Social Research, Policy, and Practice
Marguerite DeLiema, PhD (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
Kathleen Wilber, PhD, FGSA, FAGHE
Professor
Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
University of South California
Los Angeles, California, United States
Pi-Ju Liu, PhD (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor
School of Nursing
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
David Burnes, PhD
Professor, Canada Research Chair
Social Work
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Courtney Reynolds, MA, MSSA, LSW (she/her/hers)
Senior Research Analyst I
Center for Research & Education
Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Marguerite DeLiema, PhD (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
The work of adult protection is inherently multidisciplinary–involving health care professions, social services agencies, law enforcement, criminal and civil justice systems, and the broader aging services network. Researchers seeking to develop and evaluate screening tools and interventions for elder abuse and neglect must cultivate partnerships with state and local agencies that are responsible for adult protection. In this symposium, early career researchers will share the unique challenges they have faced when collaborating with adult protective services (APS), healthcare organizations, and other state agencies on research to improve adult maltreatment outcomes. First, Reynolds and colleagues will summarize three collaborative projects involving a large healthcare system in Texas and APS agencies in Oklahoma. They will share how the research team adapted protocols to pandemic-related disruptions to data collection, and how they created new systems to standardize documentation. Liu interviewed state agencies in Montana and analyzed transcripts using thematic analysis. She will share the challenges and strategies that surfaced and relate to improving state-level collaboration in addressing the needs of mistreatment victims and survivors. DeLiema will present on planning for and navigating administrative barriers to cross-sector collaborations, including contracts and legal agreements that are part and parcel to university-government research partnerships. Last, Burnes will introduce the RISE project and share how he and his colleagues managed expectations to co-create a new outcomes measurement tool with adult protection workers. Reaching consensus necessitated honesty, openness, humor, and patience, but ultimately strengthened the collaboration to yield a more valid outcomes measurement assessment.
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Pi-Ju Liu, PhD (she/her/hers) – Purdue University
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: David Burnes, PhD – University of Toronto
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Courtney Reynolds, MA, MSSA, LSW (she/her/hers) – Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Marguerite DeLiema, PhD (she/her/hers) – University of Minnesota, Twin Cities