Elder Justice Innovation Grants - Improving Results for APS Clients FY2022

Background
The Elder Justice Innovation Grants program is intended to support foundational work to create credible benchmarks for adult maltreatment prevention, and for program development and evaluation. The program supports the development and advancement of knowledge and approaches about new and emerging issues related to elder justice. Funded projects will contribute to the improvement of the field of adult maltreatment prevention and intervention at large by undertaking initiatives such as developing programs, interventions, materials, etc., or by establishing and/or contributing to the evidence-base of knowledge.

Grant Details
Abuse, neglect, financial exploitation and self-neglect of older adults and adults with disabilities is a significant public health and human rights problem. The most recent data available on the prevalence of adult maltreatment suggests that at least 10 percent of older Americans experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse and neglect each year. Adults with disabilities are 4 to 10 times more likely to become a victim of maltreatment than persons without disabilities. The age-adjusted serious violent crime victimization rate for persons with disabilities was three times the rate of adults without disabilities. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, research suggests rates of maltreatment have nearly doubled. Despite recent investments, research in the area of maltreatment of older adults and adults with disabilities remains in its early stages. Services for victims of adult maltreatment also lag far behind the system of services available to victims of other forms of family violence.

Eligibility Requirements
Domestic public or private non-profit entities including state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education are eligible applicants. Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive awards made under this announcement. Individuals are not eligible to compete for, or receive awards made under this announcement.

Period of Performance
Projects will be either two (2) years in length, with two 12-month budget periods, or fully funded for a two (2) year project and budget period.

Grant Value
$6,000,000 total funding is expected with up to 20 cooperative agreements ranging from $300,000 - $1,000,000 per year for a 24-month project period.