Maine becomes first state to receive federal grant for elder crime investigator

Elder fraud and abuse are on the rise in the U.S. 

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Maine becomes first state to receive federal grant for elder crime investigator 

Bexar County is seeking funding through federal grant to address elder abuse

The grant would give the county $800,000 over four years. County leaders say they want to build a Senior Justice Assessment Center.

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Bexar County is seeking funding through federal grant to address elder abuse

Pennsylvania Courts Awarded Federal Grant to Further Develop Programs to Protect Elders

By Editor

The Pennsylvania Courts have been awarded nearly $1 million in federal Elder Justice Innovation Grant funds to protect older Pennsylvanians. Pennsylvania was one of three states to receive the award.

The three-year grant, awarded through the federal Administration for Community Living, Elder Justice Innovation Grant program, aims to provide assistance to states in their efforts to assess and implement improvements in the handling of adult guardianship cases.

“We are grateful for this grant award which will allow us to continue educating elders and their families about guardianship,” Pennsylvania Chief Justice Debra Todd said. “Knowledge is power and these additional resources provide a tremendous opportunity to develop new and innovative programs and trainings which will give people the information they need to change lives across Pennsylvania.

“We are pleased that Pennsylvania was successful in winning this award, amid such a competitive group of applicants. We extend our sincere thanks to the Administration for Community Living.”

The grant work in Pennsylvania will be overseen by the Office of Elder Justice in the Courts (OEJC) which was established by the Supreme Court to assist the Court in implementing recommendations contained in the 2014 Elder Law Task Force’s Report and Recommendations. The OEJC, along with the Advisory Council on Elder Justice and the Courts, is committed to protecting Pennsylvania’s rapidly growing population of elders from all forms of abuse and neglect, promoting best practices and educating judges, court staff, attorneys, guardians and the public about elder abuse.

Among the projects planned, the OEJC and the Advisory Council intend to deploy two pilot projects focused on providing trained counsel to represent alleged incapacitated persons in guardianship proceedings and using court-appointed volunteer monitors to visit the individual prior to and following the appointment of a guardian. They will also develop and implement continuing education programs and online video modules for judges, court staff, attorneys and guardians.

“We are thrilled to pilot these new programs along with the help of our court and community partners,” Montgomery County Administrative Orphans’ Court Judge Lois Murphy said. “Initiatives like these directly impact elders and their families and allow us to learn more about what they need and how we can further develop relationships to continue building on the existing system in place to support elders and their families.”

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Pennsylvania Courts Awarded Federal Grant to Further Develop Programs to Protect Elders

Cobb’s Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team gets federal grant and new coordinator

Cobb County Superior Court (photo by Larry Felton Johnson)

Posted By: Larry Felton Johnson

 

Cobb County District Attorney Joyette Holmes and liveSAFE Resources announced a federal grant to expand the work of Cobb’s Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team (MDT).

The grant was from U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, under the Transforming America’s Response to Elder Abuse program, and the grant period runs through September of 2022.

According to a public information release from the Cobb DA’s office, “The District Attorney has partnered with liveSAFE Resources, Inc. and the Cobb Elder Abuse Task Force for years on elder-abuse issues and community responses to victims.”

“The money will help Cobb’s Elder MDT expand services to elderly and disabled victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation,” the news release said.

“liveSAFE Resources is thrilled to be part of the Enhanced Multi-Disciplinary Team Grant project! As the local service provider for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse, we have learned that it takes a whole-community approach to address abuse,” said Tracey B. Atwater, Executive Director. “This grant will give us the opportunity to strengthen our coordinated response to the neglect and abuse of vulnerable adults, support victims, and hold offenders accountable.”

Cobb’s Elder Abuse MDT includes professionals from various offices and agencies, “including police, fire, prosecutors, Adult Protective Services, the Atlanta Regional Commission and others, to discuss the most effective ways to proceed in particular cases where an elder person or disabled adult has suffered abuse, neglect or financial exploitation.”

New coordinator chosen for Cobb’s Elder MDT

Larami Floyd has been selected as the new coordinator of Cobb’s Elder Abuse MDT, replacing Paula Dobbs, who oversaw the creation of the project.

“This role was a natural next step for me as I have always preferred working in a way where I could better serve my community,” Floyd said in the public information release. “The elder population is especially near and dear to my heart and through this position I will be able to better support and aid this generation.”

Floyd has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Kennesaw State University, where she also achieved her bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

She spent four years as a victim advocate with the Cobb District Attorney’s office, and before that worked as a victim advocate in Paulding County.

Cobb’s Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team

The Courier asked Kimberly Isaza, the public information officer for the Cobb County District Attorney’s office, what the relationship is between the Cobb’s Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team and the Cobb Elder Abuse Task Force.

She answered in an email, “They are separate, though some people participate in both. The MDT is restricted to members of agencies that have signed MOUs to share confidential information. The CEATF does training for law enforcement but also does public-awareness events, such as presentations on scams at senior centers.”

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Cobb’s Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team gets federal grant and new coordinator

NY Using $300K in Funding to Crack Down on Financial Exploitation of Older, Vulnerable Adults

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state will use a $300,000 federal grant to crack down on the financial exploitation of older and vulnerable adults.

According to the governor's office, the funding will support a two-year pilot program to expand Adult Protective Services in Onondaga County and Queens, while serving as a blueprint for the rest of the state.

"We are launching a major offensive in the fight against elder abuse and financial exploitation,” Gov. Cuomo said. “This program will strengthen our ability to catch and prosecute those who prey on our seniors and vulnerable adults, and it will help us to protect New Yorkers from suffering irreparable financial harm.”

The competitive grant was awarded by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

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NY Using $300K in Funding to Crack Down on Financial Exploitation of Older, Vulnerable Adults