Annual competition engages young people in tackling senior abuse by raising awareness, encouraging reporting
Wilmington – Attorney General Beau Biden today announced that his office has launched its second annual senior abuse video competition. The contest, sponsored by the Attorney General’s Senior Protection Initiative, is designed to engage young people in raising awareness of senior abuse in families and communities across Delaware. The competition runs through April 15 and is open to all high school students enrolled in Delaware public, private, and parochial schools or home schooled in Delaware.
“Senior abuse is a crime that affects more than one in ten older individuals, including those with disabilities,” Attorney General Biden said. “But for every case of senior abuse that is reported to authorities, five cases go unreported because victims don’t know where to turn for help, are ashamed, are afraid of their abuser, or fear losing their independence. In Delaware we’re tackling senior abuse head-on. That’s why we’re proud to sponsor this contest for young Delawareans to help protect an older generation by spreading information and driving home the importance of reporting these crimes.” Biden also urged anyone who suspects incidents of senior abuse to call police or Delaware’s Senior Abuse Hotline at 1-800-223-9074.
Students are asked to work individually or in teams to produce a video from 30 seconds to two minutes in length that illustrates this year’s theme – Stop Abuse and Financial Exploitation (SAFE) – as a way to raise awareness and encourage reporting of senior abuse. More information, including an introductory video featuring Attorney General Biden, last year’s winning entry, and contest rules are posted at www.dev.gic.dos.state.de.us/ConnectingGenerations.
The video submission deadline is April 15, 2012. Winners will be notified by May 10, 2012 and will be awarded cash prizes of $500 for first place, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place. Biden thanked the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council for providing the award funding.
Questions about the contest may be directed to the Attorney General’s Senior Protection Initiative at seniorprotection@delaware.gov.
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