	Adult Protective Services

Introduction

Administration and Management

Service Delivery Administration Standards

Service Standards

APS 1: Community Partnership

The organization develops and implements a community approach to preventing abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and identifying and protecting vulnerable adults.

APS 1.01

The organization makes a systematic effort to educate the community about the needs of vulnerable adults and how they can be protected including:

preventing and recognizing abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
how to report cases of suspected abuse or neglect;
legal responsibilities for mandated reporters; and
services available.

Research Note: Results from a 2003 study conducted in California found that persons with developmental disabilities are victimized four to ten times more frequently than other citizens, suggesting that persons with developmental disabilities are especially vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and neglect.

APS 1.02

The organization’s leadership works with the leadership of other agencies to identify common issues, develop opportunities for collaboration, and resolve any administrative or inter-organizational issues that hinder service collaboration and use.

Interpretation: Community partners may include, but are not limited to, courts and law enforcement agencies, mental and physical health providers, domestic violence programs, and substance abuse services.

Research Note: Some sources recommend the use of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to clarify roles and ensure access to community resources.

Research Note: Multidisciplinary teams are increasingly being used to identify and coordinate advocacy efforts, resolve disagreements, promote interagency cooperation, and help workers resolve difficult cases.

APS 1.03

The organization, in collaboration with community partners, regularly evaluates resources available in the community, and when gaps are identified, plans with other providers to develop needed resources.

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	PURPOSE: Adult Protective Services protect vulnerable adults from exploitation, neglect, and abuse.

RELATED FILES


	SERVICE One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.


	COMMUNITY A specific group of people living in the same locality and who may share a common culture, values, and norms. Communities can also be defined by race, religion, ethnicity, age, occupation, political status, tribal affiliation, interest in particular problems or outcomes, or other common bonds. The term "community" encompasses worksites, schools, tribes, residential neighborhoods, business districts, recreational areas, and health and human service sites.


	CASE A general term used to designate clients (including individuals, families, and groups) served by an organization for purposes of monitoring the provision of services. A foster care case is generally based on the placement of an individual child, although casework for the child may include services to the child's family. A child protective services case is based on an entire family household if a family assessment model is used; otherwise a case is defined as a child.


	LEADERSHIP A nonprofit organization's leadership consists of its governing body, chief executive officer, and may also include its senior management. In a public agency the term refers to the agency head and administration team. The term "leadership" is not generally applied to for-profit organizations. With respect to COA standards, in for-profit organizations the term leadership applies to the owner and board of directors if one exists.


	PROGRAM A system of services offered by an organization. For example, an organization providing a mental health service may offer several mental health programs to different populations, e.g., a mental health program for adolescent teens. The word "program" can be used interchangeably with the word "service" or to describe specific programs.


	SUBSTANCE ABUSE The misuse of a chemical substance in a manner that is detrimental to an individual's physical or mental health.


	ADVOCACY An act performed with or on behalf of others through direct intervention, empowerment, or representation. Case advocacy refers to actions taken in relation to a particular individual consumer. Cause, social, or systems advocacy refers to actions taken in relation to a common issue affecting a group of persons.