A Message from OVW Acting Director Catherine Pierce
Today, OVW proudly joins international organizations and countries around the world to recognize June 15, 2009 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. By 2030, the number of Americans aged 65 and older will more than double to 71 million older Americans, comprising roughly 20 percent of the U.S. population. Unfortunately, as the number of older Americans increases, so does the number of potential victims of elder abuse.
Individuals 50 years of age or older who are victims of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, face unique barriers in receiving assistance. OVW's Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women in Later in Life Program funds projects providing a comprehensive approach to addressing elder abuse. The Abuse of Women in Later in Life Program currently funds grantees in 26 communities across the nation where police, prosecutors, the judiciary, victim- service organizations, governmental agencies, and organizations serving older victims are working together to create or support multidisciplinary collaborative community responses for older victims. Please visit OVW's website for additional information on how you can raise public awareness about confronting elder abuse in your community.
Last month, OVW awarded the first round of Recovery Act awards to States and state coalitions to support comprehensive strategies addressing sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. These awards not only support coordination among state agencies and victim service organizations, but offer an opportunity for our field victim services agencies to be part of our nation's economic recovery.
Please visit your state's STOP Administering agency for information on how your state plans to award ARRA STOP funds. A complete list of state contacts can be found on OVW's website: http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/stop-contactlist.htm.
Sharing his vision for safe and healthy families, Attorney General Eric Holder recently addressed participants at the OVW-sponsored National Summit on the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment via video message. The Attorney General emphasized the "importance of healthy relationships and that all of us need to be role models and mentors for our children so that they have the best chance of living in communities and families free from violence." OVW continues to make ending the cycle of violence a priority in our programmatic and policy work, and we wish to extend our gratitude to all participants for making the conference an enormous success!
Last week, The Honorable Patrick Leahy convened the Senate Committee on the Judiciary to hold a hearing on "The Continued Importance of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)." Senators, survivors, advocates, and victims' families testified on the effects of change in the way communities around the country respond to violence against women, as a direct result of VAWA funding. Additional information from the committee hearing is available on the Senate Judiciary Committee's website.
I continue to be inspired by your work and am grateful to those of you who have devoted your lives to preventing and ending violence against women. We know none of this would be possible without your continued commitment and dedication. We thank you for working with us and each other. The Attorney General, and our President stand with you.
Sincerely,
Catherine Pierce
Acting Director
Office on Violence Against Women
U.S. Department of Justice
|
