARE, AND THEY'RE INCREASING.

I ACTUALLY JUST GOT WITH A ROMANCE SCAM WITHIN THE LAST YEAR THAT DRAINED SOMEBODY OF THEIR ENTIRE ACCOUNT.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

>>> AND UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THEY PRY ON THOSE FEELINGS AND THEY MAKE THE PERSON VERY VULNERABLE, YOU KNOW, THEY CREATE THESE FAKE EXPERIENCES, THESE FAKE FEELINGS, AND THEN THEY SAY, HEY, I REALLY WANT TO COME OVER, BUT I NEED THE MONEY TO GET MY VISA, AND I NEED THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO SELL MY HOUSE.

AND THE POPULATION, ESPECIALLY WITH ELDERS THAT ARE ALONE OR DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY OR FRIENDS AROUND, THEY REALLY VALUE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, AND SO THEY PUT ALL OF THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO THEM, AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING'S HAPPENING.

AND A LOT OF THE TIME, WE TELL THEM, HEY, WE DON'T THINK THIS IS REAL.

AND THEY STILL THINK IT IS BECAUSE THAT FEELING IS THERE.

>> SO WITH ALL OF THIS -- LAST QUESTION HERE.

WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON OUT THERE, A LOT OF THINGS TO BE AWARE OF BUT HOW BEST DO YOU PROTECT OLDER FOLKS?

>> JUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE COMFORT TO SAY, HEY, IF YOU FEEL LIKE SOMETHING'S GOING WRONG, IF SOMEBODY'S CONSTANTLY COMING FOR YOU, IF YOU'RE HAVING PEOPLE DO SOMETHING, COME AND TALK TO US.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS DON'T SIGN SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THIS FRAUD HAPPENS BECAUSE THEY'RE GIVEN A DOCUMENT OR SOMETHING, OH, THIS IS FROM A LAWYER, THERE'S ALL OF THIS DIFFERENT STUFF, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

JUST SIGN IT.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE SIGNING BUT WILL SIGN IT ANYWAYS.

>> AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU AS A CAREGIVER, POWER OF ATTORNEY, WHATEVER -- YOU SPOT SOMETHING, WHERE DO YOU GO?

>> ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES, THAT IS IN ARIZONA.

YOU CAN REPORT ALL OF YOUR STUFF TO THERE.

THEY WILL DO A FULL INVESTIGATION, AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO THE FBI.

IN ADDITION TO, THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GO TO THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT THE PERSON HAS OR THE FINANCIAL PLANNERS THAT THEY HAVE AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS AWARE SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE IN IT TOGETHER TO HELP AND PROTECT THESE MEMBERS.

>> GREAT INFORMATION.

RACHEL, TRUE WEST CREDIT UNION, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY OF CENTRA ARIZONA RECENTLY RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE STATE TO UPGRADE SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES.

TO TEACH US AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE UPGRADES, WE WELCOME GAIL STELLING AND CAMILLE RIDLEY OF UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY OF CENTRA ARIZONA.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

CAMILLE, WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY >> IT IS A MOTOR DISORDER, 1 IN 345 CHILDREN ARE DIAGNOSED EACH YEAR WITH THIS CONDITION.

>> AND CEREBRAL PALSY OF CENTRAL ARIZONA PROVIDES WHAT SERVICES?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE SERVE THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 72 YEARS NOW, AND WE ARE THE FIRST HEALTHCARE NON-PROFIT IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

AND WE PROVIDE SERVICES, LIFE-SPAN SERVICES STARTING WITH BABIES ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR ELDERS.

>> AND THIS GRANT, GAIL, THIS IS BIG-TIME STUFF, WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE USED FOR?

BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, THE PROCESS OF JUST GETTING A GRANT LIKE THAT, WHAT'S INVOLVED?

>> WELL, WE HAVE COMPLETED THE APPLICATION.

WE WERE ELIGIBLE FOR IT.

AND WE SAW A NEED.

THERE WAS A 250,000 DOLLAR NEED IN OUR ADULT PROGRAMS.

OUR CENTER HAD NOT BEEN UPGRADED FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

SO -- SINCE THE BUILDING WAS BUILT.

AND SO THIS WAS BIG FOR US.

TECHNOLOGY'S CHANGED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND INNOVATION HAS CHANGED.

AND SO WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT, AND IT'S SUCH A TRUE GIFT THAT THIS MONEY CAME FROM ACCESS THROUGH ARPA FUNDS.

>> AGAIN, THIS WILL BE USED FOR EVERYTHING FROM TECHNOLOGY TO, I SEE, A BASKETBALL COURT, ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT INVOLVE FOLKS.

>> YES.

YES.

SO WE WANTED TO PROVIDE CHOICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL DISABILITIES, SO THEIR CHOICES ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THEIR VOICE BEING HEARD, AND THEIR INDIVIDUALISM IS SO NEEDED.

>> YEAH.

>> AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS -- BUILDING OUT NEW PROGRAMS, SO WE HAVE AN ADAPTIVE BASKETBALL, WITH VERY AN ADAPTIVE PUTTING GREEN.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A CULINARY PROGRAM, ROLLING OUT EXERCISE EQUIPMENT THAT IS ACCESSIBLE BY A WHEELCHAIR.

>> SURE, SURE.

>> AND, AGAIN, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS?

I MEAN, TO HAVE AN ADAPTABLE ROOM, A GREENHOUSE, THESE SORTS OF THINGS, IT'S, I WOULD IMAGINE JUST HAVING IT IS IMPORTANT.

JUST SEEING IT IS IMPORTANT.

>> IT IS.

AND SEEING THE BUILD-OUT AFTER COMPLETION -- YOU GET THE VISION, YOU SEE THE BLUEPRINTS, AND THEN YOU WALK OUT THERE AND SEE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS ENGAGING IN THIS, IT'S HUGE.

AND NOT TO MENTION WE -- WE LIKE TO MAKE A COMMUNITY NEED FOR THE RESOURCES.

AND ONE OF THOSE WAS BEING ABLE TO DO THE DAY TO DAY AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT OTHER PEOPLE DO.

AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THE GREENHOUSE, YOU CAN ROLL A WHEELCHAIR IN THERE, YOU CAN WALK IN THERE, NOT TO MENTION THE PLANTING BEDS THAT ARE SET UP, THOSE ARE ALSO ACCESSIBLE FOR WHEELCHAIRS, AS WELL, SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE EVERY DAY.

>> NO.

AND SOMETHING YOU MIGHT NOT THINK ABOUT.

YOU'VE HAD 20 YEARS TO THINK ABOUT THIS.

WAS THERE IS PROCESS OF "DWINDLE DOWN", WHAT WE REALLY WANT, KNOWING THAT -- $250,000, YOU CAN SPEND THAT PRETTY QUICKLY.

>> YES, YOU CAN.

YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN, AND THAT'S FOR GAIL AND HER TEAM -- BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE STAGE OF THE ADULT DAY PROGRAM, AND THEY SAT DOWN AND REALLY TOOK EVERYTHING INTO ACCOUNT, INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, NOT TO MENTION THE INDIVIDUALS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR CAREGIVERS, AND IT BEGAN.

>> WE ASKED THEM WHAT THEY WANTED.

>> YES.

>> AND THIS IS THE ANSWER THAT THEY GAVE YOU.

SO -- AND WE WANTED TO ALSO FOCUS ON INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE HAVE AN EVENT CENTER WHICH WE ARE BUILDING OUT, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMMUNITY EVENTS TO INCORPORATE THE COMMUNITY INTO OUR CENTER AND IT'S JUST -- IT'S SUCH A GOOD FIT.

IT NEEDS TO BE IN CENTRAL ARIZONA.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT INCLUSIVENESS AND EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE THOSE CHOICES IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

>> WHAT ARE THE PLANS.

>> WE PLAN ON HAVING MUSICIANS AND COMEDY SHOWS, FUNDRAISERS, AND GATHERINGS.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN RENT THE EVENT SPACE OUT, AS WELL, AS PEOPLE NEED A PLACE TO HAVE A PRIVATE PARTY.

WE CAN ALLOW FOR THAT.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> WE'RE ALSO USING THIS FOR A LITTLE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURISM, AND MICRO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, TOO.

SO WE DID INCORPORATE A FOOD CART, WHICH IS GOING TO TEACH PEOPLE -- INDIVIDUALS MICRO BUSINESS SKILLS.

SO CASH RECONCILING, ALL OF THAT.

>> VERY COOL, AND AS FAR AS THE RESPONSE SO FAR, OBVIOUSLY, NOTHING'S -- YOU'RE STILL KIND OF BUILDING THIS THING AND EVERYTHING, BUT THE IDEA, THE PLANNING AND EVERYTHING, WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE HAVE YOU HAD SO FAR?

>> IT HAS BEEN SO POSITIVE.

WE JUST STARTED REACHING OUT TO THE MEDIA AND COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

AND I HAVE LOST COUNT OF HOW MANY NEWS CHANNELS AND REPORTERS HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST.

WE'VE GOT INTERVIEWS COMING UP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

SO THIS HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF.

WELL OVER 10 MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS, AND THEY'RE GROWING, NOT TO MENTION TOURS.

BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO GET PEOPLE ON TO THE CAMPUS AND HAVE A TOUR, AND WE HAVE HAD -- HOW MANY TOURS HAVE YOU DONE?

>> YEAH.

I THINK WE'RE -- IN THE LAST -- I WAS IN ALASKA, BUT THE LAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE I WENT AWAY, I WOULD SAY WE HAD A DOZEN TOURS.

AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE A FRESH FACE, HAVE OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEIR VOICES BE HEARD.

>> OKAY.

>> THEY WANT TO COME IN THERE AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING, AND WE INVITE THEM TO COME.

>> WE'RE GLAD YOU TOOK OUR INVITATION TO COME ON HERE.

GREAT STORY, AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.