Where Faith and Safety Meet: 

Faith Communities Respond to Elder Abuse

In October 2008, an innovative collaboration between Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence and the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL) was funded by the Office on Violence Against Women of the U.S. Department of Justice.  This collaboration examines the juncture of elder abuse and faith on a national level, and seeks to strengthen collaborations among faith community leaders and domestic violence, elder abuse, and sexual assault service providers.

Together, Safe Havens and NCALL developed an Elder Abuse and Faith Toolkit intended to support service providers and advocates as they reach out to and collaborate with local faith communities.  The toolkit, “Where Faith and Safety Meet:  Faith Communities Respond to Elder Abuse,” offers resources for service providers and advocates as well as for faith communities.  We hope that, working together, service providers and faith communities can respond more effectively to victims and survivors and increase access to community-based services.

Safe Havens would be happy to send you a beautifully printed Elder Abuse and Faith Toolkit in the mail. To receive the printed Toolkit, please contact Safe Havens at info@interfaithpartners.org or call 617-654-1820. 

In addition, all the resources in the Toolkit are available to download.  They can be accessed by clicking on the underlined links below. 

• An introductory letter from Safe Havens and NCALL to Service Providers and Advocates
  
  
  • Introductory Letter to Service Providers and Advocates (color)
  • Introductory Letter to Service Providers and Advocates (black and white)


• Tips for service providers who are reaching out and planning a first visit to a faith-based organization or congregation
  
  
  • Before You Start Checklist (color)
  • Before You Start Checklist (black and white)
  • First Visit Checklist (color)
  • First Visit Checklist (black and white)
  
  
• A document that addresses outreach challenges that service providers may encounter and strategies that may help respond to those challenges
  
  
  • Elder Abuse and Faith:  A Guide for Service Providers on Reaching out to Faith-Based Organizations Regarding Elder Abuse (document cover, available in color only)
  • Elder Abuse and Faith:  A Guide for Service Providers on Reaching out to Faith-Based Organizations Regarding Elder Abuse(document contents, available in black and white only)


• A sample letter (in Word format) that service providers can edit and print on their own stationery. This letter introduces the faith-based resources in the Elder Abuse and Faith Toolkit to faith community leaders and members.  Service providers can add contact information and a list of services the agency provides.
  
  
  • Sample letter from Service Providers and Advocates to Faith Communities (available in black and white only)


• There are also resources designed specifically for faith leaders and members of faith-based organizations
  
  
  • Bookmark (available in color only)
  • Brochure, “Where Faith and Safety Meet:  Faith Communities Respond to Elder Abuse” (color)
  • Brochure, “Where Faith and Safety Meet:  Faith Communities Respond to Elder Abuse” (black and white, formatted for a standard printer)
  • 24-page Booklet “Where Faith and Safety Meet:  Faith Communities Respond to Elder Abuse” (color)
  • 24-page Booklet “Where Faith and Safety Meet:  Faith Communities Respond to Elder Abuse” (black and white)

If you have any questions about the resources, or if you would like printed resources sent to you, please contact Safe Havens at 617-951-3980 or info@interfaithpartners.org or NCALL at 608-255-0539 or ncall@wcadv.org. 

 

 

This project was supported by Grant No.2008-TA-AX-K052 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice.  The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in these publications and program are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

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