About STAGES
Futures Without Violence is dedicated to developing and implementing innovative strategies to prevent and address elder abuse beyond the traditional legal system. Through the Strategies to Advance Greater Elder Safety (STAGES) project, we aim to promote justice, economic security, legal system alternatives, and community partnerships, fostering a safer and more supportive environment for older adults.
FUTURES held a groundbreaking, two-day STAGES Summit in 2023 to bring together those working in law, domestic violence advocacy groups, faith communities, and other community-based groups working with older adults to build greater collaboration and share strategies to meet the critical need for community-centered solutions in responding to and preventing abuse against older adults.
STAGES: Pathways
STAGES: Pathways is an extension of our Strategies to Advance Greater Elder Safety project, designed to foster a community of learning and practice that prioritizes options for older survivors of abuse.
The project aims to build, enhance, or adapt services for older adult survivors of abuse through two distinct tracks: 1) Restorative Practices for Older Survivors of Abuse; and 2) Economic Wellbeing and Financial Health & Healing.
We will select 8-10 community-based programs to receive sub-awards ranging from $50-$60,000. These partnerships will spearhead innovative projects aimed at promoting economic sustainability for survivors and integrating restorative practices into responses to abuse in later life.
These principles guide the STAGES: Pathways work:
Collaboration and Voices of Older Adults
- We prioritize collaboration and the voices of older adults to create sustainable, healing, and survivor-centered approaches. We amplify the diverse lived experiences of older adults and involve them in the process.
Transparent Decision-Making
- We are committed to transparency and collaboration in decision-making with partners and funders.
Promoting Survivor-Centered Responses
- Survivors are at the center of justice processes, and their autonomy and economic wellbeing are priorities. We believe that survivors are best positioned to make decisions about their safety and personal pathways to healing. Restorative responses to elder abuse are new for many, and we will support grantees in adopting these practices.
Spread and Scale
- Our focus is on supporting sustainable solutions and growing new or existing efforts. This funding provides the foundation to scale efforts to better address the needs of older survivors in communities.
Together, we can build a future where every older adult not only lives free from the threat of abuse, but has the agency and opportunity to thrive. Stay tuned and join us as we embark on this transformative journey with STAGES Pathways.
STAGES Advisory Committee
Kristin Burki, National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life
Molly Davies, Wise and Healthy Aging
Jacque Grey, ret. National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative
Vivianne Mbaku, Justice in Aging
Tanagra Melgarejo, National Harm Reduction Coalition
Lisa Nerenberg, California Elder Justice Coalition
Kay Pranis, national leader in restorative justice for older adults
Hon. Katherine Tennyson (ret.), mediator
Rebecca Thomforde-Hauser, Center for Justice Innovation
STAGES: Pathways is project is supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-05465-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
