Schuyler County officials recognize June 15, 2025 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The Schuyler County Legislature, the County Department of Social Services and the Office for the Aging have each announced their support for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations, and was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2012.

County officials have noted that elder abuse is a global, social, health and human rights issue that affects millions of older persons around the world and deserves the attention of the international community.

“It is our collective responsibility to provide for safe and secure communities and living environments for our seniors, and to encourage reporting of any suspected abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation to the Schuyler County Adult Protective Services, as well as law enforcement agencies, for investigation, and intervention,” states a resolution of the Schuyler County Legislature.

In order to promote awareness of elder abuse, the Schuyler County Office for the Aging asks all county residents to wear something purple on Sunday, June 15.

Elder abuse is a significant public health problem. Survivors suffer higher levels of psychological distress, are twice as likely to be hospitalized and face greater risk of an early death than other seniors.

A copy of the Schuyler County Legislature’s proclamation, “Declare June 15, 2025 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day,” appears below.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Resolution-Schuyler County, New York by Steven Getman

Schuyler County Officials host adult protective event September 26 (Update: EVENT CANCELLED)

(Update: Due to circumstances, Schuyler County not able to offer this training. We apologize for any inconvenience.) The adult services division of the Schuyler County Department of Social Services welcomes the public to a series of trainings on prescription drug abuse, human trafficking and identify theft.

“Seniors and vulnerable adults are being coerced/forced to participate in illegal activity,” the announcement reads. It also notes they can get trapped by identify theft and money scams.

The program looks at ways to identify illegal activity and how to guard against it.

The trainings will be conducted by former New York State Police Instructor Michael Bruggman. Bruggman provides training to various groups including law enforcement, corrections officers, medical staff, teachers, substance abuse counselors, community groups and others.

The event will be held on September 26 at the Schuyler County Human Services Complex, 323 Owego Street, Montour Fall, New York.

As part of the events there will be a simulated drug paraphernalia display set up for the entire day. All items are safe and will contain no illegal or dangerous substances.

For more information, or to RSVP, contact the Schuyler County Department of Social Services Adult Protective Division.

Schuyler County Attorneys to Present at New York State Public Welfare Conference

Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman has announced that two assistant county attorneys will share insights on child abuse investigations and court orders at the upcoming New York Public Welfare Association (NYPWA)’s Winter Conference on Thursday (January 20).

Assistant County Attorneys Kristin Hazlitt and Vinton Stevens will present a one-hour continuing legal education class, “Obtaining a CPS Access Order When Efforts at Persuasion Fail.” The course, designed for new and experienced attorneys, will look at cases where Department of Social Services child protective services (CPS) and law enforcement respond to a location after receiving a report of possible imminent danger to a child’s life or health and the adult subjects refuse to allow access to the home or child.

“Although DSS is usually able to obtain voluntary access to a home to investigate concerns about possible child maltreatment, occasionally a parent will refuse access,” Getman explained. “This presentation will discuss the law, the rights of the children and parents and administrative guidance for obtaining an access order in these situations.”

This year’s annual NYPWA winter conference, its 153rd, will be held virtually on January 18-21 and January 24-28.

NYPWA was founded in 1869 as the first public welfare association in the United States. It independently represents all of New York's 58 local social services districts. NYPWA is an active partner with government agencies, associations, and community organizations. It fulfills a key public role while presenting a variety of opportunities to exchange ideas, develop new initiatives, and refine existing programs and services.

The Schuyler County Attorney is the prosecuting attorney for all county agencies involving civil cases, including family court matters involving abuse and neglect investigated by the Schuyler County Department of Social Services. Assistant County Attorneys are appointed by Getman, as County Attorney, to assist with the litigation of the various types of civil cases brought by the county.

Hazlitt is originally from Schuyler County and commenced her legal career in Washington, DC after graduating cum laude from American University, Washington College of Law in 1989. She joined the county attorney’s office in 2002. Stevens was born and raised in Elmira, graduated from the University of Rochester and Temple University School of Law and has worked for the county since February 2019.

NY ABLE program helps persons with disabilities cover costs

Local residents may be eligible to sign up for a new savings plan, called the New York Achieving a Better Life Experience (NY ABLE) program, designed to help individuals with disabilities maintain their health, independence and quality of life.

The NY ABLE legislation was signed into law in December 2015. It allows New Yorkers with disabilities to save money in their own names without risking their Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid and certain other means-based benefits. NY ABLE accounts, also known as 529A accounts, can be opened with a minimum contribution of $25. Contributions can be made by eligible individuals, family members or friends, but are not tax-deductible. The annual contribution is capped at $14,000 and the maximum account balance is $100,000.

The annual contribution cap will be increased to $15,000 as of January 2018. Earnings and distributions are tax free provided the funds are used for qualified disability expenses. To be eligible, an individual must have a disability that was present before age 26. Participants must be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), be blind, have a significant disability documented by a physician, or have a disability that is included on the Social Security Administration's Compassionate Allowances Conditions list. New York residency is required and only one account per individual is permitted.

For more information on eligibility, or to set up an account, click here.

Seneca County gets grant to help exploited youth

Finger Lakes Times:

The Board of Supervisors' Human Services Committee has voted to accept a $23,000 grant from the state for its Department of Human Services Workforce Development-Youth Bureau to support Youth Bureau efforts to raise awareness of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children....

The money supports enhanced runaway homeless youth services, outreach efforts and provide money for support services to identified human trafficked or sexually exploited youth.

Audit Finds NYS made $6.8 Million in Medicaid Overpayments

New York State’s Medicaid system made approximately $6.8 million in inappropriate payments, including $3.5 million for separately billed medical services that should have been covered by managed care plans, according to an audit released by the State Comptroller. By the end of audit fieldwork, about $2.4 million of the overpayments were recovered.

New York’s Medicaid program, administered by the state Department of Health (DOH), is a federal, state, and locally funded program that provides a wide range of medical services to those who are economically disadvantaged or have special health care needs.

Read the full report here.

Upcoming Family Court Event: Transforming Child Welfare and Children's Lives.

On December 13, the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy Policy Forum will present Transforming Child Welfare and Children's Lives:Proven Strategies that Strengthen Families.

The event is billed as "a conversation about 'What Works' with individuals touched by child welfare systems."

Participants will include: Anni Keane and Rose Williams from You Gotta Believe - a NYC organization that seeks to find permanent homes for older children in the foster care system; Sheila J. Poole, the Acting Commissioner from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services; Linda S. Spears, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families; Molly McGrath Tierney, the Director of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services; and Jeanette Vega from Rise - a parent support organization in NYC.

The event will run from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Dora Maxwell Auditorium, 700 Patroon Creek Blvd, Albany, NY 12206.

New York law to encourage contact between siblings separated because of abuse and neglect cases.

New York State has enacted a law that confers standing to a child and others to petition the court to order visitation with siblings, including half-siblings, when a child is removed from the home pursuant to a Family Court Act article 10 (allegations of abuse or neglect) proceeding.

The law amends several sections in Family Court Act article 10 and Social Services Law 384-b. It addresses the statutory silence on the rights of siblings to have contact with one another if they are removed from the home and not placed together.

The law goes into effect Nov. 16, 2016. A copy of the law is available here.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Elder Investment Fraud And Financial Exploitation Prevention Program

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is on the June 15.

In an effort to prevent financial exploitation of our senior citizens, New York State officials have announced the launch of the Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation (EIFFE).

The program educates doctors who frequently treat older patients about the risks that investment fraud poses to their patients and provides doctors with tools to recognize and report suspected fraud.

Studies show that approximately 20% of older Americans have been financially exploited, and that about 35% are afflicted by some form of cognitive impairment, which can make senior citizens particularly vulnerable to financial fraud.

The State Office of Children and Family Services’ Bureau of Adult Services, which plays a key role in recognizing and responding to financial exploitation of vulnerable adults, will also take part in the program.

For more information on Protective Services for Adults and other adult services provided through the local departments of social services click here.

Schuyler County to offer Medicare 101

These classes are open to anyone and provide participants with basic knowledge of Medicare. If you are caregiver, social worker, Medicare recipient or just planning for retirement this is an excellent opportunity.

New York Partnership to Improve Access to Legal Services for Seniors, the Disabled

 New York State officials have announced a partnership between the State Office for the Aging, the State Office of Court Administration and the New York State Bar Association to find new ways to better provide affordable legal services to senior citizens and New Yorkers with disabilities.

The partnership is expected to yield a variety of educational programs and tools, including an interactive website, a series of community forums to raise awareness about the legal issues often faced by the targeted populations, an elder preparedness self-assessment tool, an elder law treatise for attorneys and other professionals, and strategies for increasing the availability of free and low-cost legal services.

For more on the initiative click here.

New law protects New York social workers

New York State has enacted legislation to enhance the penalties for assaulting employees of a county social services district while in performance of their duties.

On Friday (August 17, 2012), Governor Cuomo signed A.4672-S.7720 and it became Chap. 434 of the Laws of 2012.

The new law extends the penalties provided for assaults against other public employees (such as police offers and school employees) to cover the safety of government workers who deliver social services. This law makes assaulting an employee of any local social services district while performing duties directly related to his or her job, a Class D felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison

Supporters of the law hope that elevating the current penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony will help serve as a deterrent to those that would use physical force against those who work to protect children and seniors.

The law goes into effect on Nov. 1, 2012. For more on the new law, click here.