2025 ANNUAL TRAINING
*SAVE THE DATE* Next Annual Training will be May 7, 2025 *SAVE THE DATE*
"Unmasking Adult Abuse: Leading the Way to Change"
8:00AM
Registration
8:45AM
Welcome and Housekeeping Items
9:00AM
Keynote Address: “Locked Away: Human Trafficking of At-Risk Adults”
Anna Thomas, Section Manager, for the Forensic Special Initiatives Unit, GBI Crimes Against Disabled Adults and Elderly (CADE) Task Force, Georgia Department of Human Services. Anna Thomas is a POST certified instructor and a Forensic Specialist with the Division of Aging Services- Forensic Special Initiatives Unit and most recently the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crimes Against the Elderly and Disabled Task Force. Trafficking vulnerable adults to obtain control of their income and assets is a major but hidden problem. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has made great strides in investigating and prosecuting this issue. This presentation will explain their efforts to address this horrific and prevalent crime as well as how this is being addressed in Virginia.
10:30AM
Break
10:45AM
“What is Victim-Witness Compensation”
Kristan Crummett, Director of the Waynesboro Victim-Witness Program with the Commonwealth Attorneys Office. Kristen will be discussing Virginia Victim-Witness and Compensation Law. The Victim-Witness Program aids crime victims, families, and witnesses throughout the court process, empowering witnesses to testify while complying with the Virginia Crime Victims' Bills of Rights and the Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act. This Act provides needed services for victims and witnesses as they navigate the criminal justice system. The Victim-Witness Program ensures that crime victims are advised of their rights and assisted throughout the court process.
11:15AM
“What is a Long-Term Care Ombudsman”
John Brownlee, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Virginia Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman John Brownlee is the Local Long-Term-Care Ombudsman for the counties of Rockingham, Rockbridge, Augusta, Highland, and Bath counties as well as the cities of Buena Vista, Lexington, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Harrisonburg. John will provide information regarding the purpose of an ombudsman, how they can assist in various situations and finding your ombudsman.
Noon
Lunch
1:00PM
“Battered, Broken, and Burned: Recognizing Injuries in Suspected Older Adult Abuse:”
Melissa Ratcliff Harper, MSN, APRN, SANE-A, SANE-P, AFN-C Melissa has been a Registered Nurse since 1990, working as both an emergency and forensic nurse. After working 30+ years as a healthcare provider within the hospital sector, she is now employed in a clinic setting as a Forensic Nurse with both Ultra Health and SAFE Center of SWVA. This session will provide information on what to look for and how to respond to suspected physical abuse.
2:30PM
Break
2:45PM
“A Community Approach to Ending Elder Mistreatment In Virginia”
Reed Bohn, Elder Justice Learning & Research Hub Project Manager, VCU College of Health Professions and Aisling Clardy, BSc, MSc, Project Manager Virginia Helping Elders Access Resources & Greater Richmond Elder Justice Shelter Initiative, VCU College of Health Professions
Together Reed and Aisling will provide you with Virginia resources currently available through the Elder Justice and Research hub to further assist you in creating a safer community for the elders you serve.
4:00PM
Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks
Session Details & Presenters:
Keynote Address: Locked Away –
Human Trafficking of At-Risk Adults:
Anna Thomas, Section Manager, Forensic Special Initiatives Unit, GBI Crimes Against Disabled Adults and Elderly (CADE) Task Force, Georgia Department of Human Services
Anna Thomas is a POST certified instructor and a Forensic Specialist with the Division of Aging Services- Forensic Special Initiatives Unit and most recently the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crimes Against the Elderly and Disabled Task Force. FSIU’s mission is to protect elder and disabled adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elder and disabled adults, and to prosecute offenders. As a graduate of the University of Georgia, Anna holds a degree and Criminal Justice and a degree in Psychology. After interning with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Anna began her career as an Investigator for the Forsyth County District Attorney’s Office. For 5 years she was assigned to a trial team that mainly handled crimes against persons. In 2008, Anna became a Victim Advocate at the Hall County District Attorney’s Office where she served on the Child Fatality Review Board and the Hall County Domestic Violence Task Force. For 8 years, Anna assisted victims of crime through service referral and guidance through court and the criminal justice system and aided prosecutors at trial. In 2016, Anna transitioned to victim advocacy focused on older adults and adults with disabilities. Currently, her work at the Division of Aging Services and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation centers on training primary and secondary responders how to recognize and respond to elder and disabled adult abuse, researching gaps in current victim services, developing new laws to protect vulnerable adults, and public outreach. Anna’s recent project is the launch of state-wide Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs).
Victim Witness Compensation:
Kristan Crummett-Dollar – Director of Victim-Witness Assistance for the City of Waynesboro & Founder of Magnolia Rose
Guided by the words "Let it not be said that I was silent when they needed me," Kristan Crummett-Dollar has dedicated her career to advocacy and survivor support. With a background in law enforcement, child abuse investigation, and systems-based advocacy, she recognized the critical gaps in services for trafficking victims and the urgent need for trauma-informed care.
As Director of the Victim-Witness Assistance Program for the City of Waynesboro, Virginia, Kristan helps crime victims navigate the legal system, secure protective orders, and access essential resources. She also champions legislative advocacy to strengthen victims' rights.
Kristan founded Magnolia Rose to empower and support survivors of trafficking and exploitation through direct services. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and managing her farm in rural Virginia, where she offers youth opportunities in agriculture and horse boarding.
What is a Long-Term Care Ombudsman?:
John Brownlee, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Virginia Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
John Brownlee is the Local Long-Term-Care Ombudsman for the counties of Rockingham, Rockbridge, Augusta, Highland, and Bath counties as well as the cities of Buena Vista, Lexington, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Harrisonburg. This represents the area for one of nineteen local offices in Virginia. John’s area contains about 45 Long-Term-Care facilities (3300 beds approximately). The Local LTC Ombudsman is supported through Virginia Program for Aging Services, as well as through the Office of the State Ombudsman in Richmond.
Battered, Broken, and Burned: Recognizing Injuries in Suspected Older Adult Abuse:
Melissa Ratcliff Harper, MSN, APRN,
SANE-A, SANE-P, AFN-C
Melissa has been a Registered Nurse since 1990, working as both an emergency and forensic nurse. After working 30+ years as a healthcare provider within the hospital sector, she is now employed in a clinic setting as a Forensic Nurse with both Ultra Health and SAFE Center of SWVA. She previously served as faculty for the nursing and paramedic programs at the Jefferson College of Health Sciences. She is a Visiting Professor at St. George’s University in Grenada.
She is educated as an Advanced Practice Nurse and holds an MSN degree with a Clinical Nurse Specialist focus in forensic nursing from the University of Colorado. She holds SANE-A (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult/ Adolescent), SANE-P (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Pediatric, AFN-C (Advanced Forensic Nurse Certified) and IVSE-C (Interpersonal Violence Strangulation Evaluation Certified) certifications. She is a founding member of the former Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley Forensic Nurse Examiner Program in Roanoke, Virginia, as well a founding member of the Nursing Honor Society of the Roanoke Valley-Tau Phi Chapter. She is a former volunteer with Roanoke Emergency Medical Services. Melissa also participates with numerous local community agencies and boards as a nurse representative. She previously served on the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Governor’s Advisory Board for Domestic Violence Prevention and Response and Governor McAuliffe’s Task Force to Combat Sexual Violence on College Campuses. She chairs the Roanoke Regional Family and Intimate Partner Violence Fatality Review team. She is a member of the Commonwealth of Virginia Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Steering Committee and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services SART Advisory Council. She is a board member with the Virginia Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. She has presented greater than 300 lectures/courses on a variety of forensic-related topics including the following: intimate partner violence, strangulation, sexual assault, child abuse, older adult abuse, human trafficking and adult SANE and pediatric SANE courses at the local, state, national and international level. She is honored to have received the 2017 Virginia Attorney General’s Unsung Heroes and the 2020 Roanoke Valley Violence Prevention Council’s Heart awards for her work as a forensic nurse and community leader.
A Community Approach to Ending Elder Abuse - Elder Justice Learning and Research Hub:
Reed Bohn, Elder Justice Learning & Research Hub Project Manager, VCU College of Health Professions:
Reed Bohn (he/they) joined the Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA) as Project Manager for the Elder Justice Learning & Research Hub. Reed is a LGBTQ+, anti-violence, and reproductive justice advocate with over 15 years of community experience. Prior to coming to the VCoA, they were the Project Empower Manager at VCU and the VCU Health System's Injury & Violence Prevention Program. He is an active volunteer with All Options and was a member of the Virginia Community HIV Planning Group from 2013 to 2020. Reed has attended and facilitated numerous education and outreach opportunities, and trainings, and has provided technical assistance services; in addition to receiving certifications in a variety of modalities. His formal education experience is as an abolitionist social worker and he is completing a Masters in Applied Public Health. To highlight the words of Lydia X. Z. Brown, American activist and writer: "Often, their most important work has no title, job description, or funding, and probably never will."
Aisling Clardy, BSc, MSc, Project Manager Virginia Helping Elders Access Resources & Greater Richmond Elder Justice Shelter Initiative, VCU College of Health Professions:
Aisling has a vision of a healthy society where the safe and healthy choice is the easy choice for all. Where everyone’s needs are taken care of, to the point that self-actualization is an option for all. Where policies and practice are guided by love, care, and compassion. Aisling has experience ranging from direct support to project management, all within a salutogenic (well-being focused) health model. Prior to joining the Virginia Center on Aging, she spent eight years in an international role at a UNESCO appointed center based in Ireland working on human rights. There she both partnered on and managed numerous grant-funded transnational projects, working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals - in particular those related to inclusion, well-being, and healthy communities. Aisling is bringing her experience and passion to the Virginia Center on Aging, where she is Project Manager of two elder justice innovation grants: Virginia Helping Elders Access Resources (HEAR), and the Greater Richmond Elder Justice Shelter Initiative.