August 18, 2016
ACL's Administration on Aging is pleased to announce grants totaling $2.2 million to assist 13 state Adult Protective Services (APS) systems in addressing the abuse, neglect, and exploitations of older adults and people with disabilities.
Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, and Tennessee will use the two-year grants to enhance statewide APS systems, improve practices and data collection, and interface with ACL’s National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS).
ACL awarded the first-ever federal grants for state APS systems in September 2015. ACL is also currently developing voluntary APS guidelines based on best-practices in the field, and accepting comments on NAMRS—which will be the first reporting system to collect national data on adult maltreatment and APS.
State APS systems investigate reports of abuse and exploitation of older adults and people with disabilities. They provide support and case-management, and connect people facing abuse to a variety of protective, emergency, and support services.
Learn how each of the 13 states will be using their grant:
Arizona will improve its central intake process, case planning, and information collection during investigations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases. They will also develop safety and risk assessment tools.
California will develop methods for collecting key components data elements. They will evaluate options and make recommendations for generating NAMRS case components.
Delaware Adult Protective Services, in collaboration with the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, will enhance its current data collection and tracking system.
Hawaii is designing a quality assurance case review tool to audit cases, collect input, and analyze state data that will be transmitted into the NAMRS system.
Idaho’s Commission on Aging seeks to improve the interactions and outcomes for individuals serviced by APS and align the state’s data elements with NAMRS.
Maryland will implement a comprehensive APS assessment tool and develop a web-based case management information system.
Massachusetts will update their APS training program and develop a comprehensive APS worker training core curriculum consistent with NAMRS requirements. The curriculum will focus on utilizing a decisional capacity screening tool and conducting quality assurance on outcomes documentation.
Minnesota will enhance its current data collection system to capture data on maltreatment risk. They will also develop effective evidence-based practices for remediating abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults.
Missouri’s Division of Senior and Disability Services (DSDS) will expand and strengthen the delivery of services provided to vulnerable adults, utilizing new software to capture, and improve investigation outcomes.
Montana Senior and Long Term Care Division SLTC, Adult Protective Services Bureau will replace its current data collection system with NAMRS in order to assist the state in achieving measurable goals and improving data collection.
Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division, Elder Protective Services will enhance their data management and tracking capabilities. Nevada will develop measures, to more effectively track referrals and services.
Ohio will implement a statewide database aligned with NAMRS requirements.
Tennessee’s Department of Human Services APS will enhance its data collection system to develop a coordinated community response model among state agencies.