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Press Release – Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society Receives Honorable Mention Award

April 6, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Gary Cody, Directory of Development, 276.783.8300, x2011 gcody@svlas.org

TO PRINT: VIEW THIS PRESS RELEASE AS A PDF


SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA LEGAL AID SOCIETY
RECEIVES HONORABLE MENTION AWARD
FOR “SILENCE ISN’T GOLDEN” CAMPAIGN

MARION, Va. – Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc. (SVLAS) received recognition through the Commonwealth Council on Aging (CCOA) on March 14th stating, “The Best Practices Awards Committee determined that the “SILENCE ISN’T GOLDEN” (SIG) program deserved an Honorable Mention Award.” The Best Practices Awards Program is sponsored by the Commonwealth Council on Aging, a Council composed of 24 members who are in part appointed by the Governor and legislators to represent all geographic areas of Virginia. The Council helps the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and state government meet the needs of older Virginians in the most efficient and effective manner. The SIG Campaign is public education and awareness regarding elder abuse, and how you can help combat elder abuse, with focus on neglect, financial exploitation, and mental and physical harm to seniors.

Silence is golden educational visit
From Left to Right: Jennifer Bilbrey, Denise Thomas, Cicely Dunford and Darlene Conley

Misty Lee, with Anthem HealthKeepers Plus and a member with the Southwest Virginia Elder Abuse Justice Task Force (SVEJTF), stopped by Bland Co. Dept. of Social Services and met with staff to educate and supply their staff with informative materials reflecting the “Silence Isn’t Golden” campaign, which is an awareness campaign about elder abuse, offered by SVEJTF. Be sure to stop by Bland County DSS to gain an understanding about the “Silence Isn’t Golden” program and how you can contribute to stopping elder abuse.

Today, the SVEJTF, chaired by Gary Cody with SVLAS, and our partners continue the efforts to protect seniors through the SIG Campaign. Members are strong within the SVEJTF committee and assist with distribution of materials and presenting the SIG PowerPoint to agencies and virtual webinars across southwestern region of Virginia. Please contact Gary Cody, gcody@svlas.org, 276-783-8300, ext. 2011 or Janet Brennend, ombudsman@nrvaoa.org, if you or your agency would like to schedule a SIG Presentation or to join our Task Force as an agency member (See photo of a recent visit to Bland County Department of Social Services to distribute SIG materials to staff).

Through continuance efforts of offering education and awareness concerning elder abuse, please make sure to sign up for our annual virtual conference this year – Elder Abuse: Understanding Guardianships, slated for June 10, 2022. More information can be found on our website in the upcoming weeks, www.svlas.org.

If you need legal assistance, call Legal Aid to apply for services at 1-888-201-2772. The call is free, and intake staff are available to take your call Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. You can also apply online 24 hours a day at www.svlas.org.

To learn more, visit Legal Aid’s website at www.svlas.org.

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Silence Isn't Golden