Phase One

To get started, you will need to identify individuals and organizations in your community that are interested and invested in addressing the problem of elder abuse.

Coming Together
Meet with a small group of service providers who work with victims of elder abuse, are likely to encounter abuse cases, and who provide services that can be used to stop abuse. You may alsowant to invite members of the community who have an interest in the problem. There may already be a group in your community that is addressing the issue or that may be inter-ested in doing so.

Planning Meetings to Generate Interest
Plan ahead for three or four monthly meetings. You may want to begin by inviting a featured speaker to discuss elder abuse, show a video about the issue, or invite a trainer to conduct a training session. NCPEA can help you find materials that meet your needs. Select a program chairperson for each meeting.

Recruiting New Members
Inform local service providers and others ofyour intent to form an affiliate of NCPEA. Ask your area agency on aging or state unit on aging for mailing lists or assistance in sending out announcements to aging service providers. Also send an-nouncements to your local adult protective service unit, agen-cies that provide mental health services, domestic violence programs, health and medical services, legal aide programs, law enforcement and victim witness assistance programs. You may also want to include legislators or their aides, senior advocates or other members of the community. If you want to include non-professionals, send a press release announcing meetings to local media.

Be sure that your membership reflects the ethnic make-up of your community. If it doesn't, meet with leaders of under-represented groups to discuss the problem, their communities' needs and ideas for how to generate participation.

Establishing an Organizational Structure
At this point, you want to keep your organizational structure simple and flexible. Start with a small board of directors or officers. You may want to collect dues to cover your costs. Ifso, you will need to decide on a dues structure. Costs will include the production, duplication and mailing of meeting notices, NCPEA dues, and the costs of producing your own brochure. You will need to decide on how to collect dues - will individuals or agencies (or both) be eligible for membership? Will there be different membership rates for agencies and individuals?

Keeping Your Community Informed
Develop a mailing list of community members who might be interested in receiving meeting notices and information: mental health professionals, ministers, guardians/conservators, judges, etc. Your meeting notices will gradually evolve into a newsletter.

Requesting a Start-Up Kit
If you decide that your purposes and goals are compatible with those of the NCPEA, you may decide to form an affiliate. Write or call the NCPEA to request a START-UP KIT.

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Phase Two

Having accomplished the tasks defined in Phase 1, you may want to strengthen your organization by formalizing its structure and activities. This will enable your program to grow and expand.

Structuring Your Organization
Establish a formal board of directors and adopt simple by-laws. Sample by-laws are included in the START-UP KIT. You may want to establish subcommittees for membership, program development, a newsletter, public relations, legislation, etc. The board should meet monthly, separately from program meetings. Send an agenda one week in advance with the previous month's board meeting minutes. Get a telephone listing.

Designing a Brochure
Design your own brochure or borrow wholesale from other affiliates. Sample affiliate brochures are included in the START-UP KIT. Distribute your brochures as widely as possible to health and human service professionals. Distribute them at professional forums.

Raising Funds
Ask for member and non-member contributions. You may also want to sponsor fundraising events which will generate public visibility as well as resources.

Applying for Non-Profit Status
If you decide to become a non-profit organization, NCPEA can provide you with sample materials that will guide you in applying for federal and state non-profit status

Applying for a Bulk Mailing Permit
If you have non-profit status, you will qualify for a bulk mailing permit. This will enable you to expand your readership and reduce mailing costs.

Meeting with Legislators
Meet your legislators in their offices to present information about elder abuse and the service needs of victims and their families.

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Phase Three

While many groups will choose to remain in phases one or two, operating as informal organizations, others maywant to formalize their organizations even farther.

Producing Newsletters
You may want to start producing a newsletter with important information on elder abuse and your group's activities. News-letters should be distributed as widely as possible - to everyone who has attended meetings, selected professionals and inter-ested community members. NCPEA will provide you with samples, news updates and articles that can be incorporated into your newsletter.

Increasing Your Fund Raising Efforts
Apply to local foundations or the United Way for funding. Continue to raise funds through activities that will make the affiliate known to the community. NCPEA will provide you with suggestions for funding sources and information that can strengthen your funding proposals.

Working with the Media
Contact local media representatives and provide them with news releases about elder abuse and about your program. Arrange for speakers to talk to agencies and community groups. Ask your local policy makers to proclaim elder abuse awareness week during May (Older American's Month).

Recruting Members
Membership recruitment is an on-going process. Continue to seek new members. Think ofgroups that are not traditionally part of the adult protection and aging services networks, but which have a role to play in abuse prevention. This may include crime prevention programs, associations of bankers, churches, etc.

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