Reprinted from NASW Tips & Tools for Social Workers
Chris Herman, MSW, LICSW
Senior Practice Associate–Aging
May 2024
The federal government is soliciting three types of proposals to fund programs that prevent and address elder abuse. As noted in a recent NASW report on social work roles in elder abuse prevention and response and an associated NASW Practice Perspective on federal funding for and administration of elder justice programs, social workers play critical roles in elder abuse programming, including programs funded by the federal government. Details regarding each program and a brief resource list follow.
Funding source: Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), U.S. Department of Justice
Purpose: support a comprehensive approach to addressing abuse in later life, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, neglect, abandonment, economic abuse, or willful harm toward people who are at least 50 years old
Eligible entities: states (including the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands), units of local government, Tribal governments or Tribal organizations, population-specific organizations, victim service providers, and state, Tribal, or territorial domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions
Applications due: June 18 or 24, depending on platform used; nonbinding letters of intent (strongly encouraged but not required) due by May 13
Anticipated number of awards: up to 25, ranging from $400,000 to $750,000 each
Preapplication information session: OVW will hold a live web session with potential applicants on May 15 at 2 p.m. EDT. The recorded session will be posted to the OVW website. Visit page 19 of the funding solicitation for details, including registration information for the live session. Potential applicants may also find useful an on-demand recording of a 2023 webinar by the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL), which receives OVW grant funding to administer the Abuse in Later Life program
Funding source: Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Purpose: support new and existing elder shelter models across the country in addressing emergency and transitional supportive housing needs and wraparound services for adults 60 years and older (including those who live with disabilities) who are experiencing abuse, neglect, or exploitation
Eligible entities: domestic public or private nonprofit entities, including state and local governments, Indian Tribal governments and organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education
Anticipated number of awards: five, ranging from $350,000 to $500,000 each
Preapplication information: Although the April 25 preapplication information session has passed, ACL has posted a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) to the “related documents” tab on the Grants.gov announcement page.
Applications due: June 18
Funding source: ACL
Purpose: support the replication and further validation of the Repair harm; Inspire change; Support connection; Empower choice (RISE) model, an evidence-informed elder abuse intervention strategy, in promoting goal attainment scaling, restorative justice, and person-centeredness
Eligible entities: domestic public or private nonprofit entities, including state and local governments, Indian Tribal governments and organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education
Anticipated number of awards: one, ranging from $750,000 to $1.2 million
Preapplication information: Although the May 2 preapplication information session has passed, ACL will post a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) to the “related documents” tab on the Grants.gov announcement page. Individuals who are interested in receiving a notification when this FAQ document is posted may sign up for updates by clicking the “subscribe” button on the same Grants.gov announcement page.
Applications due: June 18
Additional Resources
Background related to current funding announcements:
Abuse in Later Life Program: Late Life Domestic Violence (ACL); OVW Abuse in Later Life Grant Program (National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life)
NASW publications addressing elder abuse:
Other related resources:
Protecting Rights and Ending Abuse (ACL program area)
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (ACL–NCEA–USC Center for Elder Justice)