April 1, 2022
The federal government is soliciting proposals to fund various programs that prevent and address elder abuse. As noted in a recent NASW Practice Perspective, social workers are currently involved in similar grant-funded programs and play critical roles in elder justice. Details regarding each program and a brief resource list follow.
Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life
- Funding source: Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), U.S. Department of Justice
- Purpose: support a comprehensive approach to addressing abuse in later life, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, neglect, and exploitation toward people who are at least 50 years old
- Eligible entities: states; units of local government; tribal governments or tribal organizations; population specific organizations with demonstrated experience in assisting individuals over 50 years of age; victim service providers with demonstrated experience in addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and state, tribal, or territorial domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions
- Applications due: April 21 or 26, depending on the platform used
Elder Justice Innovation Grants – Improving Results for APS Clients FY2022
- Funding source: Administration for Community Living (ACL)
- Purpose: Assess and understand community services that produce better outcomes for people transitioning from short-term Adult Protective Services interventions to broader community-based programs that remediate and prevent recurrence of abuse over the longer term
- Eligible entities: state, local, and tribal governments; community-based and faith-based organizations; hospitals; and institutions of higher education
- Applications due: May 6
Elder Justice Innovation Grants – Enhancing APS Approaches to Cases Involving Opioids and Substance Use Disorders FY2022
- Funding source: ACL
- Purpose: Identify effective strategies and solutions that are expected to maximize the impact of direct home- and community-based social, health, and mental–behavioral health services for APS clients impacted by the opioid epidemic and by other substance use disorders
- Eligible entities: state, local, and tribal governments; community-based and faith-based organizations; hospitals; and institutions of higher education
- Applications due: May 3
Legal Assistance Enhancement Program
- Funding source: ACL
- Purpose: increase the effectiveness of legal assistance provided to older adults by breaking down barriers to accessing legal assistance, increasing the availability of legal assistance (especially for historically underrepresented populations of older adults), and enhancing the efficacy of legal assistance to meet the evolving needs of older adults.
- Eligible entities: state, local, and tribal governments; community-based and faith-based organizations; hospitals; and institutions of higher education
- Applications due: May 3
Additional Resources
Background related to current funding announcements:
- Abuse in Later Life Program: Late Life Domestic Violence (ACL); OVW Abuse in Later Life Grant Program (National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life)
- Elder Justice Innovation Grants (ACL)
- Legal Assistance Enhancement Program (ACL)
NASW Practice Perspectives:
- Federal Funding for and Administration of Elder Justice Programs
- Elder Abuse & COVID-19
- Elder Justice & Racial Justice
- Strengthening Communities for Elder Justice
Other elder justice resources:
- Protecting Rights and Ending Abuse (ACL program area)
- National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)
- World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (ACL–NCEA–USC Center for Elder Justice)
Written by: Chris Herman, MSW, LICSW, NASW Senior Practice Associate, Aging
