March/April 2019
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News & Updates Archive
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CEJC News
CEJC's 2019 Policy Priorities
CEJC's policy agenda for 2019 focuses on safeguarding the state's most vulnerable members. This includes partnering with the County Welfare Directions Association (CWDA), the CA Commission on Aging (CCoA), and the CA State Association of PA/PG/PC on the following:
CEJC's 2019 Policy Priorities
CEJC's policy agenda for 2019 focuses on safeguarding the state's most vulnerable members. This includes partnering with the County Welfare Directions Association (CWDA), the CA Commission on Aging (CCoA), and the CA State Association of PA/PG/PC on the following:
- Enhanced Training for Adult Protective Services (APS) and Public Guardians. CEJC and its partners are co-sponsoring a budget request that builds upon the partners' successful 2016 advocacy that resulted in the Legislature and Governor approving $3 million to build a training infrastructure and the creation of a permanent state level Adult Protective Services Liaison within the California Department of Social Services. The APS training funds, which were leveraged with another $3 million in federal funds, run out in 2019-20.
- Senate Bill 440 calls for the creation of a Cognitive Impairment Task Force to explore the needs of adults with cognitive impairments and reduce their risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and discrimination. The Task Force will be charged to explore and respond to the needs of Californians with dementias, brain injuries, developmental disabilities, and other forms of cognitive impairment. For more information and to find out how you can help click here.
CEJC National Elder Justice Advocates Academy Helps Launch National Network
Following the Advocates Academy's 2018 ASA panel presentation and follow-up webinar "Building an Elder Justice Movement State by State," the panelists began meeting to explore the need for an ongoing network to foster collaboration and information sharing. The result is the newly formed National Network of State Elder Justice Coalitions (NNSEJC). To learn more, visit NNSEJC.
Following the Advocates Academy's 2018 ASA panel presentation and follow-up webinar "Building an Elder Justice Movement State by State," the panelists began meeting to explore the need for an ongoing network to foster collaboration and information sharing. The result is the newly formed National Network of State Elder Justice Coalitions (NNSEJC). To learn more, visit NNSEJC.
California News
Governor Newsom Commits to Aging Agenda
During his state of the state address, Governor Newsom acknowledged the state's growing aging population and the need for a new Master Plan on Aging, singling out the need for person-centered care and addressing the "patchwork of public services, social isolation, bed-locked seniors in need of transportation, the nursing shortage, and demand for In-Home Supportive Services that far outpaces its capacity." He also announced the launch of an Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force to bring together scientists and thinkers to develop first-of-its-kind research in this area. It will be headed by a leading advocate for families dealing with Alzheimer’s, our former first lady, Maria Shriver. She is here today and we are grateful for her continued service.
Governor Newsom Commits to Aging Agenda
During his state of the state address, Governor Newsom acknowledged the state's growing aging population and the need for a new Master Plan on Aging, singling out the need for person-centered care and addressing the "patchwork of public services, social isolation, bed-locked seniors in need of transportation, the nursing shortage, and demand for In-Home Supportive Services that far outpaces its capacity." He also announced the launch of an Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force to bring together scientists and thinkers to develop first-of-its-kind research in this area. It will be headed by a leading advocate for families dealing with Alzheimer’s, our former first lady, Maria Shriver. She is here today and we are grateful for her continued service.
DSS Funds 24 Home Safe Elder Homelessness Prevention Pilots
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has announced that it has awarded funds to 24 county APS programs in the state to launch Home Safe homelessness prevention programs. Funding for the programs was secured through a 2018 initiative spearheaded by the CWDA and co-sponsored by CEJC and the California Commission on Aging. The programs will assist APS clients who are experiencing, or at imminent risk of experiencing, homelessness due to elder or dependent adult abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation. Grantees will implement a range of strategies to support housing stability, including short-term financial assistance, legal services, eviction prevention, heavy cleaning, and landlord mediation. Grantees are also encouraged to collaborate with local homelessness networks. For more on the program and a list of counties that received grants, go to Home Safe Fact Sheet.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has announced that it has awarded funds to 24 county APS programs in the state to launch Home Safe homelessness prevention programs. Funding for the programs was secured through a 2018 initiative spearheaded by the CWDA and co-sponsored by CEJC and the California Commission on Aging. The programs will assist APS clients who are experiencing, or at imminent risk of experiencing, homelessness due to elder or dependent adult abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation. Grantees will implement a range of strategies to support housing stability, including short-term financial assistance, legal services, eviction prevention, heavy cleaning, and landlord mediation. Grantees are also encouraged to collaborate with local homelessness networks. For more on the program and a list of counties that received grants, go to Home Safe Fact Sheet.
National News
Senate Aging Committee Launches 116th Congress with Fraud Hearing
The Senate Special Committee on Aging held its first hearing of the 116th Congress, Fighting Elder Fraud: Progress Made, Work to Be Done, on January 16, 2019. The Committee considered progress made by federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat elder fraud and highlighted the need for continued action to fight fraud that has been the focus of the Committee’s work in recent years, including the ever-increasing number of nuisance robocalls. The committee also released its 2019 Fraud Book with information on the top 10 most common scams reported to its Fraud Hotline (1-855-303-9470) in 2018 and tips on ways to protect ourselves from scams. Last year, the Hotline received more than 1,500 calls from nearly every state. Once again, the IRS impersonation scam, was the most reported scam. Read the 2019 Fraud book here.
Senate Aging Committee Launches 116th Congress with Fraud Hearing
The Senate Special Committee on Aging held its first hearing of the 116th Congress, Fighting Elder Fraud: Progress Made, Work to Be Done, on January 16, 2019. The Committee considered progress made by federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat elder fraud and highlighted the need for continued action to fight fraud that has been the focus of the Committee’s work in recent years, including the ever-increasing number of nuisance robocalls. The committee also released its 2019 Fraud Book with information on the top 10 most common scams reported to its Fraud Hotline (1-855-303-9470) in 2018 and tips on ways to protect ourselves from scams. Last year, the Hotline received more than 1,500 calls from nearly every state. Once again, the IRS impersonation scam, was the most reported scam. Read the 2019 Fraud book here.
New Resources
Shelter, the Missing Link in a Coordinated Community Response to Elder Abuse
Produced by the Weinberg Center for Elder Justice, which was the first elder abuse shelter in the nation, this publication describes the Center's model and makes the case for why shelters are a vital component of coordinated community responses to abuse. The center also recently updated its website: weinberg-center.org.
Shelter, the Missing Link in a Coordinated Community Response to Elder Abuse
Produced by the Weinberg Center for Elder Justice, which was the first elder abuse shelter in the nation, this publication describes the Center's model and makes the case for why shelters are a vital component of coordinated community responses to abuse. The center also recently updated its website: weinberg-center.org.
Weigh In
Send a Letter of Support to Secure Training Funds for APS and Public Guardians
Click here for more information and for sample letters of support.
Send a Letter of Support to Secure Training Funds for APS and Public Guardians
Click here for more information and for sample letters of support.
ACL Seeking Stakeholder Input on EJCC
The Administration for Community Living is soliciting input from stakeholders about future activities they would like to see the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC) undertake. The EJCC coordinates federal activities related to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Comments can be submitted electronically at to [email protected] with “Thoughts and Ideas” in the subject line through September 30, 2019. for more, go to EJCC Comments.
The Administration for Community Living is soliciting input from stakeholders about future activities they would like to see the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC) undertake. The EJCC coordinates federal activities related to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Comments can be submitted electronically at to [email protected] with “Thoughts and Ideas” in the subject line through September 30, 2019. for more, go to EJCC Comments.