ATLANTA - Officials from Wesley Woods Center of Emory University and the Office of the DeKalb County Solicitor-General today officially formed a first of its kind partnership to identify and protect elderly abused citizens within DeKalb County.

In celebration of national Elder Abuse Prevention Month, Emory and the Office of the DeKalb County Solicitor-General formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the nation's first special protection pathway dedicated to vulnerable adults during a reception at Emory University Hospital.
"This is a historic day here in DeKalb County and a major success for our older residents. This collaboration brings together a number of partners and community stakeholders needed to address the growing and often underreported crime of elder abuse," said DeKalb County Solicitor-General Robert James. "From our first responders to our trained volunteers, we are now equipped to serve vulnerable adults who may be abused, neglected or exploited here in DeKalb."

Solicitor-General James, State Senator Ronald Ramsey, Emory Healthcare's Dr. Thomas Price, Emory's Wesley Woods Center's Chief Operating Officer Albert K. Blackwelder and the VALARI (Vulnerable Adults Living At Risk Invisibly) taskforce recently partnered to create the protection pathway initiative aimed at addressing a growing need for protective services specifically for elder and vulnerable adults in DeKalb County.

"As a geriatrician, I understand that our seniors represent a unique population as far as medical illness and complexity of treatment. Sometimes these people find themselves in the unfortunate circumstance of requiring others to

[Decatur, GA] DeKalb County law enforcement officials will host the Crime Prevention Tour on Saturday, February 27, at Tucker Middle School, located at 2160 Idlewood Rood in Tucker. DeKalb County residents, homeowner associations and business owners are encouraged to attend the free event which begins promptly at 8:30a.m.with a complimentary breakfast. The event ends at noon.

The Crime Prevention Tour, a joint effort among the DeKalb District Attorney's Office, DeKalb Solicitor-General's Office and the DeKalb Sheriff's Office, will educate and empower residents about crime prevention, community resources and public safety initiatives.

DeKalb County District Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming, Solicitor-General Robert James and Sheriff Thomas Brown are scheduled to attend.

"The Crime Prevention Tour is an interactive community event that allows residents and business owners an opportunity to directly interface with various arms of public safety here in DeKalb County," said DeKalb Solicitor-General James. "We are there to answer questions and address concerns of residents while providing participants with an understanding of the law and law enforcement procedures."

"Each event allows us to learn more from the residents about how best to meet their criminal justice needs and concerns," said District Attorney Keyes Fleming.

Workshops include various informational sessions focused on: gang activity, the juvenile justice system, domestic violence, elderly and disabled abuse, community prosecution program, child abandonment, DeKalb Police Department's Interactive Community Policing Program and more.

"The Crime Prevention Tours are important to the Sheriff's Office and to our constituents because they provide the perfect opportunity to educate our citizens and all community stakeholders on what this agency does to keep the community safe," said Sheriff Brown.

For more information, contact Dana Lawrence at 404-371-6342 or Ebony Phillips 404-371-3685.