The National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions has a rich history, founded by five giants of the elder justice movement: Lisa Nerenberg, Risa Breckman, Georgia Anetzberger, Paul Caccamise, and Iris Freeman. What started as just a spark quickly grew into a commitment to improve the landscape of elder justice coalitions.
Our journey reflects the dedication of countless professionals, advocates, and older adults who believe that elder justice is a fundamental right. From our humble beginnings as a volunteer-led network to our current role as a national resource hub, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to strengthening elder justice coalitions and protecting older adults.
Five social workers founded the National Network of State Elder Justice Coalitions. The volunteer-led organization conducted an environmental scan and found that state elder justice coalitions existed and that a centralized convening entity was needed.
The National Network held quarterly networking meetings for all coalitions, assisted statewide elder justice coalitions to attain common goals, and strengthened capacity. During this period, the organization grew from a small volunteer effort to a recognized leader in the elder justice field.
Funding from the US Department of Justice Office of Victim Services allowed for the formation of The National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions (NCSTEJC). The National Center served as a technical assistance provider for seven newly funded coalitions and sustained one existing coalition. This included the formation of The Web, a hub for Tribal coalitions.
The National Center transitioned to a fully independent non-profit and expanded its scope beyond federally funded technical assistance, becoming a resource, training, and connecting hub for all state and Tribal elder justice coalitions and collaborative elder justice work broadly.
These partners collaborated with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) to support the creation of comprehensive multidisciplinary coalitions focused on identifying and addressing elder justice issues in states and tribal communities.
Funding from the OVC was distributed through a cooperative agreement between OVC and Lifespan of Greater Rochester. Lifespan oversaw and managed the National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions. The other Center Partners provided technical assistance, coordinated peer leadership groups, delivered training, and offered various forms of support to help build comprehensive, multidisciplinary coalitions that addressed elder justice issues in states and tribal communities.
Executive Director,
Minnesota Elder Justice Center
Amanda Vickstrom has served as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Elder Justice Center since the organization’s inception in 2014, when she worked with founding board members and a small steering committee to launch the organization. Amanda has over 25 years of experience working on behalf of victims of domestic and sexual violence, and elder abuse.
Before her role with the Minnesota Elder Justice Center, she managed an OVW-Abuse in Later Life grant and worked as a program director for a domestic and sexual violence program in the Twin Cities metro area.
Amanda was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton to serve as a member of a Consumer Workgroup to address elder abuse in long-term care facilities, which led to Minnesota’s 2019 Elder Care and Vulnerable Adult Protection Act, creating an Assisted Living Licensure structure in Minnesota.
Amanda currently serves as a board member and council member for the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging and a steering committee member for the National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions. Amanda holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris.
Deanna Green earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Psychology. Deanna has worked for the Washington County Department of Job and Family Services for 17 years. She served as a front-line APS worker for ten years. Deanna has served as an APS supervisor for three years.
In addition, in 2020, she was also hired as the Washington County Home Administrator. She continues to serve in a dual role. Deanna is the current Chair of the Ohio Coalition of Adult Protective Services, a statewide coalition that strives to enhance the provision of services to adults at risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation through education and advocacy. OCAPS was formed in 1984, shortly after the passage of the APS law in Ohio.
More than thirty-five years later, OCAPS’ mission is still credible and critical: “Maximizing protection and dignity of older adults through collaboration, education, and advocacy.”
Tribal Consultant
A Choctaw and Cherokee descendant, Dr. Gray directed the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI), a national Native elder justice resource center, from its inception in 2010 until she retired from the University of North Dakota in 2022.
Dr. Gray provides consultation in health, mental health, and health disparities across Indian Country. She serves as a co-director of the Native Center for Behavioral Health at the University of Iowa and works internationally with Māori suicide prevention. Dr. Gray has worked with American Indians/Alaska Natives/Native Hawaiians across the U.S. for over 40 years.
Program Administrator, Center for Elder Abuse Solutions
Lisa Rachmuth is the Program Administrator for the Center for Elder Abuse Solutions (CEASe). She currently oversees all the programs within the CEASe at Weill Cornell Medicine’s portfolio.
She was previously the Deputy Director of CEASe’s MDTs. In her previous position, she managed the day-to-day operations of CEASe’s existing MDTs and is spearheading the expansion of the MDTs to all five boroughs. Before joining CEASe, Lisa was the Director of Clinical Initiatives and Programming for NYC’s Human Resources Administration’s Office of Domestic Violence. Through these positions, Lisa has worked with systems, communities, and individuals affected by and dedicated to Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse.
Lisa holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. She has 31 years of social services experience, with particular expertise in elder justice, child abuse, intergenerational abuse, domestic violence, and housing initiatives for individuals and families.
In addition to her years of clinical and administrative experience, Lisa is an experienced workshop curriculum developer and presenter. Lisa is also an Adjunct Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work and a board member of the organization Evenfooting.
Program Manager, Lifespan of Greater Rochester
Maggie Morgan is the Program Manager for the National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions. Maggie’s primary role is to oversee the Center’s activities, which include coordinating committees, monitoring and reporting for subgrantees, developing resources and guides, and providing training and technical assistance.
Maggie has worked with older adults over the last decade, which has included coordinating seven rural multidisciplinary teams in the Finger Lake region and working as a social worker at a nursing home covering short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and the memory care unit.
Maggie graduated with her Master’s degree in social work in Interdisciplinary Health with a focus in Geriatrics from the Greater Rochester Collaborative (GRC) MSW program between SUNY Brockport and Nazareth College.
Vice-President for Program, Lifespan of Greater Rochester
Paul L. Caccamise, LMSW, ACSW is the Vice-President at Lifespan of Greater Rochester, a not-for-profit aging service provider in Upstate New York. He was the administrator for Adult Protective Services at Monroe County (NY) Department of Social Services before joining Lifespan in 2022.
Since that time, he has provided administrative oversight for agency programs with a focus on older adults at risk of mistreatment and exploitation, including the Upstate Elder Abuse Center, Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman, Guardianship, and Geriatric Addictions programs. He serves as the Project Director for the National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions.
He also oversees New York State’s elder justice coalition, the NYS Coalition on Elder Abuse, sponsored by Lifespan, and is a founding member and Steering Committee member of the National Network of State Elder Justice Coalitions. Paul is a licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in New York and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW).
Special Projects Manager, Minnesota Elder Justice Center
Shelly Carlson – MPA, is the Special Projects Manager for the Minnesota Elder Justice Center and conducts elder abuse trainings across the state of Minnesota, primarily to law enforcement, prosecutors, and adult protection services.
Additionally, she provides technical assistance and training on establishing and maintaining elder abuse Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) and Coordinated Community Response (CCRs) teams. Ms. Carlson has trained nationally with the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life, the National Council on Juvenile & Family Court Judges, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and the National Sheriff’s Association and internationally in the countries of Serbia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Moldova for Global Rights for Women and the Advocates for Human Rights.
Ms. Carlson earned her Master of Science Degree in Public Administration and her Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Assistance from Minnesota State University – Moorhead, where she has been adjunct faculty.
Manager – Ohio Coalition for Adult Protective Services,
Ohio Coalition for Adult Protective Services
Sylvia Pla-Raith has vast expertise in advocating for the interests of older adults and a just society. Sylvia is the immediate past Chairperson and active member of the Ohio Coalition for Adult Protective Services Directors of the Board.
She currently serves as the Deputy Administrator, Community Programs for Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services. Before joining Cuyahoga County, she served as the Director of the Elder Justice Unit and the Lead Staff of the Elder Abuse Commission at the Office of the Ohio Attorney General.
Her experiences include elder abuse investigations, training, advocacy, and policy development. Sylvia actively serves on several collaboratives that focus on elder justice through education, outreach, advocacy, policy, and coalition building.
Her experiences include elder abuse investigations, training, advocacy, and policy development. She has a Master of Arts degree from John Carroll University, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Ohio State University, and is a certified adult protective services core trainer for the Ohio Human Services Training System (OHSTS).
The National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions is privileged to work with the following Advisory Committee members, who provide expertise, insight, guidance, and technical assistance to help the Center build broad-based, multidisciplinary coalitions that identify and address elder justice issues in states and Tribal communities.
President & Executive Director, International Association for Indigenous Aging (IA2)
National Policy Advisor, National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)
Director of Learning & Development Projects
Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College
Instructor for Public Health Education
Health Policy Research Scholar at University of North Dakota
International Association for Indigenous Aging
Director of Elder Justice Projects
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