In 2016, the new VOCA Formula Victim Assistance Rule clarified and expanded states’ allowable uses of VOCA victim assistance funding. With this clarification, states were able to identify more ways to support all victims, including victims of elder abuse.
Below are examples of VOCA-funded elder abuse programs and the VOCA offices that funded them. Visit OVC’s Elder Fraud & Abuse microsite for more information on this topic.
The programs listed below are not equipped to respond to calls for immediate assistance, such as calls intended for Adult Protective Services. If you experience an emergency, call 911. If you or someone you know has been a victim of elder fraud, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
Additionally, you may also contact your state’s reporting agency.
| State | VOCA-Funded Elder Abuse Program | VOCA Administrator |
| Alabama | Elderly and Disabled Adult Victim Services (EDAVS) provides direct short-term services to elderly and disabled victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The project provides short-term in-home sitter or homemaker services to ensure victims’ safety and avoid unnecessary out-of-home placement and short-term placement funding for adults requiring emergency out-of-home placements including nursing home, assisted living, and foster care. Tammy Fuller, EDAVS Coordinator Adult Protective Services–Department of Human Resources Phone: 334-353-4901 Email: [email protected] | EDAVS is funded by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Contact VOCA Administrator Derek Yarbrough, at 334-353-3252 for more information. |
| California | The Elder Abuse Forensic Center provides additional services in medicine and neuropsychology to provide comprehensive services and achieve better outcomes for the elder and dependent adult population in Riverside County. Bertha Sanchez-Hayden, Directing Attorney Email: [email protected] | The Elder Abuse Forensic Center is funded through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Contact Leigh Bills, MSW, Victim Services Division Chief, at [email protected] or 916-845-8280; and Claire Wimbley-Brown, Chief, Underserved Victims Unit, at [email protected] or 916-845-8210, for more information. |
| California | Bet Tzedek’s Elder Justice Team provides comprehensive legal and social services to victims of elder and dependent adult abuse in Los Angeles County. Sarah Jampol, Director of Public Grants Bet Tzedek Legal Services 3250 Wilshire Boulevard, 13th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90010 Phone: 323-939-0506 Email: [email protected] | The Bet Tzedek’s Elder Justice Team is funded through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Contact Leigh Bills, MSW, Victim Services Division Chief, at [email protected] or 916-845-8280; and Diana Mazuka, Chief, Underserved Victims Unit, at 916-845-8262, for more information. |
| California | The HEART (Holistic Elder Abuse Response Team) Program provides case management, advocacy, and counseling to survivors of elder and dependent adult abuse in the Los Angeles area. Sarah Barnard, MSW, MFS Manager Elder Abuse Prevention Program WISE & Healthy Aging 1527 4th Street, 2nd Floor Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: 310-394-9871, ext. 423 | The HEART Program is funded through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Contact Leigh Bills, MSW, Victim Services Division Chief, at [email protected] or 916-845-8280; and Diana Mazuka, Chief Underserved Victims Unit, at 916-845–8262, for more information. |
| Colorado | SeniorSafetyNet is a program in which, working in tandem with partner agencies, provides a comprehensive network of supportive services, including victim advocacy, to victims of elder abuse. DDA Jane Walsh Director of Community Protection Office of the District Attorney 20th Judicial District P.O. Box 471 Boulder, CO 80306 Phone: 303-441-3789 Email: [email protected] | SeniorSafetyNet is funded through the Division of Criminal Justice, Office for Victims Programs. Contact VOCA Administrator Debbie Kasyon at 303-239-5703 or [email protected], for more information. |
| District of Columbia | The District’s Collaborative Training & Response for Older Victims (DC TROV) is a multidisciplinary community response team dedicated to providing training, increasing collaboration, and strategically planning services for victims of elder abuse. The team is comprised of:
Merry O’Brien | DC TROV is funded by the DC Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants. Contact VOCA Administrator Daniza Figueroa, at 202-442-4936 or [email protected], for more information. |
| Kansas | The Kansas Elder Rights Project provides civil legal assistance to seniors facing financial exploitation and other financial crimes, as well as those facing physical or emotional abuse from family members. Alexandra English Kansas Elder Rights Project Phone: 912-621-0200 Email: [email protected] | The Kansas Elder Rights Project is funded by the Kansas Governor’s Federal Grant Program. Contact VOCA Administrator Juliene Maska at [email protected], for more information. |
| Kentucky | ElderServe’s Crime Victim Services assists older adults 60+ in Jefferson County who are victims of crime, including but not limited to crimes of financial exploitation, abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, robbery, burglary, and caregiver neglect. Shannon Gadd, Senior Director of Programs ElderServe 215 West Breckinridge Street Louisville, KY 40203 Phone: 502-587-8673 Email: [email protected] | ElderServe’s Crime Victim Services is funded through the Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet VOCA Award. Contact VOCA Administrator Susan LeMay at [email protected], for more information. |
| Maine | Martha’s Cottage (The Elder Abuse Institute of Maine) provides transitional housing and supportive services that help older victims escape abusive situations and find long-term safety and peace. Patricia Kimball Executive Director Elder Abuse Institute of Maine 14 Maine Street, Box 4 Brunswick, ME 04011 Website: www.eaime.org Phone: 207-449-8805 | Martha’s Cottage funding is provided by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Contact VOCA Administrator Alicia Hunter, Violence Prevention Program Manager, at 207-592-0315, or [email protected], for more information. |
| Maine | Legal Services for the Elderly (LSE) provides civil legal assistance to older adults 60+ who live in Maine and are victims of crimes, including but not limited to crimes of financial exploitation, abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and neglect. LSE also engages community education activities and LSE attorneys serve on multidisciplinary elder abuse task forces across the State of Maine. Jaye Martin Executive Director Legal Services for the Elderly 5 Wabon Street Augusta, ME 04330 Phone: 207-620-3103 Email: [email protected] | LSE funding is provided by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Contact VOCA Administrator Alicia Hunter, Violence Prevention Program Manager, at 207-592-0315, or [email protected], for more information. |
| Maryland | Maryland Legal Aid employs a lawyer and a paralegal to provide free civil legal services to victims of elder abuse in partnership with a social services provider, CHANA. Emily Alt Director of Program Development & Compliance Maryland Legal Aid 500 East Lexington Street Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: 410-951-7688 Email: [email protected] | Maryland Legal Aid is funded through the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services. Contact VOCA Administrator Sharon Leason at [email protected] or 410-697-9386, for more information. |
| Michigan | The Area Agency on Aging IIIC victim assistance program ("Services to Victims of Elder Abuse") is dedicated to serve the needs of victims of elder and dependent adult abuse, neglect, and/or financial exploitation in Branch and St. Joseph counties. Any victim age 60 or older, or, age 18 or older and dependent on others due to disability, is eligible to receive assistance and support. Joshua Englehart Elder Abuse Victim Specialist Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging (IIIC) Phone: 517-278-2538 Danielle Newhouse Elder Abuse Victim Specialist Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging (IIIC) Phone: 517-278-2538 | The Services to Victims of Elder Abuse Program serves is funded through the Division of Victim Services. Contact DVS Director Debi Cain, at [email protected], for more information. |
| Ohio | The Area Agency on Aging 3's Awakenings Victim Outreach Program helps to assist victims of crime to remain independent at home in their community of choice while moving their mindset from victimization to one of being a survivor. The agency provides direct services such as care management, information and referrals, personal advocacy, emotional support, safety services, shelter/housing, criminal/civil justice assistance, and community education to a seven county service area. The program services victims aged 60 and older or under 60 with a disability. Allison Stehlik Area Agency on Aging 3's Awakenings Victim Outreach Program Phone: 419-222-7723 Toll Free: 800-653-7723 Email: [email protected] | The Area Agency on Aging 3's Awakenings Victim Outreach Program is funded through the Ohio Attorney General's Office. Contact VOCA Administrator Rachel Hudson for more information. |
| Oregon | Oregon Elder Safe helps victims aged 65 and older after a crime is reported to police and continues to help them through the criminal justice system. Corine Haning, Program Educator Email: [email protected] | Oregon Elder Safe is funded through the Oregon Department of Justice. Contact VOCA Administrator Marjorie Doran, at 503-378-5059 or [email protected], for more information. |
| Pennsylvania | The Providing Advocacy for Victimized Elderly (PAVE) Program, at the Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE), provides victim advocacy for any adult over age 60 who has either been a victim or witness of a crime in Philadelphia, including older adult victims in long-term care facilities. Mariel Lorenz PAVE Program Supervisor/Victim Advocate Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly Two Penn Center 1500 JFK Boulevard, Suite 1500 Philadelphia, PA 19102-1728 Phone: 215-545-5728 Email: [email protected] | CARIE is funded through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Contact VOCA Administrator Kathy Buckley, at [email protected], for more information. |
| Pennsylvania | The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging's Victim Support Program assists Philadelphia residents, over 60 years of age, who are victims of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. The team assists victims of crimes in a variety of ways, including accompanying them to court, assisting with transportation and other tasks, and helping to find alternative placement. Tamika Morris Email: [email protected] | The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging's Victim Support Program is funded through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Contact VOCA Administrator Kathy Buckley, at [email protected], for more information. |
| Pennsylvania | SeniorLAW Center provides civil legal services, direct individual representation and community education on a wid e variety of topics to low-income Philadelphia residents who are 60 and over, and legal counseling, advice, information and referral services to seniors throughout Pennsylvania via its statewide SeniorLAW Helpline. Karen C. Buck, Executive Director SeniorLAW Center Two Penn Center 1500 JFK Boulevard, Suite 1501 Philadelphia, PA 19102-1728 Direct: 215-701-3201 Main: 215-988-1244 Email: [email protected] | The SeniorLAW Center is funded through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Contact VOCA Administrator, Kathy Buckley, at [email protected], for more information. |
| Tennessee | The Collaborative Response to Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse (CREVAA) program provides victim advocates who will seamlessly locate, coordinate, and ensure the provision of a variety of victim–centered, direct services and referrals to supplemental resources for elder and vulnerable adult victims of crime across Tennessee. Laura E. Brown, Esq. Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability 502 Deaderick Street, 9th Floor Andrew Jackson Building Nashville, TN 37243-0860 Phone: 615-253-4392 Email: [email protected] | CREVAA is funded through the Office of Criminal Justice Programs. Contact VOCA Administrator, Daina Moran, Deputy Director, Office of Criminal Justice Programs, at 615-253-8758 or [email protected] and see www.tn.gov/finance for more information. |
| Texas | The Senior Justice Assessment Center (SJAC) serves the complex and unique needs of senior victims of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation through a multidisciplinary team. Claudia Gonzalez, Program Director, 713-363-2320 Barbara Lopez, Program Manager, 713-363-2382 Senior Justice Assessment Center 2525 Murworth Drive Houston, TX 77054 | SJAC is funded through the Office of Governor Criminal Justice Division. Contact VOCA Administrator, Zena Hooper, Psy.D, at 512-463-1942 or [email protected], for more information. |
Date Modified: October 30, 2023
Date Published: October 30, 2023