CCERAP: Award Recipients

2006 CCERAP Torch Award Winner – Joe Cisneros

Joe Cisneros, Lead Long-Term Care Ombudsman for South-Central Colorado Seniors, Inc. located in Alamosa, is recognized by CCERAP for his work that exemplifies the mission, objectives and goals of CCERAP. Joe is an exemplary Long-Term Care
Ombudsman, who has demonstrated his zeal for protecting elderly persons from abuse through strong advocacy for long-term care residents in his region.

Joe was instrumental in pursuing a case of financial exploitation against two defendants, one of who was a social service director in a nursing home. Running into a dead end, he didn’t give up and reported the matter to AARP’s ElderWatch. They informed the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The case was pursued and prosecuted. The AG’s Medicaid Fraud unit stated, “Without the action by Mr. Cisneros, the case would have been closed and the defendants would have reaped the benefit of their crime and been able to prey on other elderly people in the future. Mr. Cisneros’ interest in the welfare of the victim and his action in pursuing the case should be recognized and praised.”

With pride we present the first CCERAP Torch Award to Joe Cisneros.

Recognition of individuals that exemplifies the mission, objectives or goals of CCERAP through their own actions. Nominations forms for 2007 will be available online after July 15, 2006.

2005 CCERAP “SPIRIT” AWARDS

The first recipients of the CCERAP “SPIRIT” AWARDS are:

Alice Kitt, Executive Director of the Guardianship Alliance of Colorado

Bob Pierce, Colorado Division of Insurance, Senior Assistance Program

Alice Kitt, through the Guardianship Alliance of Colorado, Inc., provided CCERAP the non-profit umbrella for five years. She tracked CCERAP funds and did the accounting. Alice’s commitment to the “spirit” of CCERAP is also exemplified by her participation in Coalition brochure development and educational presentations at CCERAP meetings.

Bob Pierce, through his designation of Senior Assistance Program grant funds to support the CCERAP quarterly newsletter, enabled CCERAP to expand its distribution of the newsletter from 1500 subscribers in 2001 to over 2300 subscribers in 2005. Without Bob’s commitment to making the Colorado Division of Insurance financial support of the newsletter a high priority, the growth in newsletter circulation and excellent quality of the quarterly publications would not have been possible.

Both Bob Pierce and Alice Kitt are examples of the “Spirit” of the CCERAP. The Coalition expresses its most sincere appreciation and respect to these two exceptionally dedicated individuals. Their contributions to the protection of seniors and the education of the professionals who serve seniors is immeasurable and ongoing.

The Spirit Award recognizes a business, agency or representative that exemplifies exceptional support of CCERAP’s mission “to promote statewide understanding of at-risk adult abuse and to promote the rights and protections available to elder and at-risk adults.”

Colorado Coalition for Elder Rights and Adult Protection
C/O Colorado Nonprofit Development Center
4130 Tejon St., Suite A
Denver, CO 80211
1-800-773-1366 (message phone and FAX) | Email: ccerap@comcast.net