Elder abuse cases are complex, often requiring multiple systems to respond to them. Developing a multidisciplinary team (MDT) can be a solution for communities seeking to enhance their response, combat elder abuse, and assist victims.
MDTs enable experts from multiple disciplines and systems to come together to review cases, coordinate responses, provide efficient and holistic interventions, and improve outcomes for survivors.
With funding support from OVC, the National Elder Abuse MDT Training and Technical Assistance Center (National Center) provides case consultations, training, and technical assistance to OVC MDTs throughout the country.
The National Center recently released its inaugural e-bulletin for OVC elder abuse MDT grantees, which features a message from OVC Director Kristina Rose. In her message, Director Rose states,
“MDTs reduce the number of barriers older citizens have to navigate and create an integrated array of services tailored to more comprehensively meet their needs. MDTs promote greater awareness of available services, and improve access to, and receipt of, services. The informal social support, enhanced monitoring, and follow-up beyond the crisis period, may help to keep older citizens safer and more secure. Understanding victims’ comprehensive needs coupled with an ability to address those needs in a trauma-informed and victim-centered way, holds promise for addressing the myriad forms of elder abuse.”
The monthly e-bulletin will provide OVC elder abuse MDT grantees with updates on—
- key National Center developments;
- the work of grantees and various professionals within the Center’s network; and
- important resources, trainings/webinars, and conferences.