The Center on Abuse in Later Life grew out of H-GAC's three-year old Elder Justice Program with the goal of protecting and supporting victims by building a coordinated community response to crimes of elder abuse. When H-GAC began providing direct services to seniors recovering from crime in 2018, staff quickly realized that there was a lack of formal training for those investigating and prosecuting elder abuse, as well as those helping the victims recover. The Center for Abuse in Later Life was established to bring specialized training, national best practices and technical assistance in elder abuse to government and non-profit agencies throughout H-GAC's thirteen-county region. 

Texas is experiencing an increase of elder abuse cases and the FBI forecasts that the number of elder abuse crimes will double by 2030. Increased victimization has major implications for Texas, which has the nation’s third-largest senior population.

Violence Against Women Act funds are used to launch Multi-Disciplinary Case Review Teams (e.g. technical assistance, in-region training by national experts, a shared Regional Board of Experts). Our Multi-Disciplinary Case Review Teams are currently in three urban counties: Fort Bend, Galveston and Montgomery; and four rural counties: Chambers, Liberty, Matagorda and Wharton. H-GAC has a long-term goal of establishing Multi-Disciplinary Case Review Teams in all thirteen H-GAC counties. Trainings and case consultation are offered to criminal justice and non-profit agencies throughout H-GAC’s thirteen county region to prepare responders to handle elder abuse cases. The grant renewal would run from September 1, 2021, through August 31, 2022.

Criminal Justice Division, Office of the Governor

Yes            

Request authorization to submit an application for Fiscal Year 2022 Violence Against Women Act funding; total amount not to exceed $324,845. (Staff Contact: Ronnie Barnes)