NCJ Number
54937
Date Published
Unknown
Length
31 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES AND COVERS THE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS OF A TAMPA, FLA., PROGRAM WHICH USES OLDER ADULT NEIGHBORHOOD PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE COUNSELING, REFERRAL, AND AID SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM ASSISTS PERSONS 55 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF PART I CRIMES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLA. THE PROGRAM IS BUILT AROUND 30 NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON WORKERS (NLW'S) IN THE SAME AGE GROUP AS THE PERSONS TO BE ASSISTED WHO LIVE IN OR NEAR THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO PROVIDE COUNSELING, AID, AND REFERRAL SERVICES, AND SHORT-TERM CRISIS INTERVENTION COUNSELING. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MEETINGS TO INFORM THE ELDERLY ABOUT CRIME VICTIMIZATION AND WAYS TO AVOID IT AND SOME INFORMATION GATHERING. NLW'S PARTICIPATE IN QUARTERLY TRAINING SESSIONS AND MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM TO MONITOR PROJECT COSTS AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN OBJECTIVE EVALUATION PROGRAM. RESULTS OF THE FIRST 9 MONTHS OF OPERATION SHOW THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE OFFENSES ARE CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY. ONLY 4 PERCENT OF THE 938 VICTIMS IN THE SAMPLE RECEIVED ANY PHYSICAL INJURY. THE MOST COMMON EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES OR HELPING VICTIMS OBTAIN DEFERMENT ON BILLS. THE PROGRAM'S DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INCLUDES FORM TO BE FILLED OUT BY THE NLW OR VICTIM. THE LATTER IS A SPIELBERGER CRIME ATTITUDE QUESTIONNAIRE, WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO A CONTROL GROUP OF 200 PERSONS. A CRIME FREQUENCY BY TYPE TABLE, PROCEDURAL FLOW CHART, AND APPENDIX CONTAINING THE DATA MANAGEMENT FORMS ARE INCLUDED. (TWB)