OVS VAP Connect

The Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan has 3 events happening in June! One is in-person in Rochester, the other 2 are online. 1 x 8.5 in) (2) (1).pdf Download PDF • 682KB Please consider attending all three of our opportunities!   On June 12th from 11am -12pm, I will be conducting an online Elder Abuse 101 webinar: Elder Abuse 101: The Basics for Aging Service & DV/SA Professionals. This event really can be useful to any professionals who work with older adults; whether it’s a new topic or just a refresher. This training is FREE but registration is required. See attached flyer for more information and to register (or click the link above). LMSW and LCSWs can earn 1 CEU for attending this online event.   On June 17th from 9am-3:30pm, Lifespan is hosting an in-person World Elder Abuse Awareness Day conference, featuring key note speaker Dr. Thomas Caprio, a geriatrician and hospice/palliative care physician at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Our day will include an interactive case study following an elder abuse survivor at ages 60, 70, and 80 as she navigates various healthcare and life scenarios. More information and registration is on the flyer, or here. I’m excited about this event; not only does it honor an important day, it also offers an opportunity for like-minded professionals to learn critical information and gather tools to help in the fight against elder abuse and mistreatment. LMSW and LCSWs can earn 5 CEUs for this in-person event.   NEW: On June 27th from 1-3pm, Lifespan is hosting an online event: Integrating Faith Leaders into Elder Abuse Services. This event explores the importance of integrating faith communities into the elder abuse prevention field. Faith leaders play a pivotal role in the lives of survivors, and their unique relationship with both the survivor and person(s) causing harm provides a valuable opportunity to have a more holistic approach to both prevention and intervention. LMSW and LCSWs can earn 2 CEUs for attending this online event. See attached flyer for additional details.   ALL of these events are FREE!   CEUs are available for LM- and LCSWs. Lifespan of Greater Rochester SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0089.   ASL interpreting available upon request. Requests are made through registration or e-mailing tsiebert@lifespan-roch.org and must be made one week prior to event date.   Please share amongst your professional contacts.

As graduation season approaches, it is a critical opportunity for all of us to recognize the achievements—and the unique challenges—faced by young survivors of crime across New York State.  The New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) acknowledges the essential role our funded victim assistance programs (VAPs) play in supporting youth impacted by violence, abuse, and exploitation. Your work ensures that young people have access to trauma-informed counseling, legal advocacy, emergency housing, and mentorship initiatives that promote resilience, recovery, and long-term stability.  Through your dedication, youth survivors are connected not only to direct services, but also to vital resources funded by OVS, including financial assistance for medical care, counseling, relocation, and other crime-related needs. Together, we affirm that every young person deserves to be heard, believed, and empowered to pursue a hopeful and successful future. We encourage providers to continue amplifying youth voices, tailoring services to meet their developmental needs, and using OVS resources to eliminate barriers to healing. Your commitment makes a difference every day.  For additional information about available resources, claims support, and program tools, please visit https://ovs.ny.gov or contact your OVS program liaison.  Thank you for helping young survivors transition from surviving to thriving.