"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."


-- Margaret Mead (1901-1978), Anthropologist

WISE & Healthy Aging Advisory Groups

Advisory Council

Members of the WISE & Healthy Aging Advisory Council have a special relationship with the organization by virtue of their community leadership, expertise in certain areas related to aging and their commitment to seniors. Many members of the Advisory Council have a close association with clients served by WISE & Healthy Aging. They serve as the “eyes and ears” of the organization out in the community, bringing feedback, community reactions, observations and identification of unmet needs to WISE & Healthy Aging.

Advisory Council Members

Ishara Bailis, LCSW
UCLA Healthcare 50 Plus

Robert Chatman
American Red Cross, Santa Monica Chapter

Virginia Galan-Burns, RN, GPN
Santa Monica Bay Physicians Health Services

Rose Kaufman
The League of Women Voters
Emeritus College

Paul Leoni, PharmD
Patton's Pharmacy

Mary Michlovich
OPICA Adult Day Care

Stephanie Negriff
City of Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus

Barry Seid
District Coordinator, AARP Tax Counciling for the Elderly

Richard L. Solomon, JD
Elder Law Attorney

Jody Spiegel, JD
Bet Tzedek

Al Weintraub
Santa Monica Commission for the Senior Community

Phyllis Weintraub
Hi-Cap Medicare Counselor

Harold Weiss
30-Year Community Volunteer

Susan Willis
Los Angeles Police Department, Long Term Care Ombudsman Volunteer

Elizabeth Wilson, LCSW, CMC
Santa Monica Commission for the Senior Community

FAST – Financial Abuse Specialist Team

The Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) was established in January 1993 to combat the rising tide of elder financial abuse. Funding for the FAST is provided by the Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging through Title VII-B of the Older American Act of 1965, as amended, with matching funds from WISE & Healthy Aging, which coordinates the FAST. FAST, a countrywide consultation and training team, serves as a model for communities across the nation. This partnership was expanded to include other members of the public and private network recruited to participate on the FAST, such as law enforcement investigators, prosecutors, private and public interest attorneys, conservators, bankers, securities and real estate brokers, and experts in insurance, case management, probate, gerontology, geriatrics and psychiatry.

The FAST team consults on complex cases of financial elder abuse and consists of experts such as physicians, lawyers, financial planners, psychologists, realtors, and individuals from the judicial system and law enforcement who donate their time to help prevent elder abuse and prosecute those who have committed this crime. Its primary purpose is to have the Consultants provide consultations on certain cases of financial abuse to case workers of APS Ombudsman, Public Guardian and care management programs.

Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the Money Management (MM) program at WISE & Healthy Aging is comprised of a group of professionals from the community who provide in-kind financial, legal and logistical support. The group meets quarterly to review procedures and protocols, providing oversight to the DMM program as well as updates on new regulations.

TAG Members

Tannie Chateau, LCSW, MSG
Kaiser Permanente

Joseph E. Deering, Jr., JD
Attorney At Law

Susan Faber-Brook, LCSW
Saint John's Health Center

Sheryl Hayashida
Attorney at Law

Geoff Johnstone
Preferred Bank

Johnnetta Jordan
Los Angeles County Adult Protective Services

Essie Landry
Social Security Administration

Janet Morris, Esq.
Family Caregiver Project Director, Bet Tzedek Legal Services

Ann Stahl
Federal Trade Commission

Elizabeth Wilson, LCSW, CMC
Private Geriatric Care Manager

Kristen Zaleski, MSW
Clinical Social Worker, UCLA Santa Monica Healthcare