Partnership’s SARAH Project honored 18 of its partners in the judicial, law enforcement, social work and aging services communities. The SARAH Project, developed by Partnership's Elder Services, is designed to provide Safety And Resources And Help (SARAH) for Hamilton County’s victims of abuse in later life aged 50-59.
The recipients were presented plaques for contributing their time and expertise to the program.
The activities included the training of law enforcement officers and victim/aging service professionals on the dynamics of elder abuse; formation and participation in a Coordinated Community Response Team to address the unmet needs of elder abuse victims and raise public awareness; and attendance at national educational seminars for judges and prosecutors. The plaques were given to recipients from the end of October to the middle of December.
The honorees were Chancellor Frank Brown; Chattanooga Police Chief Bobby Dodd; District Attorney General Bill Cox; Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond; Assistant District Attorney Bill Hall; Sergeant Jerome Halbert; Detective Mike Cox; Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Dr. Valerie Radu; Director of the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability (AAAD), Steve Witt; and AAAD Program Development Director, Catherine Pippin. Employees of the Partnership who were recognized include Devin McGraw, Carmen Hutson, Christina St. Germaine, Elaine Bradway, Nancy Ridge, Todd Bragg and Ellie Johnson.
Chancellor Brown states, “The Sarah Project is a wonderful effort by many agencies and organizations to protect our senior citizens. Bill Tobin and other members of the Partnership have done an outstanding job in creating an awareness of the various ways by which older adults can be abused. They deserve better treatment. Everyone needs to be diligent in helping our citizens avoid financial, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. It is my pleasure to be associated with the efforts for the Partnership and other organizations to prevent and/or to prosecute cases of abuse.”
The SARAH project greatly appreciates the effort each individual has contributed towards the project’s mission to end elder abuse. Bill Tobin, SARAH Project Coordinator, said that the plaques were a “humble way of thanking everyone involved in this project. They have helped get the word out in efforts to put an end to this problem in our community. They have done a remarkable job.”