Elder Abuse Prevention
TRAINING GRANT TO STOP ABUSE
COVE, together
with ten partner agencies, is collaborating with the Vermont Center for Crime
Victim Services to address and improve Vermont’s response to violence against
elders and people with disabilities. The
two year grant was funded by the Violence Against Women Office of the U.S.
Department of Justice and will terminate at the end of September, 2004. The grant will focus on training
professionals, who serve elder victims and victims of disabilities, to
recognize and report such abuse when it occurs, and understand how to better
support survivors in getting to safety and securing justice.
Representatives
from many Vermont agencies are working together on this project. Partners include: Adult Protective Services, Deaf Victim
Advocacy Council, the Attorney General’s office, the Vermont Network Against
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Vermont Legal Aid, and the Vermont Center
for Independent Living.
A Protocol
Committee has interviewed survivors to identify barriers and gaps faced by
these victims of violence; a best practices model is being drafted to reflect
new partner relationships. Partners will
then develop a plan for their agencies.
A Training
Committee has researched and is developing curricula to train front-line staff
at home health agencies and residential care providers; police; prosecutors;
judges; advocates for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault;
advocates and service providers for people with disabilities, the Deaf and
elders; long-term care ombudsmen and public guardians.
Click here to register for a day-long
training in November for which the purpose is
to
enhance a collaborative response on the part of Vermont agencies in responding
to the abuse of elders, people with disabilities and Deaf individuals. We will examine current agency roles and work
towards creating a victim-centered response.
For more
information about this project, contact Kami Oliver at:
802-229-4731 or by e-mail
at: [email protected]
Important Links:
Office of Violence Against Women
¨
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo
VT Center for Crime Victim Services
¨
http://www.ccvs.state.vt.us