Elder justice initiatives & DC TROV
ELDER JUSTICE INITIATIVES
NVRDC recognizes the unique needs of survivors of elder abuse, financial exploitation and abuse later in life, with the understanding that age is just a number. Whether you are 50, 65, 90 or older there is help available to you if you are a victim of crime in the District of Columbia. Nationally, it is estimated that only 1/14 victims of elder abuse receive help. Through our elder justice initiatives, we strive to encourage reporting while at the same time raising community awareness.
How can NVRDC help?
Our advocates support victims of other types of elder abuse and direct and indirect victims of crime. Advocacy can include crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, assistance with Crime Victims Compensation applications and much more. For additional information about our advocacy services, please see NVRDC’s Advocacy Services page. To get help, you can fill out our form online or call 202-742-1727.
NVRDC advocates also support elder survivors of sexual assault in accessing medical forensic exams to collect evidence of the crime. If you would like to reach and advocate, or are the guardian of adult who you believe needs a medical forensic exam, you can reach us by calling the DC Victim Hotline at 1-884-4HELPDC (844-433-5731). Our advocates can provide free transportation to and from the hospital, hospital advocacy, entry into therapeutic services, and referrals to legal services.
If you are the victim of a crime, over the age of 18 and a DC resident, or if the crime occurred in the District, you may eligible for crime victim assistance. NVRDC’s crime victims’ rights attorneys can assist DC crime victims by providing free legal support including information and representation in reporting the crime, assistance with navigating the criminal investigation, enforcing crime victims’ rights throughout the process, and/or assist victims in obtaining a Civil Protection Order (CPO).
Please see NVRDC’s Legal Services for Crime Victims page for more information. To get help, you can fill out our form online or call 202-742-1727.
DC TROV-The District’s Collaborative Training & Response for Older Victims
Launched in 2013, DC TROV is a multi-disciplinary team comprised of governmental agencies, victim assistants, law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, and local courts that seeks to improve the response to victims of elder abuse in the District of Columbia.
DC TROV partners meet regularly to discuss ongoing activities, identify service delivery gaps, foster collaboration and information sharing in order to improve survivors’ access to services and identify larger policy needs to foster sustainable systemic change. These activities include:
• Promoting collaboration and referrals to ensure older survivors have access to pro bono attorneys, emergency housing and wrap-around services;
• Holding a variety outreach events to raise awareness about elder abuse and local resources (e.g. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD)); and
• Training providers and other community leaders to improve elder abuse victim assistance (trainees have included MPD detectives and officers, credit union and banking staff, faith based communities, victim advocates, Adult Protective Services staff, and others who provide services for or interact with older District residents).
For more information or to learn how to join or support the effort, please contact us at info@nvrdc.org.
DC TROV is financially supported by the DC Mayor’s Office for Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG) through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds administered by the United States Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
DC TROV’s group includes:
Merry O'Brien training how to help elder adults during mass disasters on March 1, 2018.