Guidance Carolina has been awarded a major grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) to launch RISE for Change: Reimagining Elder Justice Care Management, a groundbreaking 36-month initiative designed to reduce adult maltreatment and transform care management for older adults in Guilford County.
Implemented in partnership with the Guilford County Family Justice Center (FJC), RISE for Change positions Guilford County as a state and national leader in elder justice, strengthening safety nets, promoting dignity, and advancing coordinated care for older adults across the region.
“We are honored to bring this innovative model to North Carolina,” said Dorian Sylvester, Executive Director of Guidance Carolina. “This project is about more than reducing harm – it’s about building a compassionate, coordinated system that centers the voice and dignity of older adults. RISE for Change reflects our deep commitment to elder justice and systemic change.”
Every year, millions of older adults across the United States experience abuse, neglect, or exploitation, often by someone they trust. In Guilford County, reports of elder abuse continue to rise, reflecting not just isolated cases but systemic gaps in how communities protect and support older adults after a crisis. RISE for Change aims to do things differently: by blending compassion with evidence-based practice, the program will ensure that older adults are not just protected from harm, but empowered to recover, rebuild, and thrive.
At the core of the initiative is the expansion of Guidance Carolina’s Elder Justice Care Management (EJCM) program and the integration of the RISE-APS model, a nationally recognized, evidence-based framework that bridges the gap between short-term Adult Protective Services (APS) intervention and long-term, person-centered care.
Through RISE for Change, Guidance Carolina will:
- Add three full-time Elder Justice Care Managers to serve more than 640 high-risk older adults over three years.
- Implement the RISE-APS model to deliver more responsive, person-led, and trauma-informed care management.
- Strengthen cross-sector collaboration by embedding EJCM staff at the Guilford County Family Justice Center and working closely with APS, law enforcement, legal aid, healthcare, and community organizations.
- Develop individualized care plans that promote client safety, housing stability, healthcare access, and financial well-being.
This partnership builds on years of collaboration between Guidance Carolina and the Guilford County Family Justice Center to enhance community response to elder abuse.
“The Guilford County Family Justice Center is proud to further collaborate with Guidance Carolina through the RISE for Change grant,” said Sonya Desai, Interim Director of the Guilford County Family Justice Center. “Together we will continue to make Guilford County a safer place to age.”
The initiative also aligns closely with the goals of the Guilford County Family Justice Center’s Elder Justice Committee, which unites local agencies to coordinate services, raise awareness, and promote prevention.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with Guidance Carolina, leaders in elder abuse advocacy, as they implement the RISE model,” said Heather Magill, Elder Justice Specialist Coordinator on behalf of the Elder Justice Committee. “Our committee is a diverse partnership committed to enhancing our community’s knowledge, resources, and response to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The RISE model will allow us to reach more vulnerable older adults in Guilford County who too often fall through the cracks.”
Over the next three years, Guidance Carolina and its Family Justice Center partners will share outcomes, data, and lessons learned through public reports and professional presentations—offering a scalable, evidence-informed model that can strengthen elder justice systems nationwide.