Posts by Renee Stromme
Minnesota State Legislative Elder Justice Policy: Recap from 2026 and What’s Next
With the 2026 Minnesota legislative session over and the 2027 session set to begin in a few months, MEJC’s policy work has continued in the off-season. Last session, MEJC was engaged across multiple priorities affecting older and vulnerable adults, working in coalition with our long-standing partners on resident protections in long term care; seeking funding…
Read MoreA Growing Demand for Our Services
During the first six months of 2026, our helpline received 1,514 calls and provided assistance to 875 primary persons. These numbers represent a 25% increase of calls and a 37% increase in primary persons served over the same time period in 2025. The Minnesota Elder Justice Center (MEJC) is seeing an increase in callers to our…
Read MoreProtecting Voting Rights for Older and Vulnerable Adults
With Minnesota’s primary election approaching on August 11 and the general election less than 100 days away, now is an important time to remind older and vulnerable adults that voting is a fundamental right. In Minnesota, every eligible citizen has the constitutional right to vote unless that right has been specifically revoked by a court.…
Read More2026 Jane O Award for Advocacy Presented to Mary McGurran
MEJC is honored to recognize Mary McGurran as the 2026 Jane Ochrymowycz Award for Advocacy Recipient during the 2026 WEAAD conference. Mary McGurran serves as Adult Protection Manager with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and has dedicated her career to advancing the safety, dignity, and rights of vulnerable adults in Minnesota. Since joining the…
Read More2026 WEAAD Conference Handouts
10:15am-11:15am: Breakout sessions 1:15pm-2:15pm: Breakout sessions 2:30pm-3:30pm: Breakout sessions
Read MoreMinnesota State Legislative Elder Justice Policy: The Session Concludes
The 2026 Minnesota legislative session ended at midnight on May 17. MEJC was engaged across multiple priorities affecting older and vulnerable adults. We worked in coalition with our long-standing partners on resident protections in long term care; funding for supported decision-making grants; and consumer safeguards against private equity ownership in long term care. What Passed…
Read More2026 Jane Ochrymowycz Award for Advocacy Call for Nominations
Minnesota World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference Background: On December 30, 2011, the Minnesota elder justice community lost a legendary elder justice advocate, Jane Ochrymowycz. Jane’s legislative advocacy and biography reflect major milestones in vulnerable adult act reform. She was an active participant and advocate in local World Elder Abuse Awareness Day events. The purpose…
Read More2026 MN WEAAD Conference Sponsorship Opportunities
Invitation to Sponsor WEAAD 2026 Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center June 17, 2026 The Minnesota Elder Justice Center invites your organization to become a sponsor of the 20th Annual Minnesota World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference to be held at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center on June 17, 2026. Sponsorship Opportunities Sponsorship provides an excellent opportunity…
Read MoreMinnesota’s New Financial Exploitation Injunction
During the 2025 legislative session, Minnesota passed a law that provides a new tool to combat financial exploitation with a Vulnerable Adult (VA) Order For Protection (OFP) for Financial Exploitation which took effect on January 1, 2026. This new tool can provide immediate relief from financial exploitation for vulnerable adults who are experiencing, or at…
Read MoreSafe and Accessible Forensic Interviewing with Elders (SAFE) Training
SAFE (Safe Accessible Forensic Interviewing for Elders) Training was developed to meet the growing need for victim-centered, trauma-informed interview techniques for use with older adults in criminal contexts. The SAFE Two-Day training is designed for elder justice professionals seeking to gain additional information on communicating with older adults who are alleged victims of crime. This…
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