Send Us Your Policy Questions
Please send us your policy questions related to the new legislation. We are here to help with questions regarding how the legislation will impact your county’s practice, interpretation of the new language, or any other question or comment about the 2022 legislative changes. Please send your questions to dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us.
DHS Adult Protection will continue to provide training and communications as we phase in the new legislation. We understand the implementation will take time and teamwork to help line up APS practice with the APS Vision, Mission, and Principles. Thank you for all you do to help Minnesota's adults vulnerable to maltreatment!
Q: When do the new legislative changes take effect?
A: 2022 legislative changes will take effect 8/1/22.
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Q: When will the updated Adult Protection Policy Manual be available?
A: The updated policy manual will be posted online in advance of the 8/1/22 effective date.
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Q: What if the APS assessment workgroup was opened prior to 8/1/22 – do we follow the new determinations outlined in the 2022 legislative changes or the previous determinations?
A: Reports accepted, or screened in, on 8/1/22 and after should follow the new policy guidance effective 8/1/22. Reports accepted, or screened in, prior to 8/1/22 should follow the previous policy guidance.
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Q: Will APS Foundations include 2022 legislative changes?
A: Yes! APS Foundations is currently under construction and new courses are on hold while we work on content updates this summer. New content will include changes to the Vulnerable Adult Act (VAA) from the 2022 legislative session, enhanced content on equity and cultural humility in APS, and Minnesota's new APS Vision, Mission, Values. Watch the APS Newsletter for updates on sign-up through TrainLink this summer; anticipate mid-September, 2022 for next sessions.
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Q: What specific changes do we need to make in our prioritization guidelines to address the statutory language changes?
A: The only legislative change regarding prioritization guidelines is that the prioritization guidelines used by a county need to available to the public on 8/1/22. There will be new policy guidance regarding prioritization guidelines in the updated Adult Protection Policy Manual. DHS does not provide guidance on county prioritization used as discretionary overrides in the SDM® intake tool to screen-out, or not accept, adults referred to APS by MAARC for adults meeting state policy as vulnerable and suspected of being abused, neglected, or exploited.
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Q: If a caregiver neglect allegation comes in and it should be self-neglect, can that be changed in the SSIS intake workgroup?
A: No, changes to allegations are completed in the assessment workgroup.
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Q: Is there a definition of ‘incidental care’ written in the amended law?
A: No, the definition of ‘incidental care’ will addressed through policy and will be provided in the Adult Protection Policy Manual.
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Q: Can self-neglect be changed to ‘Assessment with Determination,’ as the current policy states there has to be a substantiated finding to pursue guardianship?
A: No, self-neglect is assessed as ‘Assessment with No Determination’ with a final disposition of ‘No Determination – Adult protective services needed’ or ‘No Determination – Adult protective services not needed.’ Guardianship, as an APS service intervention, is implemented based on assessed need and safety planning to protect the adult from harm when there are no less restrictive options and when guardianship is likely to stop maltreatment. New policy guidance will be for guardianship interventions to be implemented based on APS assessment 'No Determination – Adult protective services needed,' guardianship may be an APS service intervention for this determination. APS has a duty to balance the person’s safety and choice using the least restrictive intervention. APS is ethically bound to consider the person’s wishes and engage the person and their support(s) in the least restrictive service interventions possible to stop maltreatment and reduce risk of reoccurrence. Guardianship, as one of the most restrictive interventions possible – where a person’s legal decisional rights are removed by a court and given to someone other than the adult who is vulnerable – requires APS to diligently work to implement alternative interventions. Guardianship should only be sought by APS when it is necessary to protect the adult vulnerable to maltreatment from serious harm.
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Q: If only offering supports for reports that do not meet APS criteria, do we open as Adult Services (AS) only and not APS?
A: When a report does not meet criteria for adult protective services and the person who was subject of the report is NOT the reporter, APS can complete the screening decision and close out the APS intake in SSIS. The agency can then open an Adult Services case and make contact with that individual how they deem appropriate to offer assistance. If the reporter is seeking additional resources, the agency may contact the reporter back after the initial disposition is complete and offer assistance and/or resources in the APS Intake Workgroup.
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Q: Do you assess neglect allegations involving compensated family members and family members assuming responsibility for care as ‘Assessment with Determination’ or ‘Assessment with No Determination’?
A: The allegation is assessed as caregiver neglect and a final determination is made when a family, friend, or support person who is paid for care, or who assumed responsibility for care under a contract or agreement, is alleged responsible for neglect that is suspected to have resulted in harm to the adult; OR, when final determination may protect the adult, or another adult who is vulnerable, through background studies.
The allegation is assessed as caregiver neglect and a final determination is made when a family, friend, or support person who is paid for care, or who assumed responsibility for care under a contract or agreement, is alleged responsible for neglect that is suspected to have resulted in harm to the adult; AND, law enforcement is criminally investigating.
Harm is defined as: The adult who is vulnerable is more likely than not to immediately experience any of the following due to suspected maltreatment: injury or condition requiring medical attention, bone fracture or dislocation, internal injury, head injury, loss of consciousness, lacerations to tendons or organs, 2nd or 3rd degree burns, complications from burns, 2nd or 3rd degree frostbite, complications from frostbite, loss of teeth, injury to the eye, ingestion of harmful objects or substances, near drowning, heat exhaustion or sunstroke, irreversible immobility, poisoning, suicide, or death. Financial exploitation when the incident may be criminally investigated by law enforcement, or involves another form of maltreatment in addition to exploitation, or when the financial exploitation is not being criminally investigated or prosecuted, but violated the adult’s trust, values, or culture.
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Q: What determination should be entered in SSIS when the response is 'Assessment with No Determination'?
A: 'No Determination – investigation not possible' should be entered as the final determination for 'Assessment with No Determination' until updates are made to SSIS to include 'No determination – adult protective service are needed' and 'No determination – adult protective services are not needed.'
DHS Adult Protection Resource Specialists (APRS) support adult protective services (APS) workers and supervisors with policy clarification and case consultation regarding intake, assessment, service intervention, and assessment outcomes for the safety and dignity of vulnerable adults reported as having experienced maltreatment. Connect with your APRS today at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or (651) 431-2609.
Case Consultation with APRS
Have you ever been reviewing a challenging intake with your co-workers, MDT, or supervisor and thought, “I wish there were someone I could call to help process this challenging intake.” Well, you are in luck! The DHS Adult Protection Resource Specialists, Kelli Klein and Lindsay Brekke, can help with policy clarification and case consultation regarding intake and assessment.
Be sure to utilize this great resource, especially as new legislative updates are incorporated beginning 8/1/22. Here are some examples of when an APRS consult could be beneficial:
- At intake to process the choice between which track to follow: Assessment with Determination or Assessment with No Determination.
- During assessment to identify which allegation to use for the track selected.
- If there is a need to change from Assessment with No Determination to Assessment with Determination when new information identifies that caregiver neglect resulted in serious harm or financial exploitation may be criminal.
We welcome your questions, are open to phone or video consultation, and look forward to hearing from you!
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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 Vulnerable Adult Protection Dashboard provides annual state and county data on the number of reports, allegations, and investigation determinations. The dashboard explains what happens after reports of suspected maltreatment of a vulnerable adult are made to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC).
The image below shows monthly totals of MAARC reports received by phone or web report from January to June, 2022. As the data shows, MAARC receives the majority of reports via web reporting.
Data Source: Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC)
APS Foundations
APS Foundations provides a basic introduction to the adult protection system in Minnesota for new APS workers and supervisors, or APS workers and supervisors seeking a refresher. The course focuses on fundamental elements such as APS statutes, definitions, MN Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC), lead investigative agencies (LIAs), and the Adult Protection Service Cycle and Time Frames, from intake to case closure.
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 the course addresses core competency training recommendations in the ACL Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State APS Systems.
APS Foundations is offered online over two days in the same week, typically Tuesday and Thursday, from 9:00am - 2:30pm each day. Attendees will need to complete both days to receive a certificate of completion.
APS Foundations training dates are intended to precede SSIS Adult Protection Worker Training dates as much as possible so that APS workers have the option to attend policy-focused training (APS Foundations) and systems-focused training (SSIS Adult Protection Worker Training) sequentially.
Upcoming APS Foundations Dates (registration is for both days):
***APS Foundations is under construction***
APS Foundations courses are on hold while we work on a content update this summer. New content will include changes to the Vulnerable Adult Act (VAA) from the 2022 legislative session, enhanced content on equity and cultural humility in APS, and Minnesota's new APS Vision, Mission, Values. Watch the APS Newsletter for updates on sign-up through TrainLink this summer; anticipate mid-September, 2022 for next sessions.
Anticipate mid-September, 2022 for next sessions
Please contact us at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us if you have any questions.
SSIS Essentials eLearning
SSIS Essentials is a collection of six eLearning courses designed to provide caseworkers with an introduction to basic navigation and functionality of core SSIS functions. SSIS Essentials eLearning is offered through TrainLink. New workers are encouraged (not required) to take the online SSIS Essentials eLearning courses prior to taking SSIS Adult Protection Worker training.
Please visit the SSIS Essentials eLearning website for registration and TrainLink instructions, technical requirements, and more detailed information about each of the six SSIS Essentials courses.
SSIS Adult Protection Worker Training
The SSIS Adult Protection Worker course is a technical training designed to provide an overview of data entry as related to Adult Protective Services (APS) into SSIS. The training is offered in two half-day virtual classes and is designed for new adult protection workers, SSIS Mentors, and those seeking a refresher. New workers are encouraged to take the online SSIS Essentials eLearning courses prior to SSIS Adult Protection Worker Training. More information can be found on the SSIS Adult Protection Worker Training website.
Upcoming SSIS Adult Protection Worker Training:
- Sept 19 and 22, 2022 (Mon and Thurs) 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Oct 31 and Nov 3, 2022 (Mon and Thurs) 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Jan 9 and 12, 2023 (Mon and Thurs) 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Feb 27 and Mar 2, 2023 (Mon and Thurs) 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Apr 10 and 13, 2023 (Mon and Thurs) 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Please visit the SSIS Adult Protection Worker Training website for registration instructions, additional resources, and more detailed information about the course.
National Adult Protection Training Center (NATC)
COMING SOON! The NATC is scheduled to launch in September, 2022. The NATC will establish a library of free asynchronous e-learnings for APS professionals. The first courses for launch at the NATC will be the APS Core Competencies and topics related to the pandemic.
APS Technical Assistance and Resource Center (TARC)
APS TARC provides a variety of no-cost educational opportunities for APS professionals including webinars, briefs, and toolkits that align with APS Core Competencies in national standards. APS TARC offerings address a wide variety of topics including APS supervision, frauds and scams, interviews with experts, APS investigation, impacts of COVID-19 on APS, and more. Keep up to date with APS TARC offerings by joining their mailing list.
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Additional Practice Resources
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.
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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