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September 28, 2007

Rhode Island gets grant to stop elder-women abuse

Rhode Island has secured a $320,972 federal grant to develop and carry out statewide training that aims to end abuse against older women.

The grant will be used over three years to accomplish the initiative, according to a news release from U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed.

The grant goes to Day One -- the sexual assault and trauma resource center -- and includes as partners the state attorney general's office, the Department of Elderly Affairs, the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, and state Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

“The needs of older woman who are victims of violence are different than those of other age groups,” Kennedy said in the statement. “They are very often the caregiver of an extended family and feel a tremendous responsibility to remain quiet, even while the abuse may threaten their personal safety."

Reed stated: "Too often, older women and senior citizens are targeted by criminals. We need to do more to protect our older citizens from abuse and violent crime."

The goal is for the organizations to work with other community and state agencies to create a "statewide systemic response" to women victims of sexual abuse and violence later in life.

From 2001 to 2005, 1,359 incidents of domestic violence against people 60 or older were reported to Rhode Island police, according to estimates from the lawmakers.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 4:18 PM | Permalink

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