Florian Edwards, LMSW is JASA’s Senior Director of Protective Services, which entails oversight of Adult Protective Services (APS), Elder Justice Prevention Services, and the Annual Elder Justice Training Institute. Florian has provided individual and group therapy in her professional work with victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, human trafficking, and modern-day slavery. She is a core member of the Enhanced Multi-Disciplinary Team (EMDT). She is passionate about fighting for social justice, especially for vulnerable and at-risk populations.Florian attended CUNY’s Herbert H. Lehman College where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 2002, with honors. Florian attended Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service where she received her Master’s of Social Work in 2004. Florian remains an active member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Paul L. Caccamise, LMSW, ACSW is Vice President for Program at Lifespan of Greater Rochester, a not-for-profit aging service provider in upstate New York. Since 2002, he has provided administrative and clinical oversight for agency programs with a focus on elder abuse programs, and services targeting older adults at risk of mistreatment including the Upstate Elder Abuse Center, Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman, Guardianship, and Recovery and Wellness (Geriatric Addictions) Programs. He also is the Program Director for the National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions, sponsored by Lifespan. Paul oversees Lifespan’s role in implementing the statewide Enhanced Multidisciplinary Team (E-MDT) initiative. He is part of the team that organized and implemented the 2022 NYS Elder Abuse Summit. He was also the project director for the New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study conducted by Lifespan, Weill Cornell Medical Center, and the NYC Department for the Aging from 2007-2010. Before coming to Lifespan, Paul served in a number of positions at Monroe County Department of Social Services including as administrator for Adult Protective Services from 1985-2002.
Donna Maria Cooper is the Senior Training Director from the Office of Policy, Procedures, and Training (OPPT) for the Office of Special Services for the New York City Human Resources Administration (NYC-HRA). Ms. Cooper is charged with managing all training activities and responsibilities for the development, execution and on-going trainings for Adult Protective Services (APS), HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA), Medical Assistance Program (MAP), Home Care Services Program (HCSP) and Customized Assistance Services (CAS). She has more than 37 years of social services experience with 6 years as a dedicated Bronx-APS Supervisor and 7 years as the Training Director for Adult Protective Services. She’s known for implementing new and creative training methods, designing an APS curriculum, and establishing a culture of continuous learning.As a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer, Donna is charged with training HRA employees to recognize symptoms of mental health problems and offer the appropriate help and support until professional treatment is obtained or the crisis is resolved. Donna is also a member of the Association for Talent Development and the National Adult Protective Services Association. She sits on the steering committees of the Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA) NYC Elder Abuse Conference and the Adult Abuse Training Institute (AATI) through the Learning and Development Projects at the Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College.
Maureen Curtis, LMSW, MPH is responsible for the development and oversight of Safe Horizon’s Criminal Justice Programs with a staff of more than 300 locations city-wide and manages a budget of more than 20 million. She has worked for more than 35 years in the field of victimization and has extensive knowledge of victims' rights within the criminal justice and housing systems.Maureen started her career in the Domestic Violence Police Program (DVPP). When promoted to Director of DVPP, she helped expand this program over the years into 26 police precincts in NYC. DVPP led to the creation of the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) which places Advocates in every NYC police precinct and provides services to all victims of crime. She helped launch CVAP and currently provides senior leadership for its staff.
Maureen was instrumental in creating and introducing a new practice for Safe Horizon staff in their work with clients; led the training for supervisors in the implementation of this model of client-centered practice; and continues to provide support and guidance to help staff develop their skills and enhance their knowledge. Maureen is a licensed social worker with a Master’s in Public Health.
Rachael Domanico, LMSC, is the Elder Justice Specialist at The Weinberg Center. Rachael has worked with a variety of populations including LGBTQ+ youth, justice-involved individuals, and housing-insecure veterans. She graduated from Molloy College with a Bachelor's in Social Work and was Secretary of the Molloy Social Work Club. She later received her Master of Social Work from Fordham University. Rachael was awarded the New York State Society for Clinical Social Work Student of the Year Award of Excellence in the Spring of 2020. She recently became a certified dementia practitioner and is currently training to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Donna Dougherty, Esq. Donna Dougherty is the Senior Director of Legal Services for Elder Justice. She is a 30-year veteran of JASA. In her role, she oversees a 20+ person legal team that provides direct legal services to thousands of older adults each year in the areas ofevictions and foreclosures, financial exploitation and fraud, public benefits, healthcare,
and elder abuse. Donna is an adjunct professor at New York Law School and St. John’s University School of Law. Donna is a member of the NYS Judicial Committee on Elder Justice, NYC Bar-Mortgage Foreclosure Task Force, and the Queens Bar Association, Landlord/Tenant Committee. Donna received her undergraduate degree from SUNY Oneonta and her Juris Doctor Degree from Albany School of Law. Before law school, Donna was a community organizer in Brooklyn.
Cheryl Lee, LMSW is currently the Elder Abuse Coordinator at NYC Aging in the Office of Elder Justice. Cheryl acts as a senior project leader for all NYC Aging funded Elder Abuse Programs. Cheryl facilitates communication between her colleagues and programs working with older adults who are victims of abuse, to help optimize their well-being, safety, and the coordination of services. She is also a member of the New York State Judicial Committee on Elder Justice, a committee committed to improving access to the court systems for older adults.
Ayana Mortley is the Training and Program Facilitator for the Center for Elder Abuse Solutions (CEASe) at Weill-Cornell Medicine’s Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine. She collaborates with program directors and division co-chiefs to assist in developing and implementing The Weill Cornell Medicine Partnership with Historical Black Medical Colleges within the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine. She also develops, coordinates, and delivers all aspects of training workshops related to the division’s elder abuse and elder justice programs and initiatives.Administration Adult Protective Services program, where she developed and facilitated intervention plans for high-risk vulnerable adults. Ayana received her M.Ed in Adult Education and Education Technology from Rutgers University and her B.A. in Sociology from Wesleyan University.
Geoff Rogers has a BA in European history and English from Colby College and has more than three decades of professional change management experience. His commitment to racial and social justice is the foundation of his transformative leadership in guiding organizations and their staff as they learn to manage and navigate change and new opportunities.He brings to his work an array of multifaceted experiences including working in advertising, publishing, and marketing, as well as time working in New York City Adult Protective Services serving in multiple roles such as the Director of Special Projects, Director of Training, and the Director of Operations.
Geoff’s diverse background, from public administration to management consulting, informs his work as he leads the development of expansive and inclusive learning opportunities that engage a diverse array of human services professionals. Geoff is the Director of the Learning & Development Projects for the Silberman School of Social Work.
Loangys Sanchez, MSW is the Program Director of the Violence Intervention & Prevention (VIP)- Elder Justice Program at Neighborhood SHOPP. Loangys was promoted to the position in August 2021, prior she was the Elder Abuse Social Worker and has been dedicated to working in this field since 2015. Loangys holds undergraduate and graduate Social Work degrees from Leham College, she is a certified Relationship-Centered Communication Specialist and a SIFI Field Instructor. Loangys has prior experience with the youth population and overall, she carries a strong passion for promoting well-being, safety, and independence to this vulnerable population by utilizing the self-help model within her practice.
Tracey Siebert-Konopko, LMSW, has dedicated over a decade to her role as the Director of Education, Training, and Research Initiatives at the Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan. Since beginning her professional journey in 2008, Tracey has passionately dedicated herself to the well-being of older survivors of abuse and the professionals who support them.
Her profound enthusiasm and commitment are evident in her multifaceted role. Not only does she manage direct case responsibilities, but she also spearheads Education, Training, and Research Initiatives, significantly contributing to the center's impact and outreach.
Tracey Siebert-Konopko is a prominent speaker at various levels, sharing her insights and expertise on Elder Abuse and related topics. Her influence extends from local to statewide and national platforms, where she continues to make meaningful contributions to the field. Co-authoring the Elder Abuse Risk and Evaluation Tool (EARAE)© reflects her commitment to developing practical resources that guide elder abuse work and track outcomes for Lifespan and affiliated organizations.
Tracey earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from SUNY Brockport in 2006, laying the foundation for her understanding of human behavior and motivations. Her pursuit of excellence led her to complete her master's degree in Social Work from the Greater Rochester Collaborative Program in 2008, specializing in coursework and field practicum focused on developing social work competencies for working with older adults.
Dianne O. Woodburn, Esq. is the Legal Services Supervisor for the Senior Initiative and Home Retention Programs at JASA Legal Services for Elder Justice. Ms. Woodburn assists seniors who are victims of scams or who are at risk of foreclosure. Ms. Woodburn is also the Supervising attorney for Queens’ Legal/Social Work Elder Abuse Prevention Project (LEAP). LEAP is an elder abuse prevention project that combines teams of social workers and attorneys to help senior citizens fight against physical and financial abuse and exploitation in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. Prior to joining Legal Services in 2003, Ms. Woodburn was employed at the trial litigation firm of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges. Ms. Woodburn is also an Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University School of Law. Ms. Woodburn graduated from New York University and St. John’s University School of Law.
Margaret M. Woods, LMSW, ASW-G, ACSW, CCM is a licensed gerontological social worker who graduated from NYU Silver School of Social Work in 2015 and is a member of the Phi Alpha Honor Society. Margaret has a post-master certificate from the NYU Zelda Foster Studies Program in Palliative and End of Life Care as well as a Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) Certification from NYU. Margaret has experience in field instruction, clinical, community-based, and medical social work which included a Fellowship at the VA Medical Center in Manhattan in Palliative and end-of-life care working with our nation’s veterans and their families.
Since graduation, she has worked for the Carter Burden Network in the Geriatric Case Management Unit assisting homebound older adults and their caregivers with direct services before assuming the director’s position for CEMAPP (Community Elder Mistreatment Abuse Prevention Program) in June 2021.
Jeanne Zieff, MSW, Elder Justice Program Director, and her dedicated staff have been on a mission for the last 14 years to bring awareness to the all too frequently concealed crime of Elder Abuse to the Staten Island Community.
Jeanne received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Brooklyn College, in Television and Radio. Jeanne then pursued the very rewarding career of “motherhood”, returned to school, and pursued her Master of Social Work Degree from NYU. Jeanne graduated with her MSW in 2006, receiving the “Student of Distinction Award."
Jeanne serves on the Professional Advisory Board for Stella Orten and Richmond Home Needs. She also volunteers for the Children’s Tumor Foundation and is a proud member of the Soroptimist International of Staten Island.