A new public awareness campaign has launched to encourage MAARC reporting of suspected maltreatment of adults who are vulnerable. The campaign is for awareness in the African American community. Social media ads will be used from May-November, 2023, and the goal is safety and dignity for all adults consistent with their own culture, values, and goals and so that people concerned about them have resources for support. APS may receive MAARC referrals for adults who are believed to be vulnerable and maltreated as a result of the outreach.
|
The June APS Foundations course on June 20 & 22 has been canceled, and a new course has been rescheduled for July 25 & 27.
The July APS Foundations course will be on 7/25 & 7/27, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30am - 12:30pm each day. Please click here to register for the July APS course (registration is for both days).
Additional APS Foundations course dates for 2023 are TBD, and will be announced in the Newsletter as soon as they are set.
The Minnesota Elder Justice Center will host the 17th annual Minnesota World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) Conference on June 15, 2023 in Brooklyn Center, MN. The goal of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) Conference is to elevate the issues of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. This educational event will provide training and exploration around best practices for prevention and intervention. The day will bring together 400+ aging, criminal justice and victim service professionals working with older and vulnerable victims.
The keynote address will be provided by Denny Chan, Managing Director of Justice in Aging's Equity Advocacy team. The son of working-class Chinese immigrant parents, Denny has worked significantly on non-discrimination, language access, and healthcare delivery reform issues for low-income older adults and brings all of these experiences to his advocacy.
More information about the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) Conference is available on the Minnesota Elder Justice Center (MEJC) website, including the conference agenda and registration information. Minnesota Department of Human Services is a sponsor of the 2023 WEAAD conference.
|
SSIS release (23.2) has new MAARC functionality that automatically determines the LIA responsible for maltreatment based on report information. County LIA will be automatically determined by SSIS based on the county associated with the address of the VA’s physical location. DHS and MDH LIA jurisdiction will be automatically determined by the system based on report entry associated with the licensed provider.
System automation for LIA determination logic will not prevent errors based on report data entered by mandated reporters, or if the reporter who calls MAARC does not provide complete or accurate information.
This system enhancement will eliminate MAARC LIA determination errors made from picking the incorrect county in drop down selections and from using multiple criteria to select the state agency LIA. Implementation is expected to improve efficiency and reduce bounce errors supporting MAARC and LIA’s work flows.
Current resources to support quality report information by mandated reporters includes DHS Partners and Providers, use of the guide Edoc-DHS 5722 MAARC Mandated Reporter Guide, and Online Mandated Reporter Training.
Case Closure Communication
Case closure communication is provided to all adults who are vulnerable or guardians and health care agents (when applicable), regardless of response of Assessment with Determination or Assessment with No Determination.
Case closure communication informs the adult vulnerable to maltreatment of APS assessment conclusions and includes information appropriate for the adult on interventions recommended or implemented by APS during the of the assessment.
Case closure communication is not a substitute for cases that require a Notice of Findings letter but an additional communication to support the adult vulnerable to maltreatment.
The “APS Assessment Notice of No Determination” letter template will be changed to “APS- Case Closure Communication” in an upcoming release, to create ease in utilization in other APS responses.
Question?
Please connect with the DHS Adult Protection Unit at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or (651) 431-2609 if you have any questions.
|
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 image below shows the increase in adults served through Adult Protective Services in calendar year 2022 from calendar year 2021. This is an increase of 1,492 adults receiving assessment and engagement in service interventions to stop, reduce risk and prevent maltreatment.
Data Source: DHS Data Warehouse 3/21/2023
DHS Adult Protection Resource Specialist (APRS)
DHS Adult Protection Resource Specialist (APRS) staff support 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 an APRS today at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or (651) 431-2609.
Vulnerable Adult Protection Dashboard
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).
MN APS Foundations
MN APS Foundations is an online course offered by the MN DHS Adult Protection Unit and provides basic introduction to the MN adult protection system for new APS professionals, or APS professionals seeking a refresher. The course focuses on fundamental elements such as APS statutes, definitions, MAARC, MN APS Operational Plan, lead investigative agencies (LIAs), and APS case overview from intake to case closure. 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 offerings, so APS professionals 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):
CANCELED: Jun 20 & 22, 2023 (Tu & Th), 8:30a - 12:30p each day
July 25 & 27, 2023 (Tu & Th), 8:30a - 12:30p each day | Click Here to Register
Additional 2023 dates TBD
MN 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.
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:
- Jun 26 and 29, 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 Protective Services Training Center (NATC)
The National Adult Protective Services Training Center (NATC) provides free training for APS professionals nationwide. NATC course topics include: APS Overview; Ethics, Values, and Cultural Responsiveness; Voluntary Case Planning; Trauma-Informed Practices; Case Documentation; and many more. To access, create a free account and click "Find Courses" to view available courses. Check out the NATC LMS User Guide if you need help creating an account or navigating the website.
The NATC is operated by NAPSA and is supported by the ACL. NATC training offerings are supplemental to MN APS Foundations training for APS professionals, and are one method to meet the MN APS statutory requirement of 8 hours annual training specific to adult protection duties.
|
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.
|
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.
The DHS Adult Protection Newsletter shares knowledge specific to adult protection work in MN, answers common questions regarding adult protection work in MN, and provides 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
|
