|
The Minnesota Department of Human Services invites APS workers, supervisors and managers to attend a 2-session learning opportunity, "Orientation to Antiracism for Adult Protection" and "Antibias Training for Adult Protection," hosted by the DHS Office for Equity and Inclusion. Both courses will be held in September and are live, virtual trainings that will not be recorded.
This opportunity meets education requirements under 626.557 Subd. 9e and supports core guiding principles in the APS Operational Plan to continuously improve the adult protection system and services by removing barriers, eliminating disparities, and focusing on outcomes of safety and dignity for adults vulnerable to abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. APS professionals are encouraged to attend. Find dates and registration links for both courses below.
Orientation to Antiracism for Adult Protection Workers
The Orientation to Antiracism for Adult Protection Workers covers the historical origins of race, racism and racial disparities in the U.S.; explores how racism operates on different levels; and empowers attendees to work toward antiracism. These conversations may seem difficult to have, but the Orientation to Antiracism empowers employees to lean into them in a safe and productive space.
Orientation to Antiracism for Adult Protection Workers will be offered on the following days:
Monday, Sept. 11, from 1-4 p.m. Register here.
Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to noon. Register here.
Thursday, Sept. 14, from 1-4 p.m. Register here.
Antibias Training for Adult Protection Workers
Antibias Training for Adult Protection Workers identifies some of the most common biases in the field. Attendees will learn about and address implicit bias, engage in Culturally Responsive Practices and gain a better understanding of gender identity and proper pronoun usage. Rejecting ageism and how to identify and eliminate microaggressions will also be covered.
Antibias Training for Adult Protection Workers will be offered on the following days:
Monday, Sept. 18, from 1-4 p.m. Register here.
Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon. Register here.
Thursday, Sept. 21, from 1-4 p.m. Register here.
Need Accommodations?
If you have a disability and need an accommodation to participate, please email Victor.Gonzalez@state.mn.us.
What are options for interventions to protect an adult’s assets? That is a challenge! The question assumes the adult has been evaluated for treatable conditions impacting their reasoning, judgment, and decision making ability and that impacts of undue influence have been considered and addressed through APS assessment and intervention. Capacity Screening in Adult Protective Services: Guidance and Resources (acl.gov) is a great resource!
These are potential APS service interventions to reduce risk of maltreatment by financial exploitation.
Voluntary - APS engaging with the person and their supports.
- Counseling and Education - APS workers using person-centered and culturally appropriate approaches for building trust, sharing insights, and offering guidance for the adult and their supports to reduce risk factors for exploitation, helping the adult understand consequences of decisions and actions that risk maltreatment, supporting the adult in taking actions to stop, reduce risk, and prevent exploitation and using approaches that accommodate for impairments.
- Risk reduction - changing phone numbers used for exploitation, changing a mail delivery address, or using a post office box to allow a support person to pick up mail and help sort out scams and money requests.
- Informal Supports - engaging supports in checking on the person to identify and resolve risks of exploitation; monitoring accounts web, mail, phone; using in-person or using remote technology etc. for the purpose of encouraging and reducing exploitation risks
- Supported Decision Making - engaging expert resources when the adult and a trusted support person agree to co-make decisions, or have the supporter make X financial decisions, establish and follow a budget, or take X actions to prevent exploitation. https://supporteddecisionmaking.org/
- Power of Attorney - supporting the adult to get the appropriate legal guidance to execute a POA with proper safeguards to manage their income and/or assets to protect from exploitation. May involve changing financial institutions to reduce risk of access by the exploiter.*
- Trust - supporting the adult to get the appropriate legal guidance so necessary care is paid and assets and income are under the protection of a trustee.*
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/managing-someone-elses-money/
Involuntary - APS interventions when a person has impairment and other voluntary options are not appropriate.
- Federal reporting - Taking Action: An Advocate's Guide to Assisting Victims of Financial Fraud (finrafoundation.org)
- Representative Payee - for someone who can’t manage or direct government benefits to ensure basic needs are met, a responsible payee can be appointed.
- Conservatorship - the standard for appointment in Minnesota is inability to manage property and business affairs because of an impairment in the person’s ability to receive and evaluate information or make decisions; the person has property that will be wasted or dissipated unless management is provided; and less restrictive means options such as supported decision making, representative payees, trusts, bill paying assistance, or power of attorney do not work. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/524.5-409.*
* Legal representation for the adult is needed
Need an Answer to a Policy Question? The process for requesting state response on policy questions is changing August 1, 2023.
As of August 1st, 2023 Adult Protection professionals submit policy questions to dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us. Answers to questions that provide new policy guidance will be shared statewide through updates to the Minnesota Adult Protection Policy Manual and communications through the DHS Adult Protection Newsletter, DHS APS Regional Partnership Meetings, and DHS Quarterly APS Administrator Meetings.
Adult Protection will no longer use Policy Quest, the online, searchable, question-and-answer library for submitting APS policy questions that are not answered in the Minnesota Adult Protection Policy Manuals.
The new process is easier to use and provides the manual as a single source of policy for APS workers and supervisors.
We received the following success story from a Minnesota county APS program:
Cass County: I just wanted to share with you a story about an event that occurred yesterday in Cass County and how it is important for APS Investigators and staff to always stay aware- and to share and educate in the community.
Shawna H was on her way into work yesterday a.m. and stopped at the gas station. While there, an elderly man came into the store and asked for directions that were vague and in another state that is not nearby. He went back to his truck and seemed to start out looking for his destination. Shawna ran out to the truck and asked him where exactly- specific destination- and where he was coming from. I believe that he seemed somewhat confused and Shawna asked him where he lived, etc. Turns out he was reported as a missing person in the state he was from a few days ago and Shawna got in touch with law enforcement, his wife, and was able to get him to safety so that his family could coordinate returning him home safely.
I think things like this might be more and more common due to the aging population in the future.
Thank you for this example of person-centered service - putting the needs of adults vulnerable to maltreatment at the center of your practice!
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
|
The August APS Foundations course will be held on 8/22 & 8/24, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30am - 12:30pm each day. Please click here to register for the August 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.
Adult Protection Resource Specialist - A Resource for APS Intake
Do you have a challenging MAARC referral and are not quite sure if you have enough information to complete the SDM® Intake Assessment Tool?
You're in luck! Adult Protection Resource Specialist (APRS) can complete a rapid consult with you and your team to gain further insight, with a policy lens, on whether or not the information available supports completion of the intake/screening tools to determine whether or not the adult is eligible for APS assessment. If there is not enough information to complete the SDM® Intake Assessment Tool, your APRS can provide suggestions on where to obtain additional relevant information. We understand that determining VA status and which allegations meet the criteria for Assessment with Determination of Responsibility or Assessment with No Determination of Responsibility can be complicated, so we are here to help!
Connect with an APRS today at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or (651) 431-2609.
|
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 is from the Evident Change presentation on 6/6/23. The chart shows 97% of respondents reported "strongly agree" or "agree" that getting consultation about intake decisions is helpful. DHS Adult Protection Resource Specialists (APRS) provide consultation and policy guidance! Connect with an APRS today at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or (651) 431-2609.
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):
August 22 & 24, 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:
- Sept 18 and 21, 2023
- Dec 4 and 7, 2023
- Jan 22 and 25, 2024
- March 4 and 7, 2024
- April 29 and May 2, 2024
- June 3 and 6, 2024
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
|
