VCU news

By Lindsay McClaire
University News Services

Virginia's Commonwealth Council on Aging has selected the Central Virginia Task Force on Older Battered Women as one of its 2006 Best Practices Award winners.

The awards program recognizes outstanding organizations serving older Virginians.

The Central Virginia Task Force, a project of the VCU Police, was awarded the 2006 Best Practices Award in the community partnership category due to its commitment and excellent service in the community.

"The program is valuable and has helped the community in a number of ways," said Paula Kupstas, Ph.D., project director and research specialist in VCU's Center on Aging and a founding member of the Central Virginia Task Force on Older Battered Women. "It has brought attention to the fact that domestic and sexual violence affects victims in all age groups, including the older population."

In 2002, Kupstas wrote the first grant to fund the project coordinator position that currently works with the task force and community. Funding for the project began in 2003 and has continued through grant activities and grant requests, which Kupstas also has written.

"Through cross-training and collaboration with other agencies, service providers and criminal justice professionals have acquired a better understanding of older victims and the unique challenges they face when accessing services to enhance their safety," said Kupstas.

Collaboration across the localities of Richmond, Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield is a necessity because residents of these metropolitan areas may live in one locality, but work in another."

The Central Virginia Task Force on Older Battered Women is an interagency partnership responding to the needs of middle-aged and older women in the community who are victims of domestic, sexual or family violence.

Award winners for 2006 and 2007 will be recognized at the 2008 Governor's Conference.