Northwest TN Elder Justice Conference 2025- Ending Generational Abuse

🎉 Join Us at the 2025 Northwest TN Elder Justice Conference
Theme: Ending Generational Abuse
📍 Discovery Park of America, Union City, TN
🗓 October 1–2, 2025 | 🕖 Registration Opens at 7:00 AM

Be a part of a transformative event dedicated to protecting our elders and vulnerable adults. This two-day in-person conference brings together professionals, advocates, and community members to raise awareness, share resources, and deliver impactful training to help end the cycle of abuse.

💥 Why Attend?

• Gain practical tools and strategies to identify and prevent elder abuse
• Network with experts, professionals, and fellow advocates across Tennessee
• Earn continuing education credits—POST credit available, with NASW CEUs and CLEs pending approval (additional fees apply)
• CLES requested for TN & KY

📍 New Location!
Now hosted at the stunning Discovery Park of America—offering an inspiring and interactive venue (formerly held at Martin Public Library).
🔗 Learn more: https://discoveryparkofamerica.com

📢 Space is limited—Registration is required!
Secure your spot early and be part of the movement to bring justice, dignity, and safety to all generations.

FREE T-shirt for the first 100 registered!

📞 For more info, contact:

• Debra Edwards: [email protected] 731-514-8246
• James R. Hatler: [email protected]
• Angie Morehead: [email protected] 731-588-1307

Info: All breaks will be determined by speakers and allow time for questions if necessary.

Info: Please sign in at the registration table upon arrival and enjoy fresh coffee and pastries. Our vendor booths will also be open at this time.

Info: Paul Greenwood, former Deputy District Attorney in San Diego, spent over two decades leading the Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit. Originally a solicitor in England, he joined the California DA’s office in 1993 and prosecuted 750+ felony elder abuse cases, along with 10 murders. Widely recognized for his pioneering work, Paul now trains professionals nationwide on combating elder abuse. Director: Aaron Bradley East TN. Area Agency on Aging and Disability, Aaron's has 4 decades of gerontology, and serves on numerous boards throughout the State of Tn. He was also chosen to serve on the White House Conference on Aging.

Info: This presentation will provide an overview of an active case in which multiple APS referrals were made, law enforcement made contact, and referrals were both closed by APS & Law Enforcement. It is meant to serve as a cautionary tale in recognizing coercion and undue influence before it's to late.

Info: Synopsis of What, Why, Who, Where and how to report these suspected facilities to DDA Investigation. What will happen if a facility is operating without license. Background as to how the registry started and what it looks like today.

Info: Participants will learn strategies to prosecute when a victim has severe mental health or dementia issues, describe the role of financial institutions in identifying and reporting elder financial exploitation and identify core principles of a Victim -Centered Approach to interviewing.

Info: Requirements and Procedures for Inclusion on the Registry of Person Who Have Abused, Neglected, or Misappropriated the Property of Vulnerable Adults. (Understanding the requirements for a referral, process, and review of upcoming rule changes.

Info: This session will provide a basic understanding of each Agency, Identify the Key Difference, and share Legal & Ethical consideration for each population.

Info: Audience will learn about types of Scams, best practices employed by financial institutions to combat these scams, plus a walk-through an actual investigation case on how best practices were successfully used.

Info: The speaker will cover all aspects of ID Theft including what info is desired by thieves, how they get it, common scams currently used, how can on protect oneself and specialized population that are targeted by thieves.

Info: As trusted sources of information, Public Information Officers play a vital role in raising awareness, disseminating critical information, and highlighting prosecution efforts. This presentation aims to elevate the essential function of PIO's in this area and provide actionable strategies for effective communications and community engagement.

Info: TBA

Info: The objective is to learn why individuals may wander, how to make their home and person safer, learn what resources and how to receive a Silver Alert Kit.

Info: Dr Speck introduces the participants to the licensed obligation of forensic nurses when evaluating older people, exposing biases and a nurse's core competency of trauma informed care. The exploration of systems' responses helps establish insight into personal biases, creating safety in the investigative relationships with the abused and abusers. Case studies will be used

Info: Registration-Coffee/Pastries/Vendor Booths Open

Info: TBA

Info: (Part 1) Tyes of data that thieves are seeking, tactics used by thieves to obtain personal information, how thieves use the stolen information, and identify considerations when dealing with specialized populations

Info: The Scientific and Psychological Principles necessary to understanding how polygraph works in a way that is applicable and understandable to anyone conducting an investigation. Also, steps of the polygraph process including when polygraphs should be scheduled in the course of an investigation. Lastly, the best practices and interview techniques for eliciting truthful information investigations.

Info: Introduces the audience to the intergenerational impact of child sexual abuse when working with older persons. In the first presentation, participants learned that trauma-informed care was core competency of forensic nursing, used to improve the systems' response by establishing insight into personal biases, and creation of safety and transparency in the investigative relationships with the abused and abusers.

Info: Part 2, Cont., the speaker with cover all aspects of ID Theft including what info is desired by thieves, how they get it, common scams currently used, how can one protect oneself and specialized population that are targeted by thieves.

Info: By better understanding the social factors at play in various situations can help us to identify more effective strategies to prevent and protect persons against elder abuse and exploitation. By understanding how our thinking, actions, and emotions are impacted by others, we can develop simple but effective ways for preventing these issues and making people feel more confident in their own abilities to protect themselves from unscrupulous others.

Info: This session will focus on educating the attendees on how to confidently screen someone whis is medically impaired. Discuss warning signs, what question to ask, and how to report someone to TN Driver Improvement if impairment is found. A simple, objective 9 question screening tool will be discussed that is used by licensing agencies and law enforcement around the country. Reporting procedures as well as real examples will be presented along with resources in the community that can be of assistance.

Info: Closing Remarks, CLE's, CEU's, POST instructions, Final Door Prizes, Question and Answers etc.

Host or Publisher Elder Abuse Awareness Event