OPA Committee on Social Responsibility: elder abuse

Thursday, October 1, 2009

October 1st: International Day of Older Persons

Today is the 19th Annual Celebration of the International Day of Older Persons. This special day recognizes the contributions of older persons and draws continued attention to the issues of global aging.

This year also marks the tenth anniversary of the International Year ofOlder Persons. The theme - "Towards a Society for All Ages" - continues to guide nations in creating communities for both young and old. In his message for the International Day of Older Persons, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon noted that this motto emphasizes the need to treat older persons as both agents and beneficiaries of development. This emphasis on the positive contributions of older persons -- and theUnited Nations Principles for Older Persons -- take on even greater importance as the world struggles to confront global food, energy, climate, financial and economic crises. Secretary Ban Ki Moon also urged nations to end age discrimination, abuse, neglect and violence against older persons. The 19th Annual Commemoration of the International Day of Older Persons "Aging Activism: A Global Tool to Create a Society for All Ages" will be held on October 8, 2009, United Nations Headquarters, New York.

For more information about this year's celebration of the International Day of Older Persons, go to http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/un_meetings.html.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: June 15

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was held on June 15th this year. It was a call to action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. Please visit www.inpea.net for a free "Community Guide to Raise World Awareness on Adult Abuse Tool Kit" which was produced by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA). It has sample ideas and templates for activities, as well as examples of materials, resources, proclamations and messages. World Elder Abuse Awareness day was organized to support the UN's International Plan of Action, which recognizes the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human right's issue (Gerontology News, 2008).

CoSR Information

The CoSR also includes the Public Education Campaign and the Disaster Response Network (Margie Kukor, Ph.D., Chair) .

CoSR Website

CoSR Goals

Goals

1. Enhance image of psychologists through encouraging pro bono work.

a) Suicide Prevention Walks in October
b) “For the Greater Good” articles highlighting volunteer work by Ohio Psychologists
c) Media Award

2. Plan for unique community programs that can be implemented under the auspices of the OPA, involving psychologists and others.

a) Eating Disorder Awareness Week (February)
b) Legislative Health Fair (May)
c) VA Health Fair, Mental Health Awareness Month (May)
d) A Home Within Project
e) YMCA Programs
f) Library Programs
g) High school psychology class speaker requests

3. Inform and educate the OPA Board and member psychologists about relevant social justice issues that affect Ohio residents in collaboration with the Diversity Committee, LGBT Subcommittee and other parts of the OPA structure.

a) “Did You Know” articles in the OPA Notes e-newsletter
b) Foodbank Drive (May-June)
c) Social networking
i) OPA Facebook Page
ii) OPA on Twitter
iii) COSR Blog

4. Work with the OPA Advocacy Committee to support the development of public policy that promotes equitable mental health treatment and other applications of psychological principles for societal concerns.

a) Legislative Health Fair in conjunction with OPA Legislative Day (May)
b) PEC and other committee members at State Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. (March)

5. Represent psychology in public forums and with other mental health organizations and consumers.

a) Legislative Health Fair (May)
b) VA Health Fair (May)

6. Provide resources about mental health issues to the public via the Public Education Campaign and the Public Section of the OPA website, with the purpose of informing the public about psychology, and destigmatizing mental illness and use of mental health services.

a) Social networking
i) OPA Facebook Page
ii) OPA on Twitter
iii) COSR Blog
b) Media Award
c) YMCA Programs
d) Library Programs
e) High school psychology class speaker requests
f) Legislative Health Fair
g) VA Health Fair
h) Support group resources/self-help section of OPA website

7. Work together with OPA as a whole to recognize psychologists who have contributed their expertise and service significantly to the cause of public interest.

a) “For the Greater Good” Articles
b) Media Award

8. Through the Disaster Response Network, develop a corps of trained psychologists with state and regional leadership that is linked to APA’s DRN program and is able to respond to a variety of disasters.

OPA Committee on Social Responsibility

Thursday, October 1, 2009

October 1st: International Day of Older Persons

Sunday, June 15, 2008

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: June 15

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CoSR Information

Goals

OPA CoSR Members

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