Arlene Groh, Healing Approaches to Elder Abuse Arlene@healingapproaches

1. Fostering a Restorative Justice View as a Response to Elder Abuse In South Western OntarioNational Perspectives on Elder Abuse: Join The ConversationNovember 3 & 4 2009 Arlene Groh, Healing Approaches to Elder Abuse Arlene@healingapproaches.com Kathleen Cleland Moyer, Community Justice Initiatives Kathleencm@cjiwr.com Wendy Meek, Community Justice Initiatives Wendym@cjiwr.com Michelle Brenneman, Mennonite Central Committee Mcihelleb@mennonitecc.on.ca

2. Stories…. Is Healing Possible?

3. Considerations • Restorative justice philosophy • Impact on Waterloo’s approach • Elder mediation/circles • Circles of Care • Community readiness to initiate a restorative justice program • Replication of model

4. Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada • Population: 508,000 • 1,382 sq/km • 3 urban municipalities Cambridge,Kitchener and Waterloo • Large ruralareas, small towns/villages • Diverse/multicultural community • 2 universities/1 college

5. History • 1998 community similar to others • Restorative Justice Approaches to Elder Abuse Project (2000-2004) • Elder Abuse Response Team (2004-present) • Truth, Justice, Mercy, Peace and Hope have life and interact Restorative Justice World View

6. 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.”

7. Difficulties With Traditional Justice

8. Traditional Justice • Abuse is a violation of a law • The alleged abuser is charged and tried before a Judge • Prescribed standards for appropriate punishment

9. 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

10. Healing Approaches To Elder Abuse and Mistreatment

11. Restorative Justice • Paradigm Shift from Traditional Justice • Philosophy or World View Abuse is a violation of people and relationships.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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)

15. Restorative Justice Values Guided: • Development of project • Practice • How partners interacted • How conflict was resolved • Open dialogue Dussich,P. and Schellenberg, J., Editors Restorative Justice in Unusual Places (Forthcoming)

16. 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 www.haworthpress.com

17. Elder Abuse Response Team Partnership: Waterloo Regional Police Service & Community Care Access Centre of Waterloo Region

18. 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. and Schellenberg, J., Editors Restorative Justice in Unusual Places (Forthcoming)

19. 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 www.haworthpress.com

20. People, Peace, and Possibilities Positive Solutions to conflict and crime in your community Families – Elders – Youth – Schools – Workplace – Courts – Prisons – Neighborhoods – Faith Groups

21. ELDER SERVICES Services for: • Family Conflict • Power of Attorney Decisions • Health Care Planning • Caregiver burnout • Intergenerational • New Partners • Elder Abuse

22. 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?

23. Pre-Circle • Meet Separately • Information About Process • Understand the Issues • Participation Voluntary • Ensure Safe to Proceed

24. 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

25. Post Circle • Responsibility of supporters • CJI follow up Concerns addressed: • Another circle • Referral to community agency • Traditional justice system

26. Story…. Healing is Possible!

27. Circles of Care A Restorative Justice Programme of Mennonite Central Committee

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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.

31. Trauma/Traumatic Stress Trauma 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

32. 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

33. Is Your Community Ready for A Restorative Justice Approach To Elder Abuse and Mistreatment?

34. When a community can trust its own inner resources to discover a new paradigm, it is liberated from old, embedded ways……. People are empowered to imagine new ways of being, to problem-solve on a deep level. Miller, R.

35. 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?

36. Gladwell’s* 3 types of“champions” or change makers • Connectors • Mavens • Salesmen (*From TheTipping Point: How little things can make a big difference by Malcolm Gladwell)

37. Connectors Connectors trend setters; they are people who link us up with the world. People with a special gift for bringing the world together.

38. 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?

39. Mavens Mavens are information specialists. They are the ones who tell Connectors about what’s hot. They always have the newest inside scoops on gadgets and specials.They love to gather and disperse information.

40. 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 what’s ‘in’? • Do you study the market before buying a new gadget? • Do you tell your friends about special deals?

41. 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.

42. 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?

43. 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

44. 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.

45. 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

46. 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

47. Thank you for your attention Questions???