At Samaritan place our primary function is to provide real, immediate services and it is on that level that we most directly impact the older people in our community. However, we also play an important advocacy and education role. Samaritan Place staff serve on a variety of community coalitions, tasks force and service committees. Among others these include the Geriatric Screen Teams in Blount and Sevier County, The Knox County Housing Task Force, East Tennessee ElderWatch and, The Adult Protective Services Adult Abuse Review Teams.

One excellent example is of our community collaboration efforts is ElderWatch a network of agencies and individuals across East Tennessee that is dedicated to advocacy and public education about issues of elder safety and elder abuse. Our staff are involved in three separate county chapters, Blount, Knox and Sevier. Our Program Manager is the Past Chair of East Tennessee ElderWatch, the larger regional coalition. In October ElderWatch will present a one day seminar, Speaking the Unspeakable: Elder Sexual Assault. Use the link below for more information, dates and registration materials.