Provincial funding for a Lethbridge case manager who handles cases of elder abuse has allegedly been pulled.
The Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) says they were shocked to learn that funding for the Case Manager that handles the Lethbridge Elder Abuse Response Network (LEARN) has not been renewed. They say the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services (PSES) decided their application did not align with the Ministry’s grant criteria. Executive Director of the LSCO, Rob Miyashiro says, In the 12 years that the LEARN Case Manager has been funded, countless seniors at imminent risk of abuse have been supported.
Amy Cook who is the LEARN Case Manager says her case load has been higher than the average social worker, which means many will be affected Cook says she only received the news at end of day on February 29, that funding would not be renewed beyond March. She says the short notice made things difficult to process.
Bridge City News reached out to the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services and received the following response:
The Community-Based Victims of Crime grant is being replaced by the new Specialized Criminal Justice Navigator Grant which was announced in September 2023. This new grant was designed specifically to help Albertans navigate the immediate aftermath of a crime and the ongoing complexities of the criminal justice system by funding frontline staff.
– Arthur Green, Press Secretary, PSES
In the last quarter of 2023, the LEARN Case Manager planned 109 times with 46 people and conducted 64 risk assessments. She also dealt with 19 cases of domestic or family violence.