The Rev. Thomas Burgess, pastor of Hope Christian Fellowship and a supervisor with Onondaga County Adult Protective Services, recently shared at two community events.
On Oct. 3, Burgess represented APS at State Senator David Valesky’s senior fair, which was held at the Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse, where he shared information about adult services with those present, along with Larry Matthews of the Office for Aging.
On Nov. 14, Burgess presented to the third annual Department of Adult & Long Term Care Services’ Integration Training at the OnCenter on the role of APS in combating adult neglect and abuse, in addition to presenters on other community services including mental health, New York Connects and the long-term care resource center, veterans’ services and the Senior Health And Resource Partnership Project.
In addition to being an ordained nondenominational minister and a casework supervisor, Burgess is the Family Type Homes for Adults Coordinator in Onondaga County.
A lifelong Central New Yorker, Burgess is a graduate of Syracuse University, where he received his bachelor of science degree in speech communications and education.
He subsequently completed post-graduate work at LeMoyne College to earn certification in teaching English to speakers of other languages.
An educator in elementary, secondary and adult education for more than two decades prior to working for Onondaga County, he frequently presents to various community groups and is a trainer for a National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life grant.
He is a past recipient of an Onondaga County Volunteer Award for his work with abused children and youths and a National Adult Protective Services Association Award for his work on elder justice.