arlene groh rn, ba: elder abuse restorative justice consultant fostering a restorative justice view...

Arlene Groh RN, BA: Elder Abuse Restorative Justice Consultant

Fostering a Restorative Justice

View as a Response to Elder

Abuse In

South Western OntarioNational Perspectives on Elder Abuse: Join The Conversation

November 3 & 4 2009

Arlene Groh, Healing Approaches to Elder Abuse [email protected]

Kathleen Cleland Moyer, Community Justice Initiatives [email protected]

Wendy Meek, Community Justice Initiatives [email protected]

Michelle Brenneman, Mennonite Central Committee [email protected]


Stories….

Is Healing Possible?


Considerations

• Restorative justice philosophy

• Impact on Waterloo’s approach

• Elder mediation/circles

• Circles of Care

• Community readiness to initiate a restorative justice program

• Replication of model


Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

• Population: 508,000

• 1,382 sq/km

• 3 urban municipalities Cambridge,Kitchener and Waterloo

• Large rural areas, small towns/villages

• Diverse/multicultural community

• 2 universities/1 college


History

• 1998 community similar to others

• Restorative Justice Approaches to

Elder Abuse Project (2000-2004)

• Elder Abuse Response Team (2004-present)

• Truth, Justice, Mercy, Peace and

Hope have life and interact

Restorative Justice World View


Elder Abuse -Definition

“ Elder abuse is the

mistreatment of an elderly

person by someone that they

should be able to rely on: a

spouse, a child, another

family member, a friend, or

a paid caregiver.”


Difficulties With

Traditional Justice


Traditional Justice

•Abuse is a violation of a law•The alleged abuser is charged and tried before a Judge

•Prescribed standards for appropriate punishment


Traditional Justice

• Hostile battlefield

• Strategies of aggressive argument

• Psychological attack

Re-victimizationHerman, J., Trauma and Recovery: The aftermath of violence-from domestic abuse to political terror


Healing Approaches

To Elder Abuse and Mistreatment


Restorative Justice

• Paradigm Shift from Traditional

Justice

• Philosophy or World View

Abuse is a violation of

people and relationships.


Restorative Justice

“Restorative justice is an orientation, not a

type of program. It is a set of values and

beliefs about what justice means, which in

turn point to principles for responding to

criminal harm.”Sharpe, S. Restorative Justice: A Vision for Healing and Change


Guiding Principles

People have the right to—

•Safety: to live in safety and security.

•Dignity and Respect: to have personal values and preferences respected.

•Autonomy: to determine and control their own affairs


Guiding Principles

People have the right to—•Access Information: to receive all the available information they need in order to make meaningful and informed decisions.

•Confidentiality:to determine for themselves what information is shared.

•The least restrictive means.(Adapted from Gallager et al, Victoria Elder Abuse Project, 1993)


Restorative Justice Values

Guided:

•Development of project•Practice•How partners interacted•How conflict was resolved•Open dialogueDussich,P. and Schellenberg, J., Editors Restorative Justice in Unusual Places (Forthcoming)


Evolution of R/J Project

Need for a system to address elder abuse that included:

•Diverse partners coordinating

efforts

•Multiple points of entry

•Multiple options for solution

Linden, R. and Groh, A. (Forthcoming paper) Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect www.haworthpress.com


Elder Abuse Response Team

Partnership:

Waterloo Regional Police

Service &Community Care Access Centre

of Waterloo Region


Elder Abuse Response Team

• Provides opportunity for truth, justice,

mercy, peace and hope to have life and

interact

• Holistic response to elder abuse

• Diverse partnerships

• Guided by restorative justice philosophy

Dussich,P. and Schellenberg, J., Editors Restorative Justice in Unusual Places (Forthcoming)


Evaluation

• Program exemplifies the development of

sound public policy• Extensive redesign of original project

• Successful in increasing referrals and ensuring community partners work well together

• Impact of program on older adults should

be assessed by further research

Linden, R. and Groh, A. (Forthcoming paper) Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect www.haworthpress.com


Positive Solutions to conflict and crime in Positive Solutions to conflict and crime in your communityyour community Families – Elders – Youth – Schools – Workplace – Families – Elders – Youth – Schools – Workplace – Courts – Prisons –Courts – Prisons – Neighborhoods – Faith Groups Neighborhoods – Faith Groups

People, Peace, and Possibilities


ELDER SERVICES

Services for:

• Family Conflict

• Power of Attorney Decisions

• Health Care Planning

• Caregiver burnout

• Intergenerational

• New Partners

• Elder Abuse


Elder Abuse Response Team Referrals

EART assessment includes:

• Is person at risk of harm?

• Does person understand and appreciate

consequences of his/her decisions?

• Does person give permission for

referral to CJI and to share

information?


Pre-Circle

•Meet Separately

•Information About Process

•Understand the Issues

•Participation Voluntary

•Ensure Safe to Proceed


Circle

People directly or indirectly affected by the conflict address:

•Why it happened

•What can be done to repair the harm

•What can be done to prevent it from happening again


Post Circle

•Responsibility of supporters •CJI follow up Concerns addressed:

•Another circle•Referral to community agency•Traditional justice system


Story….

Healing is Possible!


Circles of Care

A Restorative Justice Programme of Mennonite Central

Committee


At a Glance….

Clients: isolated victims of elder abuse who are without other forms of support once the abuser is removed.

Program model: matching a small group of volunteers (2-4) with a referred senior – meet regularly to provide client directed social support

Goal: to increase resiliency and lessen the chance of further victimization by providing an intentional form of social support


Primary Objectives:

Circles of Care volunteers work with participants to:

• Develop and implement a program of social support that fills the space between professional social services and naturally formed social supports

• Nurture resilience through trauma awareness and healing choices

Grounded in restorative justice principles


Social Support…

• ‘The individual belief that one is cared

for and loved, esteemed and valued, and

belongs to a network of communication

and mutual obligations’ (Cobb, 1976).

• Takes various forms: emotional, informational, and instrumental support

Circles can provide any or all of these types of support depending on the needs and wishes of the

participant.


Trauma/Traumatic Stress

An emotional wound resulting from a highly stressful or horrifying experience over which one feels they have no control and in which they feel powerless and threatened by injury or death to themselves or someone else.

“When our ability to respond to threat is overwhelmed “ Dr. Peter LevineTrauma


Supporting Healing Choices

• Safety: emotional and physical

• Faith: spiritual rituals

• Strength of community

• Awareness of healing options

• Available outside support

• Understanding of trauma and its effects

• Memorializing/storytelling in healing ways

• Space and time away from the trauma

• Resiliency


Is Your Community Ready for

A Restorative JusticeApproach To Elder Abuse

and Mistreatment?


People are empowered to imagine new ways of

being, to problem-solve on a deep level.

Miller, R.

When a community can trust its own inner resources to

discover a new paradigm, it is liberated from

old, embedded ways…….


Questions To Consider

• Do you have a (some) “champion”(s) ?• Is there an expressed community need?

• Do you have commitment/sponsorship of decision-makers within a well respected social service agency

• Do you have credibility with criminal justice system?

• Do you have sufficient funding with research attached?


Gladwell’s* 3 types of“champions” or change makers

•Connectors•Mavens•Salesmen

(*From TheTipping Point: How little things can make a big difference by Malcolm Gladwell)


Connectors

Connectors trend setters; they are people who link us up with the world. People with a special gift for bringing the world together.


Are You A Connector?

The following questions will help you decide whether you are a Connector:

• Do you know a lot of people? • Do you like people? • Do you tend to remember peoples’ names?

• Do you enjoy going to parties and meeting new people?

• Do you collect acquaintances?


Mavens

Mavens are information specialists.

They are the ones who tell Connectors about what’s hot. They always have the newest inside scoops on gadgets and specials. They love to gather and disperse information.


Are You A maven?

Here are some questions that will help you decide

whether you are a Maven:

• Do you enjoy reading junkmail? • Do you seek out the specials in your local supermarket?

• Do you tend to watch trends and know what’s ‘in’?

• Do you study the market before buying a new gadget?

• Do you tell your friends about special deals?


Salesmen

Salesmen are charismatic. They are able to build instant rapport with another person and gain their trust. Salesmen are able to build rapport and are exceptional at reading and responding to emotions.


Are You A Salesperson?

Here are some questions that will help you find out if you are a salesperson:

• Do you find it difficult to sit still when hearing good dance music?

• Do you have a loud laugh? • Do you touch friends when you talk with them?

• Are you good at getting your way?

• Do you like being the center of attention?


Demonstrating Community Need

• Do environmental scan of “who is doing what?” for elders in your community

• Demonstrate gaps; do not criticize exiting efforts

• Find ways to add value

• Be concrete about “impact” on community and how you will meet need


Finding a home (within an agency and criminal justice system)

• Talk, talk, talk to everyone and anyone

• Find those who “get it” in social service agencies/criminal justice system and who have credibility with decision-makers

• Let them do the “sell” to their decision-makers

• Make sure it is part of agency/system strategy. Get it in writing (MOU) if possible.


Fully Resource The Project

• Go big or go home (Multi-year that allows for dedicated staff time and research)

• Be flexible about process but not about principles

• Partner early with university researchers; LISTEN to them

• Professional/experienced fundraiser to write proposal

• Establish larger interest group: consult and obtain letters of support


Remember…

“While the experiments, practices

…from many communities… are

instructive, none can or should be

copied….rather be an inspiration

and a place to begin”H. Zehr,, Little Book of Restorative Justice


Thank you for your attention

Questions???

arlene groh rn, ba: elder abuse restorative justice consultant fostering a restorative justice view...

Documents

restorative justice

restorative justice

editors restorative

traditional justice

arlene groh rn

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