ABOVE: Rhonda Martinson, from Domestic Abuse International Programs in Duluth, Minnesota; and Martie Washington, from National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life; explain a sample situation to those in attendance Tuesday morning at the Danville Police Training Center.
Last fall the CRIS Healthy Aging Center in Danville received a federal grant for the first time. It was the (OVW) Office on Violence against Women grant. And the educational kick-off event for it was Tuesday (August 5th) morning, at the Danville Police Department Training Center, in the Danville Public Works building on East Voorhees Street.
CRIS executive director Lisa Miller stated fighting abuse against the elderly is a major part of what CRIS does for the community; and this grant gives them a big boost.
AUDIO: The grant helps us train law enforcement, any social worker, hospital employees; anybody that could be a mandated reporter to help identify abuse; and bring services together in collaboration for the victims.
ABOVE: Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr and Police Chief Christopher Yates welcome representatives of first responder and health organizations to the session; Martie Washington of National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life describes a scenario.
Miller says the Office on Violence against Women grant is a great match for CRIS; but they also advocate for others as well.
AUDIO: It’s kind of a perfect for CRIS Healthy Aging, because we serve adults 50 and older. And we also serve the disabled. A lot of people don’t realize that; 18 to 59 disabled, we also serve as well.
For Danville Police Chief Christopher Yates, these kinds of educational sessions are just what he had in mind when the old call center in the Public Works building became the new training center. It would combine training for police officers, with training for the public.
AUDIO: We’ve satisfied the side of police training. And we are working our way towards community. You know we’ve had hundreds of seats filled throughout the last year and a half, actually just slightly over a year, of having it open to the public. And we’re really proud of that. I think it builds relationships with the community, as well as different stakeholders that are looking to improve the quality of life for our citizens.
Executive Director Lisa Miller says call the CRIS Healthy Aging for more about their services, and the OVW grant, at 217-443-2999.
