Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Fostering a Restorative Justice View as a Response to Elder Abuse In South Western Ontario National Perspectives on Elder Abuse: Join The Conversation November 3 & Arlene Groh, Healing Approaches to Elder Abuse Kathleen Cleland Moyer, Community Justice Initiatives Wendy Meek, Community Justice Initiatives Michelle Brenneman, Mennonite Central Committee

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Stories…. Is Healing Possible?

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Considerations Restorative justice philosophy Impact on Waterloos approach Elder mediation/circles Circles of Care Community readiness to initiate a restorative justice program Replication of model

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Population: 508,000 1,382 sq/km 3 urban municipalities Cambridge,Kitchener and Waterloo Large rural areas, small towns/villages Diverse/multicultural community 2 universities/1 college

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant History 1998 community similar to others Restorative Justice Approaches to Elder Abuse Project ( ) Elder Abuse Response Team (2004-present) Truth, Justice, Mercy, Peace and Hope have life and interact Restorative Justice World View

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Elder Abuse -Definition Elder abuse is the mistreatment of an elderly person by someone that they should be able to rely on: a spouse, a child, another family member, a friend, or a paid caregiver.

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Difficulties With Traditional Justice

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Traditional Justice Abuse is a violation of a law The alleged abuser is charged and tried before a Judge Prescribed standards for appropriate punishment

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Traditional Justice Hostile battlefield Strategies of aggressive argument Psychological attack Re-victimization Herman, J., Trauma and Recovery: The aftermath of violence-from domestic abuse to political terror

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Healing Approaches To Elder Abuse and Mistreatment

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Restorative Justice Paradigm Shift from Traditional Justice Philosophy or World View Abuse is a violation of people and relationships.

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Restorative Justice Restorative justice is an orientation, not a type of program. It is a set of values and beliefs about what justice means, which in turn point to principles for responding to criminal harm. Sharpe, S. Restorative Justice: A Vision for Healing and Change

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Guiding Principles People have the right to Safety: to live in safety and security. Dignity and Respect: to have personal values and preferences respected. Autonomy: to determine and control their own affairs

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Guiding Principles People have the right to Access Information: to receive all the available information they need in order to make meaningful and informed decisions. Confidentiality:to determine for themselves what information is shared. The least restrictive means. (Adapted from Gallager et al, Victoria Elder Abuse Project, 1993)

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Restorative Justice Values Guided: Development of project Practice How partners interacted How conflict was resolved Open dialogue Dussich,P. a nd Schellenberg, J., Editors Restorative Justice in Unusual Places (Forthcoming)

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Evolution of R/J Project Need for a system to address elder abuse that included: Diverse partners coordinating efforts Multiple points of entry Multiple options for solution Linden, R. and Groh, A. (Forthcoming paper) Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Elder Abuse Response Team Partnership: Waterloo Regional Police Service & Community Care Access Centre of Waterloo Region

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Elder Abuse Response Team Provides opportunity for truth, justice, mercy, peace and hope to have life and interact Holistic response to elder abuse Diverse partnerships Guided by restorative justice philosophy Dussich,P. a nd Schellenberg, J., Editors Restorative Justice in Unusual Places (Forthcoming)

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Evaluation Program exemplifies the development of sound public policy Extensive redesign of original project Successful in increasing referrals and ensuring community partners work well together Impact of program on older adults should be assessed by further research Linden, R. and Groh, A. (Forthcoming paper) Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Positive Solutions to conflict and crime in your community Positive Solutions to conflict and crime in your community Families – Elders – Youth – Schools – Workplace – Courts – Prisons – Families – Elders – Youth – Schools – Workplace – Courts – Prisons – Neighborhoods – Faith Groups Neighborhoods – Faith Groups People, Peace, and Possibilities

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant ELDER SERVICES Services for: Family Conflict Power of Attorney Decisions Health Care Planning Caregiver burnout Intergenerational New Partners Elder Abuse

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Elder Abuse Response Team Referrals EART assessment includes: Is person at risk of harm? Does person understand and appreciate consequences of his/her decisions? Does person give permission for referral to CJI and to share information?

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Pre-Circle Meet Separately Information About Process Understand the Issues Participation Voluntary Ensure Safe to Proceed

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Circle People directly or indirectly affected by the conflict address: Why it happened What can be done to repair the harm What can be done to prevent it from happening again

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Post Circle Responsibility of supporters CJI follow up Concerns addressed: Another circle Referral to community agency Traditional justice system

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Story…. Healing is Possible!

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Circles of Care A Restorative Justice Programme of Mennonite Central Committee

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant At a Glance…. Clients : isolated victims of elder abuse who are without other forms of support once the abuser is removed. Program model: matching a small group of volunteers (2-4) with a referred senior – meet regularly to provide client directed social support Goal: to increase resiliency and lessen the chance of further victimization by providing an intentional form of social support

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Primary Objectives: Circles of Care volunteers work with participants to: Develop and implement a program of social support that fills the space between professional social services and naturally formed social supports Nurture resilience through trauma awareness and healing choices Grounded in restorative justice principles

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Social Support… The individual belief that one is cared for and loved, esteemed and valued, and belongs to a network of communication and mutual obligations (Cobb, 1976). Takes various forms: emotional, informational, and instrumental support Circles can provide any or all of these types of support depending on the needs and wishes of the participant.

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Trauma/Traumatic Stress An emotional wound resulting from a highly stressful or horrifying experience over which one feels they have no control and in which they feel powerless and threatened by injury or death to themselves or someone else. When our ability to respond to threat is overwhelmed Dr. Peter Levine Trauma

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Supporting Healing Choices Safety: emotional and physical Faith: spiritual rituals Strength of community Awareness of healing options Available outside support Understanding of trauma and its effects Memorializing/storytelling in healing ways Space and time away from the trauma Resiliency

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Is Your Community Ready for A Restorative Justice Approach To Elder Abuse and Mistreatment?

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant People are empowered to imagine new ways of being, to problem-solve on a deep level. Miller, R. When a community can trust its own inner resources to discover a new paradigm, it is liberated from old, embedded ways…….

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Questions To Consider Do you have a (some) champion(s) ? Is there an expressed community need? Do you have commitment/sponsorship of decision-makers within a well respected social service agency Do you have credibility with criminal justice system? Do you have sufficient funding with research attached?

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Gladwells* 3 types of champions or change makers Connectors Mavens Salesmen (* From TheTipping Point: How little things can make a big difference by Malcolm Gladwell)

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Connectors Connectors trend setters; they are people who link us up with the world. People with a special gift for bringing the world together.

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Are You A Connector? The following questions will help you decide whether you are a Connector: Do you know a lot of people? Do you like people? Do you tend to remember peoples names? Do you enjoy going to parties and meeting new people? Do you collect acquaintances?

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Mavens Mavens are information specialists. They are the ones who tell Connectors about whats hot. They always have the newest inside scoops on gadgets and specials. They love to gather and disperse information.

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Are You A maven? Here are some questions that will help you decide whether you are a Maven: Do you enjoy reading junkmail? Do you seek out the specials in your local supermarket? Do you tend to watch trends and know whats in? Do you study the market before buying a new gadget? Do you tell your friends about special deals?

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Salesmen Salesmen are charismatic. They are able to build instant rapport with another person and gain their trust. Salesmen are able to build rapport and are exceptional at reading and responding to emotions.

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Are You A Salesperson? Here are some questions that will help you find out if you are a salesperson: Do you find it difficult to sit still when hearing good dance music? Do you have a loud laugh? Do you touch friends when you talk with them? Are you good at getting your way? Do you like being the center of attention?

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Demonstrating Community Need Do environmental scan of who is doing what? for elders in your community Demonstrate gaps; do not criticize exiting efforts Find ways to add value Be concrete about impact on community and how you will meet need

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Finding a home (within an agency and criminal justice system) Talk, talk, talk to everyone and anyone Find those who get it in social service agencies/criminal justice system and who have credibility with decision-makers Let them do the sell to their decision- makers Make sure it is part of agency/system strategy. Get it in writing (MOU) if possible.

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Fully Resource The Project Go big or go home (Multi-year that allows for dedicated staff time and research) Be flexible about process but not about principles Partner early with university researchers; LISTEN to them Professional/experienced fundraiser to write proposal Establish larger interest group: consult and obtain letters of support

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Remember… While the experiments, practices …from many communities… are instructive, none can or should be copied….rather be an inspiration and a place to begin H. Zehr,, Little Book of Restorative Justice

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant Thank you for your attention Questions???