The John T. Gorman Foundation has made a grant to support the work of Maine’s new Elder Justice Coordinating Partnership. The following is a press release from the Maine Securities Administration announcing the partnership’s first meeting today. The initiative is being led by John T. Gorman Fellow Jaye Martin, executive director of Legal Services for the Elderly, a longtime partner in the Foundation’s work to help Maine seniors age in place.
Maine Securities Administrator and Executive Director of Legal Services for the Elderly Announce the Convening of Partnership to Develop Maine’s First Elder Justice Roadmap
Private and public sector experts partner in effort to combat elder abuse in Maine
GARDINER – Maine Securities Administrator Judith Shaw and Executive Director of Legal Services for the Elderly Jaye Martin announced today that the Elder Justice Coordinating Partnership, established last year by Executive Order, will hold its first meeting at 11:00 a.m. on September 23, 2020. Meetings of the Partnership will be held virtually and can be viewed by accessing this link.
Shaw serves as the Public Sector Co-chair of the Partnership while Martin serves as the Private Sector Co-chair. The twenty-two member Partnership aims to break down silos to coordinate a multi-agency and multi-sector response to elder abuse with the goals of: 1) identifying challenges to the prevention of, detection of, and response to elder abuse; 2) developing strategic priorities across the public and private sectors to prevent and respond to elder abuse; and 3) making recommendations regarding direct services, education, public policy, and data collection and evaluation, including legislative changes, if any. The Partnership will submit these recommendations in the form of a “Elder Justice Roadmap” to the Governor no later than December 8, 2021.
“Every single member of this Partnership is already working hard to combat elder abuse, but all of our agencies and organizations face numerous challenges that are beyond the scope of any one organization or sector to address,” said Director Martin. “I know many of us feel we have been losing ground in the fight against elder abuse and yet with no structure in place to better coordinate our work or develop a shared plan for responding to abuse it was hard to see how things might improve. This new public/private Partnership provides the needed leadership structure to put Maine on a path toward success in preventing and stopping elder abuse.”
“All Maine citizens are entitled to age gracefully and without fear of abuse and exploitation,” stated Administrator Shaw. “No matter what form the abuse takes, we must do all we can to protect our elderly family, friends and neighbors.”
The Partnership will meet at the discretion of the Co-Chairs who were appointed by Governor Janet Mills along with the rest of the membership. Membership will serve without compensation; however, the work of the Partnership is supported by a grant from the John T. Gorman Foundation.
“This is an important day for Maine seniors and their ability to age safely in their communities,” said John T. Gorman Foundation President and CEO Tony Cipollone. “The John T. Gorman Foundation is privileged to support this initiative to harness, coordinate, and strengthen statewide efforts to protect our seniors from abuse and exploitation. Our deep thanks to Governor Mills and her administration, as well as Legal Services for the Elderly and many others, for working together to improve the safety and well-being of older Mainers.”
The complete membership of the Elder Justice Coordinating Partnership is as follows:
Chairs:
- Jaye L. Martin, Private Sector Chair, Executive Director, Legal Services for the Elderly
- Judith M. Shaw, Public Sector Chair, Administrator, Maine Office of Securities
Private Sector Members:
- Elizabeth Ward Saxl, Executive Director, Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Francine Garland Stark, Executive Director, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence
- Patricia Kimball, Executive Director, Elder Abuse Institute of Maine
- Brenda Gallant, Executive Director, Maine Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
- Katlyn Blackstone, Chief Program Officer, Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging
- Patrick Ende, Of Counsel, Disability Rights Maine
Public Sector Members:
- Jeanne M. Lambrew, PhD, Commissioner, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
- Erin Salvo, Associate Director, Adult Protective Services, Office of Aging and Disability Services
- Karen Mason, Associate Director, Aging and Long Term Care Services and Supports, Office of Aging and Disability Services
- Ellen Nelson, Regional Associate Director, Office of Child and Family Services
- William Montejo, Director, Division of Licensing and Certification
- Emily Moores, MHA, Senior Health Program Manager, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Michael Sauschuck, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety
- Colonel John E. Cote, Maine State Police
- Morgan Connolly, Deputy Director, Office of Behavioral Health
- Leanne Robbin, Assistant Attorney General, Maine Office of the Attorney General
- Sheriff Joel Merry, Sagadahoc County
- Kathryn M. Slattery, District Attorney, York County
- Andrew McCormack, Assistant United States Attorney and Elder Justice Coordinator
- Officer Candice L. Simeoni, Kennebunk Police Department
