The training program has been developed to focus on case worker attitudes, knowledge, and skills in dealing with abusers, particularly chemically dependent abusers. The trainer's guidebook and the handbook for case workers resulted from a research project that examined elder abuse and neglect cases in Illinois. The project's goal was to understand what interventions are successful in reducing the risk of future abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of elderly persons. Project findings indicated that, unless interventions seriously target problems of abusers, victim situations are not likely to improve. The training program for elder abuse case workers is a 7-hour program. The curriculum uses various training techniques that encourage active participation (lecture, discussion, questioning, and small group exercises). Training objectives are to improve skills in working with abusers, practice techniques used to interview abusers, recognize the importance of case workers in successfully addressing elder abuse issues, and understand the impact of substance abuse on abusive situations.