DHS Adult Protection Newsletter - June 11, 2021

Minnesota Department of Human Services logo

DHS Adult Protection Newsletter

Adult Protection - Aging and Adult Services

dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us - (651) 431-2609

June 11, 2021


In this issue:


State of Minnesota Proclamation - June 15, 2021 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

On WEAAD day, we at DHS thank APS for promoting awareness, understanding, and dignity for elder vulnerable adults impacted by abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

WEAAD Proclamation MN 2021

WHEREAS: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations; and

WHEREAS: The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect; and

WHEREAS: In Minnesota and throughout the world, the abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of elders and vulnerable adults are still under-recognized and largely unspoken problems; and

WHEREAS: On June 15, 2021, Minnesota will recognize and celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TIM WALZ, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, June 15,2021 as: ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY in the State of Minnesota.


Additional Federal Funding for APS: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Additional one-time supplemental federal funding for APS is a part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The federal Administration for Community Living (ACL) posted a Federal Register Notice on 5/28/21 announcing the availability of an additional $86,060,000 in FFY 2021 formula grant funding for Adult Protective Services through the ARPA of 2021. The projected award amount for Minnesota is $1,376,357. The funding must supplement, and not supplant, existing state, federal, and local APS funding. Federal funding is to enhance and improve adult protective services (APS) programs and expand APS's ability to respond to vulnerable adult maltreatment. States will also submit to ACL a 3-5 year plan for improving and enhancing their APS system at the state and local level within 6 months of the funding award.

Federal funds will be distributed to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) as the agency legally responsible for providing adult protective services in Minnesota. DHS is also responsible for federal programmatic and fiscal reporting requirements. State spending for this grant is dependent on approval from the ACL and from the Minnesota Legislature. Funds are to be spent by September 30, 2023. DHS will submit a proposed spending plan to ACL by the June 28, 2021 deadline. Considerations for the funds will be informed by data, VAA Redesign solutions, previous County Administrators Survey results, and recommendations coming from current ACL grant evaluating Minnesota’s Adult Protection standardized intake assessment tool. 

ARPA grant funding is in addition to the previously communicated Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, which included the first federal money dedicated to adult protective services. Continued recognition of APS's value for our community is extremely exciting!


New MDH Vaccine Hotline for People who are Homebound

telephones

Know someone who is homebound and unvaccinated? 

MDH’s public hotline (1-833-431-2053) collects names of callers who themselves are homebound or are calling about a loved one who is homebound. These Minnesotans are then connected with a vaccinator in their area.


VA-TCM News

An AASD and DSD eList announcement was published June 9, 2021 regarding the expiration of COVID waivers that affect aging and disability services. This announcement addresses the expiration of the waiver which allowed phone or video use for targeted case management visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To receive announcements about TCM select AASD and DSD at Email subscriptions / Minnesota Department of Human Services (mn.gov)


Celebrate Success! APS Staff Complete NAPSA Certification

NAPSA icon

Wright County Health and Human Service has two staff members that successfully completed the NAPSA certificate program: Shannon Tucker and Beth Hammer. Congratulations to each of you!

The Core APS Curriculum offers 23 core competencies identified by NAPSA and its professional members as basics important to (or necessary for) the practice of Adult Protective Services. The NAPSA Certificate Program includes a curriculum developed by the NAPSA Education Certificate Committees and cooperation with APS Workforce Innovations (formerly Project MASTER) at San Diego State University’s Academy for Professional Excellence.

Have you or your team received the NAPSA Certificate? Email DHS adult protection dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us to let us know and we will share the good news in the newsletter! Let's celebrate our successes together as we work to improve adult protection in Minnesota.


APS Data Trends

New Data Now Available! Age, race, and gender data are now available on the Vulnerable Adult Protection Dashboard. Access these new data reports by selecting the icons for Steps 1 and 2.

Data help policy makers and the public understand the nature and scope of an issue. In the case of adult protection, data provide a basis to understand if vulnerable adults are treated fairly and justly in our state. Data can impact program evaluation, benchmarks for quality and performance outcomes, budget planning and resource allocation, and inform evidenced based prevention and remediation/service response for vulnerable adults who have been maltreated.

“Without data, you're just another person with an opinion."
― W. Edwards Deming

The graphic below, titled "EPS Notifications," identifies the total EPS Notifications and the percentage of EPS Notifications that occurred after hours in 2019 and 2020 by region as well statewide.

EPS Notification Data 2019 and 2020

DATA BONUS:

The May 14 DHS Adult Protection Newsletter "APS Data Trends" included a chart comparing MN APS and NAMRS determined maltreatment percentages. The chart showed that 4.0% of MN APS total reports in 2019 resulted in determined maltreatment, while NAMRS 2019 Adult Maltreatment Report shows 32.4% of allegations accepted for investigation were substantiated.

A data point for additional context is that 13% of MN APS allegations accepted for investigation in 2019 were substantiated. Therefore, compared to national peers Minnesota's APS System investigation outcomes for determined maltreatment are less than the national average.


Adult Protection Training and Events

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APS Foundations

APS Foundations is intended for new adult protection workers and supervisors, or adult protection workers and supervisors seeking a foundations refresher. APS Foundations supports equity and consistency in service response and outcomes that safeguard and promote dignity for vulnerable adults, regardless of their location in Minnesota, and addresses core competency training recommendations in the ACL Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State APS Systems.

APS Foundations training is offered online and consists of 4 sessions, 2 hours each, provided weekly over four consecutive weeks at the same time (8 hours total). Attendees will need to complete all four sessions to receive a certificate of completion. 

Upcoming Sessions

  • 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29 - Thursdays, 1-3 pm | Click Here to Register - Registration is for all four dates. After registering, WebEx links for each of the four sessions will be provided by DHS Adult Protection Unit.
  • 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30 - Thursdays, 1-3 pm | Click Here to Register - Registration is for all four dates. After registering, WebEx links for each of the four sessions will be provided by DHS Adult Protection Unit.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us.

Additional Training

Find information on adult protection policy, procedure, resources, and training information for mandated reporters and APS on the DHS Adult Protection: Policies and Procedures web page. Specific training resources for APS workers are included under the "Adult protection worker resources and training" drop down. These resources support APS workers meeting education requirements under 626.557 Subd. 9e.


APRS Quick Tips

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DHS Adult Protection Resource Specialists (APRS), Kelli and Angelo, are available to help with case consultation, policy clarification, resources, and general assistance regarding adult protection in Minnesota. Connect with your APRS today at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or (651) 431-2609. 

APRS Quick Tip

Documenting collaterals in SSIS, within an APS Assessment Workgroup, has many benefits. Documenting collaterals creates a history of supports, contacts, and resources that help maintain appropriate records for APS, as well as providing a record of people or providers that have been engaged and may be re-engaged to stop maltreatment and prevent reoccurrence if there is a subsequent report.

As a best practice, continue to document collaterals who have relationships or roles that informed the APS assessment and may be engaged or re-engaged by APS if there is a future report for support of the vulnerable adult's safety, dignity, and justice.


Our goal for the DHS Adult Protection Newsletter is to share knowledge specific to adult protection work in Minnesota, answer common questions regarding adult protection work in Minnesota, and provide awareness of DHS Adult Protection training opportunities. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or (651) 431-2609

For more information about DHS Adult Protection, please visit us online DHS AP: Program Overview



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