As the nation’s health system expands its focus on and commitment to improving care for the growing population of older adults, the National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment (NCAEM) recognizes that improving elder mistreatment identification, intervention, and prevention requires supporting people with a broad range of interests and careers. We are pleased to support this talent pipeline with the National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment Mentorship Program.

Our one-year program supports clinicians, service providers, researchers, policymakers, and advocates from multiple disciplines who are focusing on improving care for older adults experiencing or at risk of experiencing elder mistreatment. In 2022-2023, our first cohort will be completing the program. Meet the 2022–2023 NCAEM Mentor Program Cohort.

If you are interested, view this flyer, scroll down to learn more about the program and apply to participate in 2023-2024.

Potential Applicants

Each year, we will select a varied cohort to participate in the mentorship program. Applicants representing or working with underserved populations are encouraged to apply.

We welcome applications from, but not limited to, the following examples:

  • A social worker hoping to design and implement a new protocol to support older adults experiencing elder mistreatment in the community
  • A physician-scientist examining the potential for health care-based elder mistreatment screening and prevention strategies
  • A gerontologist exploring the impact of loneliness, social isolation, and efforts to mitigate these factors on elder mistreatment
  • A nurse hoping to strengthen the connection between her hospital and Adult Protective Services (APS), the Area Agency on Aging, and other community-based agencies
  • A social worker or social science researcher interested in exploring the impact of ageism in elder mistreatment among older adults of different races and ethnicities
  • A mid-career researcher who has made important contributions with a different focus but wants to transition to working on elder mistreatment issues
  • An emergency department nurse who is serving as a clinical champion for an intervention designed to improve identification and response for elder mistreatment
  • A community organizer, prosecutor, or other professional interested in impacting policy through advocacy and new laws

Key Features and Benefits for Mentees

Mentees will:

  • Be paired with an expert mentor who has shared interests and experience
  • Meet with their mentor at least monthly, virtually or in person
  • Design and complete a project of their choosing
  • Attend (with travel and hotel expenses paid by the program) and present their project at a special two-day convening in Washington, D.C., in June 2024
  • Be invited to join the culminating event of the first cohort on June 5-6, 2023

Mentorship can be integral to all aspects of career development, including the following:

  • Approaches to implement and measure the impact of new or revised initiatives
  • Leadership and advancement strategies
  • Connection with collaborators
  • Building social and professional capital through expanded networks
  • Access to existing and secondary data
  • Identifying funding opportunities
  • Grant writing
  • Career development advice

Eligibility Requirements

Clinicians, service providers, researchers, policymakers, and advocates from any discipline and at any career stage will be welcome to apply to be part of the 2023–2024 cohort. This includes people who are transitioning or are interested in transitioning to a focus on elder mistreatment. Currently, we are accepting only U.S. applications, but we look forward to accepting applications from outside the United States in the future.

Mentees must not currently work at an NCAEM institution (i.e., Education Development Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center, and the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California).

Selection Criteria

Our program applies the following criteria in the selection of mentees:

  • Level of demonstrated interest in elder mistreatment
  • Likelihood that the applicant will have an impactful career in elder mistreatment
  • Potential for mentorship program to accelerate and/or support career development
  • Promise and/or potential impact of the proposed project

Inquiries

If you have questions about the NCAEM Mentorship Program, please e-mail NCAEM@edc.org.