APS

The Adult Protective Services (APS) Technical Assistance Resource Center (TARC) recently released a brief titled “An Overview of APS Self-Neglect Cases Using NAMRS Data.” This brief utilizes case-level data from the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS) for the Federal Fiscal Year 2022 to provide an overview of Adult Protective Services (APS) clients/victims and cases involving allegations of self-neglect. The analysis compares self-neglect cases to all other maltreatment types across states, territories, and the District of Columbia. This brief provides summary bullets and graphs detailing trends and patterns in self-neglect investigations, with a focus on understanding the evolving nature of APS self-neglect assessments.

The APS TARC has released a new toolkit for APS administrators managing a state of local APS program. The toolkit is intended to help orient new administrators with a brief which contains information and resources on topics ranging from the history of APS to federal resources that can support APS programs. The toolkit also includes an frequently used acronym guiode and the Updated National Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State APS Systems from the Administration for Community Living.

NATC, funded by ACL and administered by the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), provides self-paced eLearning courses for APS professionals throughout the United States. While designed to support APS professionals, NATC is also available to allied professionals interested in learning more about adult maltreatment and APS. NATC has 24 free online courses on topics relating to APS, as well as hundreds of resources providing additional knowledge across the various topics. The eLearning courses are free and can be completed at your own pace. Some topics include: An overview of Adult Protective services; Power and control dynamics; Trauma-informed practices; The aging process and neuro-cognitive disorders.

ACL released a report on the 5th year of data collected by the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS). NAMRS is the only comprehensive national initiative compiling data on the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities as reported to state adult protective services (APS). In this report, the APS TARC (Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center) began to look at the potential impact of the COVID-19 on adult maltreatment.

APS TARC recently released an issue brief to address approaches and benefits to quality assurance (QA) as well as considerations in developing a QA program. The brief describes the QA process for documentation, supervisor review and approval, case reading, performance management, and program evaluation. Additionally, the brief provides explanations in who to include in establishing a QA process, why it is important to conduct a QA process, what should be reviewed, and other questions.

ACL released the first Research Agenda for Adult Protective Services (APS). The goals of the Research Agenda include: • Providing guidance to researchers, APS programs, and funders to help advance the field • Highlighting gaps in research in order to inform the APS field • Helping build a cohesive body of evidence for the APRS field. ACL, in collaboration with a panel of adult maltreatment experts, identified and ranked 61 high-priority APS research questions for the Research Agenda.

ACL released a report of data collected by the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System. This report details the finding from the fourth year (2019) of data collected by NAMRS. NAMRS is the only comprehensive national initiative compiling data on the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities as reported to adult protective services. Data collected by NAMRS include quantitative and qualitative responses on many areas within adult protective services.

On July 31, Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania announced, by an executive order, an overhaul of the state services and systems to protect the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians. The executive order establishes an Office of Advocacy and Reform, Child Advocate, and Council on Reform. The executive order also lists responsibilities of the state agencies and the Governor’s Office of Performance through Excellence.

This three-part brief provides information on how collaborating with APS can help older adults and adults with disabilities who are subjected to abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Part one gives a general overview of APS, including program functions, policies, and practices. The second part covers APS abuse reporting, intake, screening, triaging, and investigation processes. The third and final section of this brief focuses on the importance of collaborating with APS during interventions.

This report is the first in a series of three total Year 1 reports from NAMRS. It provides a general overview of the operating procedures of state Adult Protective Services agencies. While this report focuses on the hard data provided by states, future reports will discuss the narrative data also submitted by states. NAMRS has also released a background report summarizing the purpose and process of their national data collection system, as well as reference appendices A-C.