Elder Justice Coordinating Partnership

Established by Governor Mills by Executive Order (PDF), the Elder Justice Coordinating Partnership assembled private sector and public sector experts representing a wide array of disciplines to develop an Elder Justice Roadmap to address Maine’s response to and prevention of elder abuse in all its forms.

The United States Department of Justice estimates that one in nine people over the age of 60 will be abused or exploited every year, for an estimated 33,000 victims of elder abuse in Maine alone. Recognizing the value of a multi-disciplinary approach and Maine’s proven track record of success with multi-disciplinary efforts, Governor Mills constituted the Partnership to combat this growing health, justice, financial and social crisis.

In developing the Elder Justice Roadmap, the Partnership was tasked with: 

  1. Identifying challenges to the prevention of, detection of, and response to elder abuse;
  2. Developing strategic priorities across the public and private sectors to prevent and respond to elder abuse; and
  3. Making recommendations regarding direct services, education, public policy, and data collection and evaluation, including legislative changes, if any.

A Snapshot of the Elder Justice Roadmap, as well as the full report, are now available.

Partnership Membership

Private Sector Co-chair

Jaye Martin: A resident of Stockton Springs, Maine, Jaye Martin serves as Executive Director of Legal Services for the Elderly, a nonprofit legal services organization that provides free, high quality legal services to Maine's socially and economically needy elderly aged 60 and over. Committed to preventing elder abuse in Maine, Jaye previously served as Co-chair of the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention (MCEAP) as well as Chair of MCEAP’s Education and Awareness Committee and currently serves as the Chair of the MCEAP Mandatory Reporter Working Group. Jaye also provided staffing support for the Maine Attorney General’s Task Force on Financial Exploitation of the Elderly.

Public Sector Co-chair

Judith Shaw: A resident of Windham, Maine, Judith Shaw serves as the Securities Administrator for the Maine Office of Securities, an agency within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. Judith is Co-Chair of the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention and represents MCEAP as a member of the National Network of State Elder Justice Coalitions. Prior to accepting her current role in 2008, Judith served as Deputy Superintendent for the Maine Bureau of Insurance.

All Members

  • Jeanne M. Lambrew, PhD, Commissioner, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
  • Erin Salvo, Associate Director, Adult Protective Services, Office of Aging and Disability Services
  • Karen Mason, Associate Director, Aging and Long Term Care Services and Supports, Office of Aging and Disability Services
  • Ellen Nelson, Regional Associate Director, Office of Child and Family Services
  • William Montejo, Director, Division of Licensing and Certification
  • Emily Moores, MHA, Senior Health Program Manager, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Michael Sauschuck, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety
  • Colonel John E. Cote, Maine State Police
  • Morgan Connolly, Deputy Director, Maine Office of Behavioral Health
  • Leanne Robbin, Assistant Attorney General, Maine Office of the Attorney General
  • Elizabeth Ward Saxl, Executive Director, Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault
  • Francine Garland Stark, Executive Director, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence
  • Patricia Kimball, Executive Director, Elder Abuse Institute of Maine
  • Brenda Gallant, Executive Director, Maine Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
  • Katlyn Blackstone, Chief Program Officer, Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging
  • Sheriff Joel Merry, Sagadahoc County
  • Officer Candice L. Simeoni, Kennebunk Police Department
  • Kathryn M. Slattery, District Attorney, York County
  • Andrew McCormack, Assistant United States Attorney and Elder Justice Coordinator
  • Patrick Ende, Of Counsel, Disability Rights Maine

Governor Mills’ Executive Order:  The Executive Order establishing the Partnership can be accessed here: Elder Abuse Executive Order 11 FY 19/20 (PDF)

The work of the partnership is being supported by Joanne D’Arcangelo and staff from the Cutler Institute of the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine.  This consultant support is made possible through a grant from the John T. Gorman Foundation.

Schedule of Meetings

Meetings will be held via Zoom until further notice. Members of the public may watch the meeting by accessing the live stream on Facebook.

  • Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 10:00 to 12:30
  • Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 10:00 to 12:30
  • Wednesday, May 19, 2021, 10:00 to 12:30
  • Wednesday, July 21, 2021, 10:00 to 12:30
  • Wednesday, September 22, 2021, 10:00 to 12:30
  • Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 10:00 to 12:30

For more information about the meeting schedule, please contact Stephanie Ham.