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Executive Council
Health and Community Services
June 14, 2013

Provincial Government Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

In a continuing effort to increase awareness of violence and abuse against older persons, the Provincial Government is recognizing Saturday, June 15, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

“Our government is committed to ensuring that older persons live in safe and supportive communities, free from fear and the threat of violence,” said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and Lead Minister of the Violence Prevention Initiative. “This day of awareness provides an opportunity to highlight violence against older persons as a problem in our society and reflect on how, as a community, we can work together to protect our senior population.”

Research estimates between four and 10 per cent of older adults experience one or more forms of violence or abuse at some point in their later years, often from someone they know and trust. Violence against older persons takes many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial, psychological, cultural, verbal or spiritual violence, as well as verbal and financial abuse and neglect.

“We firmly support initiatives that allow older residents to live freely from fear of harm or mistreatment,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services and Minister Responsible for Aging and Seniors. “Through the implementation of our Provincial Healthy Aging Policy Framework and in partnership with the Violence Prevention Initiative, we are taking important steps to improve legislation, policies, programs and services to help protect older adults from violence and neglect.”

Further information on the Violence Prevention Initiative and contact information regarding community events for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day can be found in the backgrounder below.

Budget 2013: A Sound Plan. A Secure Future maintains a $2.5 million annual investment in 22 community organizations working towards violence prevention, including the 10 Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence integral to the Violence Prevention Initiative.

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Media contacts:

Cheryl Gullage
Program, Policy, and Communications Analyst
Women’s Policy Office
709-729-6225, 631-9962
CherylGullage@gov.nl.ca 
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 690-6290
ScottBarfoot@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER
The Violence Prevention Initiative and Regional Coordinating Committees

Significant progress has been made in awareness and prevention since 2006, as a result of the first phase of the Provincial Government’s Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI). The six-year, $12 million, multi-departmental initiative, which focuses on key government-community partnerships, has made noteworthy headway in finding long-term solutions to violence against those most at risk, including older persons. For example, since the establishment of the VPI, the Provincial Government has seen approximately 220 individuals trained to deliver the Violence Action and Awareness Training to government departments and community groups, with more than 1,600 individuals trained through a one-day workshop. Phase two of the Violence Prevention Initiative will be released in the coming months.

Regional Coordinating Committees (RCC) organize many community events in recognition of important public initiatives. For information on potential events for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, please contact an RCC in your area through the methods listed below:

Violence Prevention Labrador
P.O. Box 23
Forteau, NL A0K 2P0
1-866-446-8080, 709-931-2600
coordinator@vplabrador.ca 

Northern Committee Against Violence
P.O. Box 847
St. Anthony, NL AOK 4SO
709-454-3351
darlenerice@gov.nl.ca 

Western Regional Coalition to End Violence
P.O. Box 373, 2 Carmen Avenue
Corner Brook, NL A2H 6E3
709-634-6606
wrcoalitiontoendviolence@gmail.com

Southwestern Coalition to End Violence
P.O. Box 621
Stephenville, NL A2N 3B5
709-643-1022
swceviolence@gmail.com

Central West Committee Against Violence Inc.
5 Hardy Avenue
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL A2A 2P8
709-489-8828
cav@nfld.net 

The Roads to End Violence
157 Airport Boulevard
Gander, NL A1V 1K6
709-651-2250
theroadstoendviolence@nf.aibn.com 

Eastern Region Committee Against Violence
105 Manitoba Drive, Suite 304
Clarenville, NL A5A 1K2
709-466-4676
ercav@gov.nl.ca 

Burin Peninsula Voice Against Violence
P.O. Box 87
Marystown, NL A0E 2M0
709-279-4030
paulamallay@nf.aibn.com 

Communities Against Violence
P.O. Box 500
Bay Roberts, NL A0A 1G0
709-786-7182 Ext. 225
communitiesagainstviolence@yahoo.ca 

Coalition Against Violence
31 Peet Street – Tara Place, Suite 215
St. John's, NL A1B 3W8
709-757-0137
cavae@coalitionagainstviolence.ca 

2013 06 14                            9:15 a.m.

 
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