This installment of Monroe County Office for the Aging’s (MCOFA’s) Diversity Dialogues will focus on Indian culture and be offered via Zoom.

See September 9th event (Day 1) for more information and registration link.

An education program presented by the Alzheimer’s Association

Join the Alzheimer’s Association for the latest updates on Research into Alzheimer's disease. Get the facts and learn about next steps, including information on: treatments for early-stage Alzheimer's Disease; updates on U.S. Pointer Study and Part the Cloud Research; role of blood tests to detect Alzheimer's Disease; and local research on caregiver support strategies

Speakers include Dr. Maria Quiñones-Cordero, Associate Director Hubard Center for Nursing, University of Rochester, and Erica Salamida, NENY Director of Community Outreach and ALZ Research Champion

Join Commit to Connect for the 2025 National Summit to Increase Social Connections, a two-day virtual event focused on this year’s theme: “Scaling and Replicating Effective Social Connection Programs.”

The event will bring together local, state, and national leaders from across sectors to grow the social connections of older adults and people with disabilities. Participants will gain insights into innovative programs, promising practices, and resources that promote social connection, as well as strategies and mechanisms to grow, replicate, and scale social connection programs nationwide.

Registration is free but required. This event will include CART captioning and ASL interpretation. Contact info@committoconnect.org with any questions.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) Office for Older Americans is offering a new webinar on protecting older adults from financial exploitation:

Mild cognitive impairment, which often goes undiagnosed in older adults, can adversely affect financial decision-making, leaving vulnerable adults at risk for financial exploitation. Financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse, and the research suggests a change in financial management and skills may be an early indicator of cognitive decline. Although a person may be able to perform simple tasks such as writing checks or paying bills, they may have difficulty with more complex tasks such as balancing a checkbook or managing investments. 

Advances in the neuroscience of cognition and aging can help family members and professionals recognize the signs of poor monetary management and take steps to respond to and prevent the financial risks associated with early cognitive decline. Those research findings can be used to inform the work of law enforcement, adult protective services, financial institutions, clinicians, and other service providers. They are also relevant to older adults, themselves, who can be empowered to take steps to protect their financial well-being.

The webinar will feature presentations by:

• Dr. Nancy Hoffman, geriatric neuropsychologist: As an expert and practitioner specializing in the neuropsychological assessment of cognition in older adults, Ms. Hoffman will share insights into cognitive capacity and how it relates to vulnerability to financial exploitation of older adults.

• Lisa Schifferle, CFPB’s Office for Older Americans: Ms. Schifferle will share resources for people considering a financial caregiver for a loved one experiencing cognitive decline.

The National Adult Protective Services (NAPSA) Monthly Scam Advice Forum

In August, guest presenters will share their insights into the challenges of working with those chronically revictimized and discuss suggested intervention strategies that can be helpful to their families and professionals who work with them. 

This is one of two parts focusing on those chronically revictimized.

Speakers:

Dr. Jennifer Lawrence is the lead clinician for the Peer Support Group at Fight Cybercrime. She has experience working in a variety of settings including health care, hospitals, institutes of higher education, community-based mental health agencies, state and government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. She is an experienced clinician who is trained in multiple treatment modalities and is also a trainer for various mental health and suicide prevention and intervention workshops. Having presented on the topic of mental health and wellness, the neurobiology of trauma, de-escalation techniques, resiliency and burnout prevention, and cybercrimes and romance scams, Jen is passionate about providing low-barrier engagement around mental health and wellbeing topics.

Dr. Anthony Pratkanis’s research on fraud was the first research to document: the effectiveness of reverse boiler rooms for fraud prevention; the most effective prevention messages and measures; the weapon in a fraud crime is social influence including a detailed analysis of persuasion used in con crimes; anyone can be a victim of a fraud (there is no victim profile or victim-deficit); fraud criminals often tailor their pitch to fit the victim; life stresses increase fraud vulnerability; financial literacy increases the risk of victimization; among other findings. His current focus is on (a) the modus operandi of confidence grifters and (b) the nature of chronic re-victimization along with the best intervention strategies

The National Adult Protective Services (NAPSA) R2P August Webinar

In 2021, IDOA added a two-day simulation training to the Adult Protection Services (APS) Certification training. Trainees engage in simulations of typical APS caseworker encounters with clients. Simulation training is thought to help adult protection caseworkers transfer the learning from the classroom to practice and increase caseworkers’ competence and confidence in their work. A two-year program evaluation was conducted between 2022 and 2003 to collect trainees’ experience through an online survey. Both quantitative and qualitative data sources indicated the positive impact of the simulation training on trainees’ confidence during the training and after the training. The program evaluation suggests that the simulation training makes a valued and effective contribution to IDoA’s Certification training of APS caseworkers.

PRESENTERS INCLUDE: Yu-Ling Chiu is a Senior Research Specialist and Research Assistant Professor at the Children and Family Research Center in the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Urbana– Champaign. Claudia Kemple is a Training Specialist in the Office of Adult Protective Services at the Illinois Department on Aging.

Presented by Justice in Aging

The webinar will provide a high-level overview of major issues facing older immigrants in 2025. This webinar will also provide advocates with information regarding the recent sharing of private Medicaid information to immigration officials, the narrowing of immigrant eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid, and the erosion of protected areas from immigration enforcement.

Presenters will discuss: • Who older immigrants are; • Developments in immigration policies impacting older adults; and • General guidance for advocates who work with older immigrants with resources from Justice in Aging and our partners.

Who Should Participate: Advocates for and professionals working with older immigrants and other aging and disability stakeholders.

Presenters: • Denny Chan, Managing Director, Equity Advocacy, Justice in Aging • Tiffany Huyenh-Cho, Director, California Medicare & Medicaid Advocacy, Justice in Aging • Sahar Takshi, Senior Attorney, Equity Advocacy, Justice in Aging

The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice and Westchester County's Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) invite you to this educational program, offered via Zoom.

About the Presentation: Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) is an end-of-life option for terminally ill, mentally competent adults that is legal in 12 jurisdictions. New York is on the cusp of becoming the 13th state to legalize MAID, with the bill awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature. This CLE reviews the legal history of MAID in the US from the first ballot initiative in 1988 to cases now pending before the Third and Ninth Circuits. Professor Pope illuminates how MAID laws differ from state to state, and where the New York law falls on this continuum. He demystifies the law’s eligibility criteria and safeguards. He addresses common themes from opponents, including that MAID fails to protect vulnerable adults and that patients may be coerced into requesting MAID.

About the Presenter: Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD, HEC-C is a foremost expert on medical law and clinical ethics. He focuses on patient rights and healthcare decision making, especially at the end of life. A fellow of the Hastings Center and previously both a Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Health Law, Policy, and Ethics, and a visiting scholar with the Brocher Foundation in Switzerland; Pope is now a Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Saint Paul, Minnesota. While Professor Pope serves in a range of consulting capacities, he has been particularly influential through extensive high-impact scholarship. Ranked among the Top 20 most-cited health law scholars, Pope has over 300 publications in medical, law, and bioethics journals. His books include: • The Right to Die: The Law of End-of-Life Decision Making and • Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking: A Compassionate, Widely Available Option for Hastening Death. His Medical Futility Blog has received over 5 million pageviews. And he writes for both UPTODATE and The Merck Manual. Particularly notable among Professor Pope’s publications are policy guidance statements on ethics in critical care for major professional medical societies, and clinical practice guidelines on topics such as brain death and medical aid in dying. Apart from scholarship, Pope has been a legal consultant and expert witness in court cases involving end-of-life treatment.

Join The National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence and the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence for a 2-part webinar series that will highlight valuable tools and strategies for addressing elder abuse and safety in AANHPI communities.

Session 2: Community Care for AANHPI Elders and Caregivers Date: August 14, 202511 a.m. (PST) / 12 p.m. (MST) / 1 p.m. (CST) / 2 p.m. (EST) for 60 mins

This session will explore culturally grounded, strengths-based approaches to supporting AANHPI elders facing domestic violence, family violence, sexual assault, neglect, and other forms of harm. Panelists will share their practices for care and offer guidance on how to support elders and their family caregivers who navigate complex relationships that may be marked by past or current harms, unhealed relationships, and generational trauma.

Presented by End Violence Against Women (EVAW)

Even with increased training and awareness, many professionals still struggle with interviewing sexual assault victims in a way that balances investigative goals with a trauma-informed approach. Whether you’re a law enforcement officer, healthcare provider, advocate, or part of a multidisciplinary team, conducting an effective interview is critical, and often challenging. This practical, strategy-driven session moves beyond theory and offers tools you can apply immediately. Participants will explore why sexual assault victim interviews often go wrong and how trauma affects memory and communication. They will also learn how to build trust, avoid common missteps, and gather more accurate case information. With a focus on techniques that work in any setting (urban, rural, or suburban), this session is grounded in real-world experience and designed to improve outcomes for both victims and investigations.

Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be better able to: build rapport and establish trust from the very first interaction and ask effective, non-leading questions that elicit detailed and reliable information; recognize and respond to trauma symptoms without compromising the interview process; avoid common interviewing pitfalls that can retraumatize victims or weaken case integrity.

$49 or with subscription

The 2025 Office of Victim Services (OVS) Conference has 3 webinar offerings, which will lead up to the main event! This is the third webinar.

Webinars are free of charge, and open to all OVS-funded advocates and allied professionals. You do not need to be registered for the OVS Conference to attend these free events. Registration for each webinar is required.

Speaker: Nikki Patin, Founder, Executive Producer, Surviving the Mic

In 2014, Nikki Patin decided that she was tired of asking public performance spaces and their producers to hold space for the work of survivors of sexual violence. Starting as 10 week workshop series for spoken word artists who identified as Black, woman and survivors of sexual violence, Surviving the Mic (StM) evolved into a groundbreaking survivor-led open mic and workshop series. Surviving the Mic: How to Make A Brave Space will, highlight the differences between holding safe space and brave space; break down the StM Alignments (a set of survivor-led, co-created agreements that were designed with brave space as the intended outcome), with the opportunity for participants to begin envisioning their own brave spaces; facilitate a discussion with participants on how to center survivors and their artistic work, including best practices for building collaboration between cultural and educational organizations and clinical and social service providers to best support survivor artists. The StM Brave Space Experience will then immerse participants in building and engaging their own brave space with a mini writing workshop and reading salon, as well as a performance by Nikki Patin. As a result of this session, attendees will gain insight into a survivor-led model for holding brave, artistic space. 

The 2025 Office of Victim Services (OVS) Conference has 3 webinar offerings, which will lead up to the main event! This is the second webinar.

Webinars are free of charge, and open to all OVS-funded advocates and allied professionals. You do not need to be registered for the OVS Conference to attend these free events. Registration for each webinar is required.

Speaker: Shirin Mazdeyasna, Trauma Therapist, REACH Center of MHACG

Creative arts therapy offers a powerful and innovative approach to trauma recovery, providing individuals with a non-verbal medium to process and heal from the emotional and psychological wounds caused by abuse and crime. This presentation explores the role of art therapy in facilitating the recovery of survivors, particularly in the context of a rape crisis center. Drawing from personal experience as an art therapist working with adult survivors of sexual violence, the presentation will delve into the various ways art therapy can foster emotional expression, support the processing of traumatic memories, and empower clients to regain a sense of safety and agency.

As a result of this session, attendees will: gain practical insights into how rape crisis centers function, gain practical insights into what art therapy is and how it's used in this context, examine the use of art in trauma therapy in three different ways and different levels of skills.

To mark Internet Safety Month in June, the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) is rolling out a new interactive training webinar: Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence 101. This 90-minute course will help participants better understand and respond to digital and online threats and abuse.

Older adults reported to the FTC that they lost more than $2.3 billion to fraud in 2024. Newer versions of imposter scams are increasingly draining people’s hard-earned savings. Join experts from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), FINRA, the American Bankers Association Foundation, and the University of Minnesota for a one-hour panel discussion about scam trends impacting older adults and how to spot and avoid them.

Learn more about: the latest imposter scam trends; free tools to help protect consumers’ life savings; resources to combat against scams.

Opening remarks: Jennifer Leach, Associate Director of the FTC’s Division of Consumer and Business Education.

Moderator: Gema de las Heras, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC’s Division of Consumer and Business Education.

Panelists: Marti DeLiema, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota School of Social Work; Alicia Goldin, Associate General Counsel for Regulatory Practice & Policy, FINRA Foundation; Patty Hsue, Attorney, Division of Marketing Practices, FTC; Sam Kunjukunju, Vice President, Consumer Education, American Bankers Association Foundation.

Details to join the roundtable on July 31, 2025, at 1-2pm ET:

URL: https://ftc.zoomgov.com/j/1618920218?pwd=ZiFpJfQmUZbC0z2VYlNvmq6f8bCP7r.1

ID: 161 892 0218, Passcode: 975240

By phone: +1 646 828 7666 US (New York); +1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose); 833 568 8864 or 833 435 1820 US Toll-free

Join National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) as they present the results from the first APS Retention Survey administered in February 2024 by the National APS Training Center (NATC) in partnership with Purdue University. The survey developed by the field, for all-levels of current APS professionals, asked the question, “Why Have You Stayed in APS?”. By probing the following areas - demographics, education and training, individual factors, organizational factors, and open-ended retention questions – the survey yielded rich quantitative and qualitative results. 

Due to a lack of recruitment and retention research specific to the APS field, the data from this survey serves as an important guide and resource for future analysis and publications, including two upcoming manuscripts. Additionally, the survey and its data are integral components of the new NATC APS Recruitment & Retention Educational Tool, a capstone project freely accessible to APS programs and partners via the NAPSA website https://www.napsa-now.org/recruitment-and-retention/

After the workshop, participants will be able to: Describe the methodology and inputs for the first national APS retention survey. Identify the primary findings from the data. Discuss next steps and how you can use the survey data and NATC resources in your program.

The 2025 Office of Victim Services (OVS) Conference has 3 webinar offerings, which will lead up to the main event! This is the first webinar.

Webinars are free of charge, and open to all OVS-funded advocates and allied professionals. You do not need to be registered for the OVS Conference to attend these free events. Registration for each webinar is required.

Speaker: Andrew Campbell, CEO, Campbell Research & Consulting

Based on the presenter’s recently published book (Taking Back What Abuse Took: A Public Health Based Approach to Healing from Abuse) and ongoing research in this area, this presentation will focus on critical concepts for empowering victims of abuse to heal the deep emotional wounds created by abusive trauma. Key concepts include: the reality that one cannot heal from abuse until one is safe from abuse, healing as a process, the need for support and encouragement, eliminating other unhealthy behaviors that may have attached themselves during the abuse, the specific roles various victim-serving disciplines can play in the healing process, repairing self-worth, and restoring hope. Working to heal from abusive trauma better ensures the pain of one’s past does not continue to take from the good of one’s today.

As a result of this session, attendees will be able to: list the long term psychological effects of abuse victimization, identify harmful behaviors (coping mechanisms) that can attach themselves during abuse victimization. describe key public health based concepts for empowering survivors to heal from abuse.

This webinar is co-hosted by the Crime Victims Legal Network Team at Empire Justice Center.

HIV/AIDS, like domestic violence, is a serious public health issue. Both factors can influence help-seeking and increase risk of harm. Please join Colleen McCormack-Maitland, Esq., Director of Legal Services at the Legal Action Center, as she shares information about unique power and control dynamics, HIV criminalization laws, access to testing following victimization, HIV disclosure and partner notification policies, and anti-discrimination and privacy protections for people with positive diagnoses.

Empire Justice Center has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education in the State of New York. This program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of 1.0 CLE credit hours of which 1.0 can be applied toward the Professional Practice requirement. This course is both transitional and non-transitional and is appropriate for both new and experienced attorneys.

Webinar presented by the National Center for Victims of Crime

Behind every relationship scam is a person whose trust was betrayed. Join us for a candid panel discussion featuring experts and a relationship scam survivor as they unpack how these scams work, why they’re effective, and the profound emotional and financial toll these crimes have on those impacted. Learn about vital resources, such as peer support groups, available for victims and gain insights into how friends, families, and professionals can provide meaningful support. Whether you're a service provider, advocate, or concerned loved one, this discussion will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to respond effectively.

Panelists:

-          Robert Mascio, FINRA Investor Education Foundation

-          Kim Casci-Palangio, Cybercrime Support Network

-          Kim Camacho, National Center for Victims of Crime

Webinar presented by the Minnesota Elder Justice Center, via Zoom.

Providing support and services to older and vulnerable adults can be complex even in the most straightforward of circumstances, but that complexity is often accompanied by even more complex relationships. Blended families, conflictual adult children, and interested extended family and friends can be both great support and obstacles to security. MEJC advocates have a deep level of experience navigating these complex relationships in service provision. Presenters will provide case examples to explore advocacy techniques that honors these relationships while focusing on the primary participant through a person-centered lens.

Presenters:

-          Betsy M., Victim Services Manager, Minnesota Elder Justice Center

-          Marit Peterson, JD, Associate Director, Minnesota Elder Justice Center

Presented by the National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions (Lifespan)

We invite you to an engaging and practical webinar focused on building and sustaining Elder Justice Coalitions—where collaboration meets impact. Join Katie Block, MSW, MPH, author of Elder Justice Coalitions: A Resource Guide for Building and Sustaining Effective State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions, to learn about strategies, resources, and tools available for building, maintaining, and sustaining State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions.

This webinar is open to anyone interested in engaging in collaborative elder justice work—whether you're a seasoned professional, part of a coalition, exploring how to start one, or just entering the field. Join the conversation and discover tools for making a greater impact together.

Join Willow Domestic Violence Center and Empire Justice Center to learn about Domestic Violence in LGBTQ+ relationships. Will discuss unique tactics and barriers these survivors face as well as navigating the legal world today.

Via Zoom

Who Should Attend: This training is meant for providers, advocates, and anyone centered on creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ Survivors.

The Monroe County Office for the Aging (MCOFA) presents this fourth installment of diversity training. This session will focus on Puerto Rican culture. Held via Zoom.

Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA) Elder Justice Training Institute 2024-2025 Workshop #5

JASA is recognized as a leading provider of professional education for professionals who work with elder abuse survivors.  

Thousands of older adults in New York are abused, neglected, and exploited yearly, and the number is growing. JASA’s Elder Justice Training Institute offers five interdisciplinary workshops that improve understanding and response to the various forms of elder abuse. The Institute educates social service, health, legal, and financial professionals, and the public.

These virtual sessions, designed for social work and legal professionals, will offer training on evidence-based practices to support vulnerable older adults. These trainings will include enhanced safety planning, multidisciplinary approaches to case assessment, strategies to secure appropriate community and city government resources, and interventions to resolve the abuse.

There is a $60 fee to participate for each session.

An impactful and transformative workshop tailored specifically for professionals, caregivers, and community members dedicated to supporting families facing the complex challenges of substance abuse, mental illness, and elder abuse. This workshop will feature expert-led sessions, interactive discussions, and evidence-based strategies to equip participants with the tools and resources necessary to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve. Participants will be able to engage in case studies, share experiences, and build a supportive network with like-minded individuals committed to fostering resilience and promoting healing within their communities

Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center’s (OVCTTAC’s) National Victim Assistance Academy

Collaborations are a primary strategy to help an organization achieve its mission, yet they are often difficult to implement and sustain. The Developing and Sustaining Collaborations training will identify methods you can use to explore, plan, implement, and evaluate strategic collaborations. This training is designed for victim service providers who are responsible for developing and sustaining collaborations.

This training will be delivered online, over the course of 4 weeks, beginning on June 30, 2025. Each week, except for the introductory week, will include a facilitated webinar. There are recommended readings and videos, as well as written assignments.

This (virtual, via Zoom) conference from L:ifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc. is designed to inform, inspire, and foster meaningful dialogue around the critical work of the NYS Elder Abuse Summit Implementation Project. This year, a major focus of the Project has been partnering with faith leaders—trusted figures whom older adults often turn to for guidance in moments of distress. When older adults face abuse or mistreatment, many seek support from their faith communities. This event will report on that crucial work and the collaborative efforts taking place to empower faith leaders and protect vulnerable individuals.

Highlights: A brief overview of the 2021 New York State Elder Abuse Summit. A detailed look at a newly developed training on elder abuse for faith leaders, including discussion with agencies that have helped pilot the curriculum statewide.

Keynote speaker: Caura Richardson, Director, New York State Office of Faithand Nonprofit Development Services

ASL interpreting available upon request. We kindly ask that those in need of interpretation register at least one week in advance. Contact hours for CEUs are available for LM- and LCSWs. Lifespanof Greater Rochester SW CPE is recognized by the New York StateEducation Department’s State Board for Social work as an approvedprovider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0089.

Join San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services and the Institute on Aging's Elder Abuse Prevention program in this information webinar focusing on the connection of isolation and risks of elder abuse. This webinar is designed to identify different types of isolation for older adults and adults with disabilities, examine possible isolation red flags in connecting to abuse, and how minimizing isolation can lower the risk of elder abuse. This webinar will dive into critical tools and resources to both break isolation and preventing elder abuse.

 Presenter: Ali Chiu, Lead Supervisor of Consultative Services Institute on Aging

Webinar objectives:

By the end of the webinar, participants will learn five types of isolation forms, connect dots between isolation and risks of elder abuse, gain knowledge of critical tools and resources to better support elder abuse survivors in staying safe and connected.

National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) Monthly Scam Advice Forum

Emma Fletcher will introduce the FTC’s Sentinel database and present an overview of what the data reveals about older adults’ experiences with scams. The session will also highlight the latest Data Spotlight on text scams, including the rising trend in reported losses from scams initiated by text message and the top five most-reported text scams. In addition, information will be shared about free consumer protection resources available from the FTC.

 This forum will not be recorded so be sure to register and attend!

SPEAKER: Emma Fletcher joined the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection in 2017 as a Presidential Management Fellow. She previously served in the Division of Consumer and Business Education and currently serves in the Division of Consumer Response and Operations, focusing on projects at the intersection of data analysis and consumer education. Ms. Fletcher authors FTC’s Consumer Protection Data Spotlight publications, exploring trends seen in reports to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network. She previously worked as the Director of Scam and Fraud Initiatives at the Better Business Bureau. Ms. Fletcher received her B.S. in psychology from James Madison University and holds a master’s degree in public administration from George Mason University.