A grant from the federal government will allow the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office to continue its fight against elder abuse.
The $375,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice will be used to expand the efforts of the Cobb Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team and to hire a new coordinator. The grant period runs through Sept. 30, 2022.
The team consists of public safety officials and groups such as liveSAFE Resources, Cobb Elder Abuse Task Force, Adult Protective Services and the Atlanta Regional Commission who “discuss the most effective ways to proceed in particular cases where an elder person or disabled adult has suffered abuse, neglect or financial exploitation,” the office said.
Tracey B. Atwater, executive director of liveSAFE Resources, said the grant will help her organization to improve its response to the “neglect and abuse of vulnerable adults, support victims, and hold offenders accountable.”
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“As the local service provider for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse, we have learned that it takes a whole-community approach to address abuse,” she said.
Larami Floyd will serve as the new coordinator of the multidisciplinary team. She succeeds Paula Dodd, who led the creation of the team.
“This role was a natural next step for me as I have always preferred working in a way where I could better serve my community,” Floyd said. “The elder population is especially near and dear to my heart and through this position I will be able to better support and aid this generation.”
Before transitioning into the new role, Floyd was a victim advocate for four years in the Cobb District Attorney’s Office. She has a master’s degree in public administration with a focus on government and nonprofit organizations from Kennesaw State University.
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