The Hebrew Home at Riverdale

The David Berg Center for Law and Aging Internship Program
The David Berg Center for Law and Aging focuses on a wide range of legal and policy issues affecting the older adult population and victims of elder abuse and mistreatment. One or two select interns will be offered the unique opportunity to work at the nation’s first elder abuse shelter, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Research at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale. Located in the Bronx, New York, on 17 acres of the Hudson River, the comprehensive elder abuse center provides an emergency residential shelter as well as psychosocial, health care and legal advocacy and community-based services for victims of elder abuse. Interns will be given many practical opportunities to deepen their understanding of legal issues confronting the older adult population and will have the rare experience of working one-on-one under an attorney, the Weinberg Center’s Legal Counsel. Students will potentially be exposed to legal practice in all five boroughs of New York City and Westchester County. Interns should be prepared to do substantive research and writing on the different legal and policy issues impacting the older adult population and victims of elder abuse. Past issues have included HIPAA regulations, questions surrounding legal capacity, immigration, powers of attorney, Medicaid eligibility, copyright, and right to privacy. The interns will gain case management skills and potential courtroom exposure through drafting petitions for guardianship, family court orders of protection and case preparation for Medicaid fair hearings. Additionally, interns may work one on one with floor social workers and residents. Interns will also have the opportunity to attend conferences, bi-monthly New York City Elder Abuse Network meetings, and contribute to the Elder Abuse Awareness campaign.