CEJC's Current Policy Priorities

California Master Plan for Aging

On June 10, 2019, Governor Newsom issued an executive order calling for a Master Plan for Aging (MPA) to promote healthy aging as California prepares for demographic changes. It calls for state and local government, the private sector, and philanthropic institutions to get involved. The MPA has 4 goals:
1) Ensuring the growth and sustainability of state long-term care programs and infrastructure; 2)
building livable, age- and disability-friendly communities and purpose; 3) promoting access to services and care that optimize health and quality of life; and 4) ensuring all seniors have economic security and are protected from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

What We've Done
CEJC is actively engaged in promoting elder justice principles and strategies for the Master Plan for Aging (MPA) that highlight the following themes and goals. We've produced the following resources:

What We're Doing
Although CDA has temporarily postponed MPA activities in light of COVID-19 developments, CEJC is continuing to monitor activities and disseminate materials of special significance for elder justice advocates including:

The Equity Work Group considers the perspectives and needs of underrepresented groups. See Equity Work Group.
Webinar: Preventing & Responding to Abuse, Neglect, & Exploitation. For information on this March 4, 2020 webinar, go to Webinar Wednesdays.

How You Can Help
Share your thoughts on what's needed.
You can offer comments and recommendations at:

To Learn More
For ongoing MPA updates, including webinars and committee meetings, go to MPA.

Serving Financial Crime Victims

Scams, predatory practices, theft, and the loss of assets can be devastating to older victims. Some lose their life savings and homes, accumulate debt, face eviction and homelessness. The may lose their independence. Many experience depression and anxiety, and some contemplate suicide.

What We've Done
CEJC, in partnership with the California Commission on Aging, is working to ensure that older victims get the help they need to recover. We've focused on two California programs:

Victim Assistance: CEJC works closely with the California Office of Emergency Services (CALOES), which administers federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and state funding, to customize services for older victims through technical assistance and training.
Victim Compensation: CEJC and CCoA have co-sponsored state legislation to extend Victim Compensation to financial crime victims to purchase financial and mental health counseling, Victims of financial crimes are not currently eligible for these services.

What We're Doing
CEJC and CCoA are continuing their efforts to extent California's Victim Compensation program to provide relief for victims of elder financial abuse and exploitation. Specifically, they are seeking to extend compensation cover:

Counseling to address the traumatic impact of abuse and help victims recover assets or property.
Financial counseling and advocacy with creditors, government programs, and landlords, which may be needed to prevent evictions, foreclosures, and homelessness; ensure victims' financial stability, and address legal threats (e.g. victims may be implicated in crimes against them).
Crime related emergency expenses such as medical care, court costs, and filing fees associated with seeking restitution from perpetrators, and moving costs for victims who are forced to relocate as a result of abuse.

How You Can Help

Check back often to learn how you can help get the word out about older victims' service needs through social media, news briefs, or by hosting awareness-raising events.
Identify victims to share their stories.

Help us identify promising practices for meeting victims' needs.

To Learn More

See From Blueprint to Benchmarks: Building an Elder Justice Framework

Preventing Elder Homelessness

Victims of elder abuse and vulnerable adults are at heightened risk for eviction and losing their homes. Their homes may be unsafe as a result of neglect or self neglect. Older homeowners and home seekers are targeted for predatory lending. Nursing homes may refuse to readmit patients after hospitalizations. Tenants and homeowners may lack information about their rights.

What We've Done
CEJC worked with the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) and the California Commission on Aging (CCoA) to create Home Safe, a homelessness prevention program and rapid re-housing demonstration program. The program would provide crisis intervention and direct services to help Adult Protective Services (APS) clients who are at risk of homelessness to stabilize their housing through counseling, in-home support, and referrals to legal assistance programs.

CEJC also supported Senate Bill 1150, which boosts protections against foreclosure for surviving spouses. The measure went into effect in April 2017.

What We're Doing
CEJC is joining with the County Welfare Directors Association of California and CCoA to co-sponsor Home Safe, a $15 million General Fund request for a 3-year pilot project in 15 communities aimed at preventing homelessness. Home Safe pilots would be operated by APS programs to demonstrate how intervening in crises can prevent homelessness among abuse victims. APS workers would identify clients at risk of losing their homes and provide services like short-term rental and utility assistance, heavy cleaning, immediate mental health treatment, and intensive case management. It would include an evaluation component to evaluate effectiveness.

How You Can Help

Check back often for updates.
Share your thoughts on what's needed.
Help us identify older adults who have lost their homes or who are at risk.
Let policy makers know why older adults face homelessness and ask for their support.

To Learn More

For more on how you can help, visit CWDA's website: Home Safe: Homeless Prevention for Vulnerable Seniors.
To learn more, visit CEJC's Toolkit on Elder Homelessness

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