Editor’s Note
Currently most Americans, including politicians and the media,
seem focused on international concerns or the economy or both.
But there continues to be a rumbling undercurrent of scandals-coming-to-light:
the media are still reporting new allegations of priestly
sexual abuse and corporate and securities wrongdoing. Coming
on top of perennial government scandals, ongoing scrutiny
of these heretofore esteemed institutions suggest that Americans
are still interested in finding justice and fairness at home,
as well as abroad.
One area that local media are looking at is the performance
of child protective services (CPS). This summer AAR conducted
a special research project looking at negative stories about
CPS, to discern trends in what the media and the public are
deeming worthy of concern. Although CPS is not typically within
AAR’s scope, we undertook the project because of the
close philosophical and structural ties between CPS and APS.
Professionals and legislators both widely regard APS as being
in the shadow of the far-better-known CPS, both it terms of
funding and publicity. But as we seek to increase the awareness
of APS through measures such as the pending federal Elder
Justice Act and through local education and lobbying efforts,
and as the American population continues to age, APS will
continue to move out of this shadow and into the spotlight.
What can we expect when this happens? Even more importantly,
how can we prepare to minimize the negative scrutiny and maximize
the positive? That’s the purpose of two articles in
this AAR, “Child Protective Services Under the Microscope:
Is Adult Protective Services Next?” and “Adult
Abuse Providers’ Shortcomings Hit the News.”
Yet while it’s important to examine how APS and other
agencies serving abused elders and vulnerable adults can protect
themselves from charges of wrongdoing, it’s equally
important to balance that worrying with reminders of how effective
we sometimes are. AAR is proud to introduce our readers to
a new book that applauds APS, and to interview its authors
about exactly why they’re grateful to APS for work it
did with their older brother. Read and smile at this rare
commendation from someone who “gets it.” Also
take time to look through the other articles, many of which
document more of our successes at improving life for abused
and at-risk elders and vulnerable adults.
On an organizational note, WordBridges/AAR’s bid to
bring its version of accountability and responsiveness to
the National Center on Elder Abuse was turned down by the
Administration on Aging, which refunded the current consortium
of partners (the American Bar Commission on Law and Aging,
the Clearinghouse on Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly of the
University of Delaware, the National Association of Adult
Protective Services Administrators, and the National Committee
for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, under the continued leadership
of the National Association of State Units on Aging) for another
three years. This means we must look for a new way to underwrite
our work. Currently we are exploring foundations that might
be willing to advance elder abuse awareness and skills by
underwriting the continued free availability of AAR. We are
also brainstorming a new organization designed to meet unfilled
needs in the elder/vulnerable adult abuse field. If you have
any ideas or would like to help us continue our work, please
let us know by emailing Loree@WordBridges.net
or calling us at (414) 540-6456.
Sincerely,
Loree Cook-Daniels
Publisher
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