Conference Agenda
8:00am - 8:50am Check-in/Breakfast/Networking
9:00am - 9:05am Opening Remarks, Florian Edwards, LMSW, Conference Chair
9:05am - 9:10am Welcome Remarks, Gayle Horwitz, JASA, CEO
9:10am - 9:25am Change Agent Award Honoree
- Paul L. Caccamise, LMSW, ACSW, Lifespan
9:25am - 10:05am Keynote Address
- Mark S. Lachs, MD, MPH, Irene and Roy Psaty Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College; Co-Chief of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine; Director of Geriatrics, New York Presbyterian Health Care System
- Molly Bernstein, MPH, Senior Director, Elder Justice, NYC Aging
10:15am - 11:45am Panel One Discussion - Breaking Barriers and Building Partnerships: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Elder Justice
Protecting older adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation requires more than individual expertise. It demands strong partnerships and collaboration across disciplines and generations. This panel will explore how professionals from social services, Adult Protective Services, law enforcement, legal services, and Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams (EMDTs) collaborate to identify risk, coordinate interventions, and promote safety while respecting client autonomy. Through real-world examples and cross-disciplinary dialogue, panelists will discuss the unique perspectives each profession brings, the challenges of coordinated responses, and opportunities to strengthen partnerships that lead to better outcomes for older adults.
Moderator:
- Florian Edwards, LMSW, Conference Chair
Panelists:
- Jaime Guzman, MSW, Senior Clinician and Program Coordinator, Center for Elder Abuse Solutions
- Dina Patel, MD, MBA, Psychiatrist, Gramercy Psychiatry; Consultant, Center for Elder Abuse Solutions; Clinical Professor of Psychiatry in Medicine, The Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine
- Dianne Woodburn, Esq., Legal Services Supervisor, Senior Initiative and Home Retention Programs at JASA Legal Services for Elder Justice
- Margaret Woods, LCSW, LMSW, ASW-G, ACSW, SIFI, Director, CEMAPP - Elder Justice Program, Practicum Instructor, NYU Silver School of Social Work, Carter Burden Network
11:55am - 12:55pm Panel Two Discussion - Advancing Elder Abuse Prevention Through Innovative Strategies
As the landscape of elder abuse continues to evolve, so must our prevention strategies. Financial scams, social isolation, caregiver stress, and emerging technologies require innovative solutions that extend beyond traditional service systems. This forward-thinking panel will highlight promising practices from healthcare, consumer protection, community-based initiatives, and intergenerational engagement that are reshaping elder abuse prevention. Panelists will explore how cross-sector collaboration can build more resilient communities, empower older adults, and create sustainable prevention strategies for the future.
Moderator:
- Geoff Rogers, Director, Learning & Development Projects for the Silberman School of Social Work
Panelists:
- Samuel A.A. Levine, JD, Commissioner, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
- Jeanine Launay, JD, Chief, Elder Abuse Unit for NY County District Attorney's Office
- Meredith Levine, LCSW, APHSW-C, Senior Elder Justice Specialist, Weinberg Center for Elder Justice
- Nic Shugar, JD, Staff Attorney, Family Caregiver Abuse Prevention Initiative, Elder Law Practice, Public Benefits Unit/Domestic Violence Law Unit, NYLAG
- Arielle Basch, MBA, MPH, Chief Health and Business Development Officer, JASA
12:55pm - 1:00pm Closing Remarks/Call to Action - Florian Edwards, LMSW, Conference Chair
1:00pm - 1:45pm Network and Resource Fair (Optional for attendees)