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The MN Adult Protection Policy Manual was amended to include Appendix E, the Lichtenberg Financial Decision Screening Scale (LFDSS).
Do you have a story to share of how your APS program or an individual worker improved the safety and dignity or an adult who is vulnerable to maltreatment, or whose engagement with the adult or their supports in assessment, planning, and service interventions stopped, reduced risk, or prevented maltreatment or reoccurrence?
We would love to share your examples of how APS makes a difference. Send your idea to dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us
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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 adults vulnerable to maltreatment reported as having experienced maltreatment. Connect with your APRS today at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or (651) 431-2609.
What does our agency do when a reporter provides very little information to MAARC?
MAARC reports referred to the county as LIA include all information the reporter provided, whether from a call or web report to MAARC. In some cases a MAARC report may not have all the information APS Intake needs to determine whether to screen in/out a report of suspected maltreatment. This is addressed in the Adult Protection Manual.
The Adult Protection Manual identifies the purpose of APS Intake is to evaluate the maltreatment report and gather any additional information needed to complete the standard intake tool, which assess the adult's vulnerability status and identifies whether the allegation may be maltreatment (pg. 46). The standard intake tool is used to determine whether reports meet agency criteria for an adult protection assessment and if so, how quickly to initiate an assessment.
When information is missing, APS Intake chooses the steps for gathering information required to determine a person's vulnerability status and/or identify whether the allegation may be maltreatment. Some possible steps include:
- Review relevant history with the agency
- Review records from other LIAs or licensed providers
- Review information from any person who may have knowledge of the adult’s vulnerability or allegation
When gathering additional information, keep in mind the minimum necessary rule. In this case the minimum necessary rule would mean only collecting information that is necessary to determine a person's vulnerability status and/or identify whether the allegation may be maltreatment. APS Intake may also identify additional and/or different maltreatment allegations than originally provided by the reporter. Part of APS Intake activity is using both professional judgement and state policy to identify the correct allegation(s) experienced by the adult who is vulnerable. And, when an adult's vulnerability status is inconsistent or unavailable, APS Intake decisions should be consistent with the most protective response. All of these APS Intake activities ensure the adult suspected of experiencing maltreatment is best served by Minnesota's adult protection system.
The purpose of APS Intake activities are to determine the adult's vulnerability status and identify whether the allegation may be maltreatment, not to start an assessment or adult protective services. APS Intake makes a final decision as to accept or decline for APS assessment and protective services.
For more about APS Intake, check out the Adult Protection Manual, County Duties Intake/Screening, pages 46-51. And as always, connect with your APRS at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or (651) 431-2609 if you have any questions!
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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 to explain what happens after reports of suspected maltreatment are made to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC).
The image below shows allegation totals for reports referred to County as LIA in calendar year 2021. As shown below, self neglect is the most common allegation for County as LIA in 2021.
 Data source: APS Data Mart, 6/11/22
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:
- 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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