Introduction to Conference
Conference Chair: Florian Edwards, LMSW, Senior Director, Protective Services, JASA
Florian Edwards is JASA’s Senior Director of Protective Services, which entails oversight of Adult Protective Services (APS), Elder Justice Prevention Services, and the Annual Elder Justice Training Institute. Florian has provided individual and group therapy in her professional work with victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, human trafficking, and modern-day slavery. She is a core member of the Enhanced Multi-Disciplinary Team (EMDT). She is passionate about fighting for social justice, especially for vulnerable and at-risk populations. Florian attended CUNY’s Herbert H. Lehman College where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 2002, with honors. Florian attended Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service where she received her Master’s of Social Work in 2004. Florian remains an active member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Keynote Speakers
Keynote Speaker: Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, New York City Mayor Eric Adams appointed Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez as Commissioner to the Department for the Aging in March 2022. As Commissioner, Cortés-Vázquez has worked to create equity and increase diversity around the older adult centers across the city, she also implemented the first-of-its-kind Aging Cabinet for Older New Yorkers to unify city agencies to work together and tackle the problems affecting older adults. She continues to work to advance the NYC Aging mission to eliminate ageism, ensure the dignity and quality of life of older adults, and support caregivers as she did with the previous administration under former Mayor Bill de Blasio. Before being appointed Commissioner, Lorraine served as Senior Advisor to de Blasio in the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.Before serving in the Mayor’s Office, Cortés-Vázquez was Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations and Government Affairs at EmblemHealth, where she was responsible for EmblemHealth’s relationships with key government, community, and industry stakeholders, better positioning EmblemHealth for new growth opportunities. Cortés-Vázquez was also the Executive Vice President for Multicultural Markets and Engagement at the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) where she developed a comprehensive 5-year strategic plan. At AARP, she ensured that the interests of multicultural age 50-plus audiences were integrated into everything AARP does, to increase multicultural presence among AARP membership and increase AARP’s involvement in those communities.
Before joining AARP, Cortés-Vázquez was New York State's 65th Secretary of State, and the first Hispanic appointee to serve in that role. She also served as Vice President of Government and Public Affairs at Cablevision Systems Corporation, a leading media, entertainment, and telecommunications company. She brought to this position a distinguished career in the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors that extends more than 30 years. Her work in the nonprofit sector has gained her national recognition and numerous awards.
From 1998 to 2004, Cortés-Vázquez served as President of the Hispanic Federation, a nonprofit network of Latino health and human service agencies with a footprint throughout the East Coast. She has extensive experience creating community partnerships to leverage civic participation and increase the visibility of educational initiatives. In the early 1990s, she served as Executive Director of ASPIRA of New York, the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit Latino youth leadership development and education advocacy agency.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez obtained her undergraduate degree from Hunter College and earned a master’s degree from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. She is a Toll Fellow and has earned certificates from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies.
She is dedicated to her family, particularly her nieces, nephews, and grandsons.
Molly Bernstein, Senior Director of Elder Justice at NYC Department for the Aging, leads a portfolio of services aimed at supporting justice-involved and impacted older adults, including the Elder Justice Community providers, the Elderly Crime Victim Resource Center, and the Tenancy and Eviction Support Services programs. With over a decade of experience in public health and civic leadership, Molly has spearheaded multi-agency initiatives that have transformed how justice-impacted older adults are supported in New York City. She collaborates with city agencies to strengthen policy frameworks in criminal justice and housing, ensuring comprehensive, community-based support for older adults facing complex challenges.Before joining NYC Aging, Molly served as Deputy Director of the Office of Just Health Design and Special Projects at NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services, where she was instrumental in expanding medical and behavioral health services for justice-involved patients, including Geriatric and Complex Care patients. Prior to joining City government, Molly was a Supervisor at BronxWorks HomeBase, providing critical assistance to clients at risk of eviction and homelessness, especially those affected by domestic violence.
Molly holds a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Cape Town, where her research focused on intimate partner violence among pregnant, HIV-positive women. Her work is driven by a commitment to health equity, ensuring that programs meet the unique needs of vulnerable and underserved communities.
Elder Justice Conference Agenda: Day One (September 24th, 2024)
9:15am - 9:30am: Welcome and Opening Remarks - Florian Edwards, LMSW, Conference Chair
9:30am - 9:45am: Change Agent Award - Recipient: Martha Pollack, LCSW-R, (Ret.), JASA
9:45am - 10:30am: Keynote Address: Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, Department for the Aging & Molly Bernstein, Senior Director of Elder Justice at NYC Department for the Aging
10:30am - 10:45am: BREAK
Session 1: 10:45am - 12:00pm
Integrating Restorative Justice Approaches to Addressing Harm in Cases of Elder Mistreatment (CEU)
Moderator: Meredith Levine, LMSW, Senior Director, Care Management & Information Services, JASA
Presenters:
- Patty Kimball, MS, Executive Director, Elder Abuse Institute of Maine
- Kelsey Park, MA, Restorative Justice, and Policy Consultant, Elder Abuse Institute of Maine
Financial Exploitation: How to Recognize it and What to Do About It – A Multi-disciplinary Model (CEU)
Moderator: Tina Logan, MPA, LCSW, Crime Victim Assistance Program Manager, Safe Horizon, Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP)
Presenters:
- Michael J. Bruno, Anti-Money Laundering Program Manager, Criminal Investigations Group U.S. Postal Inspection Service
- Brad Hasenauer, CFE, Consulting Manager, The Bonadio Group
Staying Safe in the Field: Best Practices for Social Service Providers (CEU)
Moderator: Gili Hershkovich-Kim, LCSW, Acting Deputy Commissioner, Human Resources Administration: Adult Protective Services
Presenters:
- Gary Barberio, Regional Manager, Human Resources Administration: Adult Protective Services
- Carlos Thorbourne, Captain, New York City Human Resources Administration Police Department (HRAPD)
Scams, Exploitation, and Technology (CEU/CLE Pending)
Moderator: Margaret Woods, LMSW, ASW-G, ACSW, Director, Carter Burden Network, CEMAPP - Elder Justice Program
Presenters:
- Katie Egglefield, MPH, Deputy Director of Compensation, Office of Victim Services
- Jeanette Giancaspro, MSEd., Carter Burden Network Tech Educator
- Jeanine Launay, Esq., Chief of the Elder Abuse Unit, Elder Abuse Unit, New York County District Attorney's Office
12:00pm - 1:00pm: Lunch
Session 2: 1:00pm - 2:15pm
Managing Burnout & Compassion Fatigue in the Helping Community (CEU)
Moderator: Paul Caccamise, LMSW, ACSW, Vice President for Program, Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc.
Presenter: Tracey Siebert-Konopko, LMSW, Director of Education, Training, & Research Initiatives at the Upstate Elder Abuse Center, Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc.
Engaging LGBTQIA+ Older Adults: Health Supports and Abuse Prevention (CEU)
Moderator: Takai Forde, LMSW, Associate Director of Government Affairs, JASA
Presenter: Katherine Grant, LCSW, Assistant Director of Equity and Inclusion/Bureau of Programming and Prevention, New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
Trauma-Informed Engagement and Assessment in Elder Justice (CEU)
Moderator: Loangys Sanchez, MSW, Program Director, Violence Intervention & Prevention Program (VIP), Neighborhood SHOPP
Presenters:
- Rachael Domanico, LMSW, Elder Justice Specialist, The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice
- Meredith Levine, LMSW, APHSW-C, Senior Elder Justice Specialist, The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice
- Abby Nathanson, DSW, LCSW, APHSW-C, ACS, Therapy and Consulting for Illness, Caregiving, and Loss
Partnering with Law Enforcement to Address Elder Abuse (CEU)
Moderator: Maureen Curtis LMSW MPH, Vice-President, Criminal Justice Programs, Safe Horizon
Presenters:
- Dwana Castro, Sargeant, Special Assignment, Chief of Department, Domestic Violence Unit, New York City Police Department
- Talia Orband, LMSW, Elder Abuse Unit Coordinator, King’s County District Attorney’s Office
- Kenneth Toyos, Advocate, Safe Horizon Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP)
- Yussef Vass, Detective, Chief of Department, Domestic Violence Unit, New York City Police Department
Open Door: Strategies to Manage Mental Health Reluctance (CEU)
Moderator: Jeanne Zieff, LMSW, Elder Justice Program Director, Elder Justice Prevention and Intervention Services, Community Agency for Senior Citizens, Inc.
Presenter: Jo Anne Sirey, PhD, Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry
2:15pm - 2:30pm: Break
Session 3: 2:30pm - 3:45pm
Addressing Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults (CEU)
Moderator: Cheryl Lee, LMSW, Elder Abuse Coordinator, Office of Elder Justice, NYC Department for the Aging
Presenter: Dina Patel, MD, MBA, Board Certified Adult and Geriatric Psychiatrist, Gramercy Psychiatry, NYC Elder Abuse Center/ Weill Cornell Medicine
Faith Matters: Spirituality and Faith Communities as Resources in Older Adult Abuse Intervention
Moderator: Ayana Mortley, M.Ed, Training and Program Facilitator, Weill Cornell Medicine: Center for Elder Abuse Solutions (CEASe); Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care Medicine
Presenters:
- Reverend Susan M. Frawley. MSEd, CAS, SAS, M.Div, Project Manager Elder Abuse Summit Implementation, Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc
- Rabbi Marcelle Hohl, Pastoral Counselor, Senior Community Connections, JASA
Complexities of Abuse: Individuals with Dementia and/or Developmental Disability, and Impact on the Caregiver (CEU)
Moderator: Jaime Guzman, MSW, Bilingual Helpline Specialist at the Center for Elder Abuse Solutions
Presenters:
- Cynthia Amodeo, LMHC, CEO, Barrier Free Living
- Adina Segal, Senior Navigator and Community Builder at CaringKind
3:45pm - 4:00pm Closing Remarks - Florian Edwards, LMSW, Conference Chair
Elder Justice Conference Agenda: Day Two (September 25th, 2024)
9:15am - 9:30am: Welcome & Review of Day One for Day Two: Florian Edwards, LMSW, Conference Chair
9:30am - 10:45am Panel Discussion - How Far We’ve Come: Transformation in the Elder Justice Landscape (CLE Pending)
Moderator: Donna Dougherty - Esq., Attorney-In-Charge, Legal Services for Elder Justice (LSEJ), JASA
Panelists:
- Ann Goldweber, Esq., Professor and Director of Clinical Legal Education and Director of the Consumer Justice for the Elderly, Litigation Clinic, St. John's Law Clinic
- Gili Hershkovich-Kim, LCSW, Deputy Commissioner, Human Resources Administration: Adult Protective Services
- Esther Limb, Esq. Supervising Attorney, Her Justice
11:00am - 12:00pm Panel Discussion - Leading Change: Approaches to Securing Our Future with Policy and Funding
Moderator: Geoff Rogers
Panelists:
- Honorable Crystal Hudson, Council Member, New York City Council Committee on Aging Chair
- Marie Brathwaite Phillip, (Retired), Deputy Commissioner, Human Resources Administration
- Lisa Rachmuth, LMSW, Executive Director, Weill Cornell Medicine: Center for Elder Abuse Solutions (CEASe); Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care Medicine