“Create a formidable statewide network of professionals who seek to prevent and address elder financial exploitation,” is what 40+ organizations vowed at the first Texas conference on elder financial abuse and exploitation in 2018. After being delayed by COVID, in 2023 the National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice awarded a grant to Guardianship Services, Inc. of Tarrant County and Texas Healthy at Home to begin creating this formidable statewide coalition of professionals.
Today we are a coalition dedicated to safeguarding older Texans from financial exploitation. Included in the below section is information about our two founding partners and the team leading our work.
Texas ranked third in the U.S. in losses to elder fraud in 2022, with over $243 million reported.
To end financial exploitation of older Texans through education, advocacy, accountability and collaboration with state and community partners, ensuring that older adults age with dignity and financial security.
A future that values and safeguards the financial well-being of older Texans.
Lyn Scott
TxCG, MBA – Project Co-Lead, Guardianship Services, Inc.
Working with former Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Sharen Wilson; Guardianship Services, Inc. Executive Director, Lyn Scott, launched the groundbreaking Financial Exploitation Prevention Center (FEPC) of Tarrant County, a county-wide elder justice coalition, in 2016. These founders were joined by Adult Protective Services, AARP Texas, and aging and disability service providers working together to prevent and end fraud or financial exploitation of vulnerable adults in Tarrant County and coordinate multi-disciplinary victim services. Since 2016, victims of elder fraud or exploitation have recovered more than $2 million in restitution with the help of FEPC partners.
Christina Bartha
Project Co-Lead,
Texas Healthy at Home
Christina Bartha serves as Chief Executive Officer for Texas Healthy at Home, a 501c3 whose mission is to partner with community and health care organizations to deliver social services that improve the quality of life for Texans. Christina’s areas of expertise include program planning, implementation and evaluation, grant management, research, fundraising and resource development, and board relations. Christina has gained a multifaceted perspective from varied work history with non-profits, boards, government-funded entities and global corporations in the wellness sector while holding roles with United Way, Area Agency on Aging, Blue Zones Project Fort Worth, and Sixty & Better. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Leadership and Gerontology from Concordia University Chicago and holds a Master of Science from University of North Texas and Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin. As a Registered Yoga Teacher 500, Christina spends her spare time teaching and practicing yoga and meditation.
Dana Hoffman
Project Coordinator,
Texas Elder Justice Coalition
With over 23 years of professional experience serving non-profits in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex, Dana Hoffman was hired to serve as Project Coordinator for the Texas Elder Justice Coalition in January 2024. She earned her Master’s degree in Library Studies with a focus on online knowledge management, and went on to work with a membership-based organization, International Association of Venue Managers, for 11 years. There, she was responsible for not only conferences and seminars, but also two large scale technology projects from conception to rollout: one for data collection and benchmarking, VenueDataSource, and the other for a members-only social collaboration and communication platform, VenueNet. After that, Dana served as Director of Grant Management for United Way of Tarrant County. In 2013 and 2014, Dana wrote two successive successful proposals totaling over $10 million to lead a statewide consortium of the Affordable Healthcare Navigators. She subsequently wrote several more successful federal proposals addressing older adults needs related to dementia and preventing falls. Dana has served as President of the Texas Healthy at Home Board since 2023 and provided technical assistance and support for Texas Healthy at Home through Ardent Spirit, LLC, her consulting company from 2018 through 2021.
Texas Healthy at Home is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of older Texans and their caregivers through training, education and support services allowing them to live independently in the community while lowering costs for health entities. The Texas Healthy at Home network offers free evidence-based and evidence-informed classes in person or remotely to help people live well, prevent falls and lighten the load of caring for people with dementia.
Dana Hoffman
Coordinator, Texas Elder Justice Coalition
682-235-5354
PO Box 11481
Fort Worth, TX 76110
This is a Texas-focused coalition website. Information may not be accurate for other locations. This website is not to be substituted for legal advice. This disclaimer will be governed by and construed in accordance with Texas, and any disputes relating to this disclaimer will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Fort Worth, Texas.
