Who We Are
CEJC is a multidisciplinary membership organization providing a voice from the field in elder justice policy and practice. We promote the rights of older adults, including protection against age-based discrimination and elder abuse, and equitable access to resources, health care, and the legal system by those in greatest need.
|
Policy
CEJC advocates for policy reform, raises awareness about elder justice developments, creates opportunities for exchange among advocates and policy makers, and provides consultation, training, and technical assistance. Our work reflects our Principles of Elder Justice. |
Learn
Our educational materials focus on leading edge issues in elder justice with the aim of fostering new ideas and innovations. They include: |
CEJC A*TEAM UpdateResponding to the obstacles APS investigators face in accessing bank customer records in elder financial exploitation investigations, CEJC’s A*Team has released Collaborating with Financial Institutions to Prevent Elder Financial Exploitation and Abuse: A Guide for APS Investigators in California. This California-specific document guides APS financial abuse investigators on procedures to follow in working with banks, provides customizable forms to use in requesting victim account records, and includes authorizing statutes to clarify APS’ authority and financial institutions’ responsibilities under the law. The materials are downloadable and ready to be customized for agency use.
Created to study solutions to systemic obstacles identified by local elder abuse MDTs, the A*Team focused on banks’ refusal to comply with investigators’ requests as one of the most common problems cited by MDTs. For more detail on the A*Team process and progress, see the latest update on the CEJC A*Team page: "CEJC’s A*Team Tackles MDT/Bank Interactions During Investigations (January 2023)." The "A*TEAM" is supported by a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, US Department of Justice. CEJC Helps Plan National Restorative Justice ConveningCEJC is partnering with Futures Without Violence to plan Strategies to Advance Greater Elder Safety (STAGES): Community Centered Solutions, a convening of thought leaders, innovators, advocates, and front-line service providers to explore new responses to elder abuse. It will highlight approaches that confront ageism, build connections, strengthen relationships, prevent abuse, strengthen institutional supports, and reduce harm. The event will take place on June 7-9, 2023 in Washington, D.C. |
CEJC Releases Third
|
Carol Sewell, CEJC’s policy director and A*TEAM Coordinator, participated in two sessions at the American Society on Aging’s annual conference On Aging in Atlanta in March. She was joined by A*TEAM member Angela Rosato for “CEJC’s A*Team: Systemic Change to Empower Elder Abuse Multi- disciplinary Teams.” Sewell also joined NNSEJC Steering Committee members Paul Cacamise, Iris Freeman, and Anna Thomas in a Collaborative Session on State Elder Justice Coalitions. Also at ASA, CEJC Chair Donna Benton presented “Looking at the Intersection of Ageism and Caregiving,” which explored the consequences of ageism and the ways that USC is integrating research, practice, and teaching to educate and inspire action. CEJC Executive Director Lisa Nerenberg celebrated International Women’s Day at the United Nations, where she moderated the panel “Research on Violence Against Older Women Through a Feminist Lens” as part of the NGO CSW (Non-Governmental Organization, Commission on the Status of Women) Forum's parallel events. Parallel events are civil society gatherings that run parallel to the UN CSW. Panelists for the event, which took place on March 9, 2023, included Patricia Brownell, Susan Somers, Erica Udow, Lisa Nerenberg, Judith Smith, Liliana Giraldo Rodriquez, and Lucie Vidovićová. 
|
|
Lisa Nerenberg,
CEJC Executive Director |
California's World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Event set for June 1stJoin CEJC and partners June 1st in Sacramento for California’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event, hosted by California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Held annually to raise awareness of efforts to end elder and disability abuse, this year’s event will be accessible both virtually and in person at the CDSS office in Sacramento. The event coincides with the State’s designation of June as Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month, established this year through SCR 64, introduced by Senator Bill Dodd.
As the proportion of older homeless adults rises across the state, the theme of this year’s event is “California’s Response to Homelessness in Older Adults and People with Disabilities.” Margot Kushel, MD, a leading researcher in older adult homelessness, will serve as keynote (for more on Dr. Kushel and elder homelessness, visit CEJC’s Toolkit on Elder Homelessness). CEJC Policy Director Carol Sewell will introduce CEJC’s third Elder Justice Blueprint, Reinforcing California’s Elder Justice Infrastructure: Committing to Equity and Inclusion, a policy guide addressing elder justice achievements, needs, and recommendations for California and the nation. Thursday, June 1 from 2-4 p.m.; reception from 4-5 p.m. Register to attend in-person here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-person-elder-and-dependent-adult-abuse-awareness-event-tickets-611306402907?aff=ebdssbdestsearch Register to attend virtually here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-elder-and-dependent-adult-abuse-awareness-event-tickets-612438198137 State funding sought for California’s Public Guardian and Public Conservator systemsThe essential roles of the Public Conservator and Public Guardian (PGPC) are established in California law, yet no state or federal dollars support these critical services, which operate solely with county discretionary dollars and can easily be bypassed when budgets are tight or other priorities loom. Increasing requirements on the Public Guardian and rising caseloads have stretched these systems beyond reason, with average Public Guardian caseloads running 65% higher than recognized standards. Despite this, policy makers continue to add to the numbers eligible for conservatorship in an effort to address chronic homelessness and severe mental illness.
Conservatorship is a last resort when adults are unable to protect themselves against serious threats and danger as the result of dementias or mental illnesses. Due to limited funding, some counties are unable to provide conservatorship for the most vulnerable individuals if there are not resources to manage that can cover county costs. This leaves the poorest and most needy completely unprotected and at risk of abuse and exploitation. A stronger Public Guardian could address many of the problems created when professional conservators handle cases as a means of making money, a situation that has raised national attention through news coverage of egregious cases of exploitation. As a co-sponsor of the California Association of Public Administrators, Public Guardians, and Public Conservators’ budget request for $200 million in ongoing state General Fund dollars, CEJC urges others to send their support before the May 4 Senate Budget Hearing. Letters can be sent via email to: The Honorable Chairperson Caroline Menjivar and Members Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 Via email: SBUD.Committee@senate.ca.gov EDJCC UpdateIn case you missed the last meeting of the Elder and Disability Justice Coordinating Council (EDJCC) on February 14, 2023, you can get caught up with a recording, transcript and presenters' slides (see below). Highlights of the event included the introduction of new California Department of Aging staff members Regina Wright, who is the new state public guardian liaison for CDA, and Ranjana Maharaj who is CDAs' new elder abuse subject matter expert. CDA Director Susan DeMarois also reported on the launch of the Office of the Patient Representative, which was created to support unrepresented residents in skilled nursing facilities. The new program, which is headed up by Susan Rodrigues, has received 90 referrals during its first month of operation and performed six interdisciplinary team assessments. Representatives from the EDJCC's three workgroups on Conservatorship, Adult Protective Services, and Legal Assistance gave reports on their progress. Leigh Bills of the California Office of Emergency Services alerted Council members to the upcoming release of a grant solicitation for programs to serve older victims. The Elder Abuse (XE) Program is expected to be released in June 2023 for a January 1, 2024 program startup.
Video | Transcript | Presentation Vertical Divider
|
Show Your Support for the Elder Justice Reauthorization and Modernization Act (EJA) of 2023Advocacy is needed now to build support for the recently released EJA. Citing the prevalence of elder and disability abuse and exploitation in the U.S., leaders in Congress from both houses joined in support of the reauthorization bill. Co-sponsors include House Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA), and Co-Chair of the House Elder Justice Caucus Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR).
Along with reauthorizing the EJA, the legislation commits significant new funding for Adult Protective Services ($1.9 billion) and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman ($232.5 million). It also funds three new programs: $500 million to connect victims with legal services and create medical-legal partnerships, $250 million to address social isolation and loneliness, and $1.6 billion to recruit and retain care providers in post-acute and long-term care settings. A summary and text of the bill can be found on the Ways and Means Committee website. Reach out to ask your Representatives to sign-on by clicking this link. House Passes Protections for Investors: CEJC Calls for Similar Advances in Banking LawThe Elder Justice Coalition applauded the House’s recent passage of HR 500, which would give investors additional protections if fraud or exploitation is suspected. If approved by the Senate, the change will allow investment firms to delay redemption of certain securities for as long as 25 days if the company has reason to believe that exploitation of an older or disabled adult is involved. CEJC’s A*Team is working with policy makers, bank representatives and regulators to explore whether this type of federal protection should also be available to older and disabled bank account-holders at large multi-state banks. California law already allows state-regulated banks to delay suspicious transactions, but multi-state banks fall under federal jurisdiction.
MoneyGram Fraud Victims to be Fully CompensatedNearly 39,000 victims of fraud schemes handled through MoneyGram International will be fully compensated for their losses according to an announcement from the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). $115.8 million will be disbursed to the predominantly older adult victims. The funds are the result of a “deferred prosecution agreement” between the Department of Justice and MoneyGram, through which the firm forfeited the amount equal to the fraud transactions processed over the period in which its anti-money laundering program was inoperative. To learn more about the USPIS process for restoring stolen funds, visit http://moneygramremission.com/. |
