Background, History and Purpose
ACL, through AoA's Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services (OEJAPS), leads the development and implementation of comprehensive Adult Protective Services (APS) systems. ACL’s goals are to provide a coordinated and seamless response for helping adult victims of abuse and to prevent abuse before it happens. ACL’s approach incorporates data collection to guide current practice and future research, development of evidence-based practices and uniform system standards, and provision of technical assistance to APS jurisdictions.
The purpose of the APS TARC is to enhance the effectiveness of APS programs. It serves as a focal point for ACL’s overall approach to leading the development of comprehensive APS systems.
Two previous projects led to the establishment of the APS TARC. The first was the administration of a National APS Resource Center by the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA). The second was the development of the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS) to collect data from state APS programs. The APS TARC provides technical assistance to states in implementing NAMRS.
Effective October 2015, ACL contracted with WRMA to administer the APS TARC, as well as implement NAMRS. WRMA staff and contractors who are experts in APS administration and practice and in national social service data systems.
Future Focus
The APS TARC will provide technical assistance and guidance to ACL, its grantees, and state APS programs to improve state APS administration and practices. The initial focus of the APS TARC is support of the implementation of NAMRS and laying the groundwork for future technical assistance efforts. Future technical assistance will focus on best practices and innovative strategies developed through stakeholder feedback, program evaluation, and collection of NAMRS data. The work of the APS TARC will be closely aligned with the finalization of the Draft Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State APS Systems (Draft Guidelines) and with the activities of the states funded under the State Grants to Enhance APS Systems.
APS TARC is currently available for assistance with NAMRS and other APS program needs. The APS TARC is implementing an extensive technical assistance plan for NAMRS and is available for consultation on current technical assistance needs. If you have questions, need assistance, or want to volunteer for various opportunities for stakeholder feedback, please contact the APS TARC at support@apstarc.net. While resources are focused on supporting NAMRS during the initial year of operation, the APS TARC will consider all requests for assistance from state APS programs.
Improving APS Programs and ACL’s Mission to Improve Aging & Disability Services
The Older Americans Act contains provisions that authorize ACL's Administration on Aging (AoA) to support demonstration projects to enhance APS as well as to develop objectives, priorities, policy, and a long-term plan for facilitating the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a coordinated, multidisciplinary elder justice system, among other activities. The Elder Justice Act, signed into law in 2010, specifically authorizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to:
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Develop and disseminate information on best practices in adult protective services,
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Provide training for adult protective services, and
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Provide technical assistance to states and others that provide or fund the provision of adult protective services.