Description of Pathways Project

The goal of STAGES Pathways is to create a community of learning and practice amongst community-based organizations and their partners to build, enhance, or adapt their existing services for older adult survivors of abuse. This project seeks applicants to apply for funding in either Track 1: Restorative practices that benefit older survivors of abuse, their families and caregivers (if applicable) or Track 2: Economic wellbeing and financial health and healing. Applicants will be asked to choose 1 of 2 tracks to engage in deep collective learning and for the creation or expansion of seed projects, in the hopes that applicants will use this opportunity to reach audiences or test promising practices in ways they have not been able to previously. STAGES Pathways welcomes community-based organizations that are experienced working with: older adults; survivors of violence and trauma; restorative practices; and/or economic support and restoration.
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Track 1: Restorative practices that benefit older survivors of abuse, their families and caregivers (if applicable). Applicants may apply for funding to build new restorative responses or to enhance existing programs.

Examples include but are not limited to:
  • Planning projects to gather information, design goals, draft standards of practice, receive feedback and begin preparation to begin restorative practices within an organization
  • Healing circle processes
  • Family group conferencing
  • “Hard conversation” coaching
  • Conflict circles
  • Creating other off ramps from the justice system
  • Other projects that seek to offer alternatives to traditional criminal legal response to older survivors of abuse.

Track 2: Economic wellbeing and financial health and healing for older survivors of abuse. Applicants may seek funding to develop new projects or support existing projects.

Examples include but are not limited to:
  • Planning projects to gather information, design goals, draft standards of practice, receive feedback and begin preparation to offer services to their community focused on economic wellbeing and financial health and healing.
  • Projects that support asset recovery through administrative remedies or civil processes
  • Housing, food, or transportation assistance
  • Public education for individuals about economic wellbeing and financial health and healing, such as benefit counseling
  • Tax support, financial planning, assistance with benefits, or credit repair (This grant program does not fund civil legal assistance)
  • Prevention activities such as using conversation starters about well-being and economic security with older adults
  • Introducing violence prevention into established community gardens, meal programs or mobile food pantries
  • Enhancing an organizations capacity to incorporate financial literacy for older adults into safety planning
    Key Definitions

    The term “elder abuse” means any action against a person who is 50 years of age or older that constitutes the willful: (A) infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or cruel punishment with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish, or (B) deprivation by a person, including a caregiver, of goods or services with the intent to cause physical harm, mental anguish, or mental illness. See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(14).

    The term “abuse in later life”— (A) means— (i) neglect, abandonment, economic abuse, or willful harm of an adult aged 50 or older by an individual in an ongoing relationship of trust with the victim; or (ii) domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking of an adult aged 50 or older by any individual; and (B) does not include self-neglect. 34 USC § 12291(a)(1).

    For purposes of this grant, federal law defines the term “restorative practice” as a practice relating to a specific harm that— (A) is community-based and unaffiliated with any civil or criminal legal process; (B) is initiated by a victim of the harm; (C) involves, on a voluntary basis and without any evidence of coercion or intimidation of any victim of the harm by any individual who committed the harm or anyone associated with any such individual— (i) 1 or more individuals who committed the harm; (ii) 1 or more victims of the harm; and (iii) the community affected by the harm through 1 or more representatives of the community; (D) shall include and has the goal of— (i) collectively seeking accountability from 1 or more individuals who committed the harm; (ii) developing a written process whereby 1 or more individuals who committed the harm will take responsibility for the actions that caused harm to 1 or more victims of the harm; and (iii) developing a written course of action plan— (I) that is responsive to the needs of 1 or more victims of the harm; and (II) upon which 1 or more victims, 1 or more individuals who committed the harm, and the community can agree; and (E) is conducted in a victim services framework that protects the safety and supports the autonomy of 1 or more victims of the harm and the community. See 34 USC § 12514(a)(3).

    The term “Family Group Conferencing”(FGC) is a form of restorative justice that is based on the idea of involving the family and community in the resolution of a conflict. It differs from other forms of restorative justice in that it focuses on the family as a whole, rather than just the individual involved in the conflict. FGC also emphasizes communication and collaboration between all parties involved, including victims, offenders, and their families. This approach allows for a more holistic approach to resolving conflicts, as it takes into account not only the individual’s actions but also their relationships with their family and community. Additionally, FGC encourages all parties to take responsibility for their actions and work together to find solutions that are mutually beneficial.
    The term “economic wellbeing” is defined as having present and future financial security. Present financial security includes the ability of individuals, families, and communities to consistently meet their basic needs (including food, housing, utilities, health care, transportation, education, child and elder care, clothing, and paid taxes), and have control over their day-to-day finances. It also includes the ability to make economic choices and feel a sense of security, satisfaction, and personal fulfillment with one’s personal finances and employment pursuits. Future financial security includes the ability to absorb financial shocks, meet financial goals, build financial assets, and maintain adequate income throughout the life-span. (Council on Social Work Education).

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