Blackfeet TRIAD Program

Tribal victim service programs report that elder abuse is on the rise but continues to be underreported, particularly in Indian Country. To diminish crimes against the elderly, OVC awarded funding to the Blackfeet Child and Family Advocacy Center for the development of a promising practice for offering support and assistance to older victims in Indian Country. OVC's funding supports the adaptation of a TRIAD elder abuse program to fit an Indian Country setting—the Blackfeet Reservation, where 25 percent of the population, or about 1,500 persons, are considered elderly. The Blackfeet Center provided technical assistance to the Zuni tribe in developing an elder abuse program, as well as mentoring visits at four additional Indian reservations to help them adapt the TRIAD model.

The first TRIAD began in 1988 with the cooperation of the American Association of Retired Persons, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs' Association. Since that time, many TRIADs have been established and have increased public awareness and decreased victimization of older people. The TRIAD model is based on a commitment between the sheriff, the chiefs of police in a county, and older or retired leaders. These components work to reduce the victimization of older persons and enhance the delivery of law enforcement services to older persons. A TRIAD's primary goals are to develop, expand, and implement effective crime prevention and education programs for older persons in a community.

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