Little Known Health and Safety Issue Draws Big Crowd For June 3rd Seminar

(Fullerton) – Hoarding, a recently recognized problem with mental health implications, has attracted a capacity crowd of human services professionals for a June 3 seminar at Cal State Fullerton’s Ruby Gerontology Center.

Human hoarding behavior is defined as a situation in which a person has too many belongings to function safely. “Senior service providers, code enforcement officials, fire inspectors, adult protective service workers and many others are encountering more and more cases of human hoarding behavior here in Orange County,” said Mark Odom, LCSW, of the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Older Adult Services. “We’re very pleased with the response for this educational workshop. The fact we’ve had to turn some registrants away is an indication of the magnitude of the problem.”

The seminar will examine the extent of the problem in Orange County, provide examples of how professionals can intervene, and offer information on resources available to assist local officials encountering hoarding situations. Speakers will include Jonnae Ostrom, LCSW, one of the first professionals to take a closer look at human hoarding behavior; Inspector Dennis Bogard of the Los Angeles Fire Department; attorney Gregory P. Palmer, JD; and Roger Gary, Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Brea.

For more information about the Summit on Hoarding in Orange County, contact Mark Odom at (714) 972-3700.