Bexar County Secures Major Grant to Protect Seniors — New Justice Center Set to Change the Game
Bexar County is stepping up to protect its oldest residents. Thanks to a newly awarded $186,000 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant, the county is launching the Senior Justice Assessment Center (SJAC) — a groundbreaking hub designed to fight elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation head-on.
The grant is the result of years of work by Judge Veronica Vasquez and State Senator José Menéndez, who co-founded the Elder Abuse and Exploitation Task Force more than five years ago. Their mission has always been clear: protect the most vulnerable. Now, with this grant, that mission is gaining serious momentum.
Judge Vasquez said she was thrilled to see the community’s hard work pay off. She credits the success to the sharp grant writers from Bexar County’s Preventive Health and Environmental Services Department, led by Andrea Guerrero-Guajardo. “Senator Menéndez and I spearheaded this task force over 5 years ago to aid our most vulnerable,” she said. “Now we have funding to expand this important work and serve even more in our community.”
The new SJAC will bring a full team of experts together under one roof — a major shift from how elder abuse cases are typically handled. Instead of agencies working separately, the center will unite geriatric specialists, law enforcement, prosecutors, Adult Protective Services, social workers, financial institutions, and nonprofits. This powerful lineup will meet weekly to review cases and craft coordinated plans to protect seniors ages 65 and older.
The VOCA grant will also fund two new case managers dedicated solely to seniors. These case managers will connect older adults with services, guide them through investigations, and help stop abuse before it happens. The focus isn’t just on responding to harm — it’s on ‘preventing it.’
The launch of the SJAC highlights how effective community partnerships can be. By working together across disciplines, Bexar County is building a stronger, safer system for seniors who may not have the voice or strength to advocate for themselves.
