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Committee recommends $750,000 DOJ grant to expand elder-abuse training and services
Summary
The committee recommended that the full Macomb County Board accept a $750,000 Department of Justice grant to train frontline staff on identifying and responding to abuse, neglect and exploitation of older adults; the committee vote was unanimous.
Sheila, a representative of Macomb County’s Office of Senior Services, told the Health and Human Services Committee on Dec. 3 that the county received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women to expand training, victim services and partnerships addressing abuse of older adults.
"This grant will focus on training frontline staff in terms of identifying, investigating, and prosecuting abuse, neglect, exploitation of older adults in Macomb County," Sheila said. She told the committee that approximately 30% of the grant funds will support direct services for victims, including developing programs and supportive services, and that the county has partnered with the Sheriff’s Office, Sterling Heights Police Department, Warren Police Department, Turning Point and the Prosecutor’s Office for implementation.
Why it matters: County leaders said the grant will support training for law enforcement and social service partners, expand victim services and create a grant-funded coordinator position. Committee members asked how the funding would be used, whether salaries would be covered, and how participating agencies and partner organizations would be supported.
Details from the presentation and committee exchange: - Amount and duration: Presenters described the award as a four‑year grant sized at $750,000. Sheila said the county will hire a grant coordinator funded by the award and will cover staff travel and training costs. - Use of funds: She said about 30% of the grant will be used for victim services; the remainder will fund training, travel, coordination and personnel costs connected to program delivery. - Partners and scope: The county will train partner agencies on a train‑the‑trainer model so that initial participants from Sheriff, Sterling Heights and Warren will then deliver training to other police departments across Macomb County. - Reporting and next steps: Sheila said staff will attend a required out‑of‑state conference in January to finalize the budget and implementation plan and will return to report progress to the committee.
Commissioner questions and clarifications focused on whether the grant will pay salaries (it will cover staff time for training and one coordinator position), how many sheriff’s department personnel the grant would support (Sheila did not have an exact number at the meeting), and whether participation costs for partner agencies would be covered (Sheila said travel and participation would be funded by the grant).
Action taken: The committee moved the budget amendment recommending the full board accept the $750,000 Department of Justice grant; the motion passed unanimously.
