A quick recap of the SDM® Intake Assessment Trainings provided by Evident Change on the overview of the Structured Decision Making (SDM) system and the updated SDM intake assessment:
- 8 APS workers trainings, finishing up on May 8
- 3 APS supervisor trainings, finishing up on May 7
- 309 APS workers and supervisors attended sessions or are signed up for the final sessions in early May
The level of attendance and engagement from Minnesota APS professionals is nothing short of tremendous. A great big thank you from both Evident Change and the DHS Adult Protection Unit for your participation in the SDM Trainings and all you do for the people of Minnesota.
Minnesota APS is the best!
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The federal Administration for Community Living (ACL) published the first-ever Federal Regulations for APS Programs on June 8, 2024.
Many of the public comments submitted by DHS, advocates, and local agencies are reflected in the guidance. The regulation will take effect this June. States have until June 7, 2028 to fully comply with the federal requirements. We will be sharing analysis of the rule’s impacts in Minnesota after absorbing guidance from ACL and professional associations and determining what may be needed for full compliance by DHS and you, our county partners who administer adult protection programs in Minnesota. This is a very exciting time as APS continues to grow as a profession to support meeting our shared vision for all adults vulnerable to maltreatment being supported to live in safety and dignity consistent with their own culture, values, and goals.
We are pleased to announce Lindsay Brekke has accepted the position of Adult Protection Quality Assurance Program Consultant. She will begin this role on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
Lindsay brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role. She began her tenure with DHS in May 2022 as an Adult Protection Resource Specialist, and prior to joining DHS, Lindsay worked in county social services for 17 years. She completed her undergraduate degree in social work at Winona State University in 2004 and received her graduate degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012.
In her new role, Lindsay will analyze policies, standards, and data to identify needs and implement improvements in compliance, quality, and safety for adults who are vulnerable. She will develop, plan, and implement projects to monitor performance and outcomes to enhance adult protection programs, as well as serve as coordinator for the Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment Review Panel.
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The Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center (TARC) is offering a free training, "Mental Health and Older Adults: What APS Needs to Know" on Thursday, May 23rd from 2:00-3:00pm central time. To register, click here and complete the registration form.
APS frequently becomes involved with cases involving mental health, and workers often describe these situations as particularly challenging. In this webinar, participants will gain a better understanding of the most common mental health disorders for older adults and how the symptoms may impact their cases. This webinar will provide strategies for APS professionals on how they can adapt their communication and case planning to better accommodate people who are experiencing symptoms of mental health conditions.
Webinar presenter Katie Wilson, MS is the Lead Instructional Designer for the National Adult Protective Services Training Center (NATC). Katie has over 15 years of experience in the protective services field, working for several years as an APS worker before moving into training and curriculum development.
Keep up to date with APS TARC offerings by joining their mailing list, and check out the APS Technical Assistance Resource Center YouTube page for additional content. Many APS TARC courses support adult protection professionals meeting education requirements under 626.557 Subd. 9e (8 hours annual training specific to adult protection duties).
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MN Adult Protection Foundations: Live Training is a 3-hour interactive online training facilitated by MN DHS Adult Protection Unit staff. The Foundations: Live Training course reviews case examples and practical scenarios in order to apply foundational statutory definitions and MN state adult protection policy principles covered in the Foundations: eLearning courses.
The 12 Foundations: eLearning courses are prerequisite for the MN Adult Protection Foundations: Live Training
Click a link below to register for a MN Adult Protection Foundations: Live Training
MN Adult Protection Foundations: Live Training supports equity and consistency in service response and outcomes that safeguard and promote dignity for adults who are vulnerable, regardless of their location in Minnesota, and the course addresses core competency training recommendations in the ACL Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State APS Systems. The Foundations: Live Training supports adult protection professionals meeting education requirements under 626.557 Subd. 9e (8 hours annual training specific to adult protection duties).
Questions? Please contact the DHS Adult Protection team at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us.
Coordination and Collaboration
Minnesota APS policy promotes cooperation and coordination to safeguard the welfare and prevent further maltreatment of the adult who is vulnerable.
Effective collaboration across disciplines is essential and benefits the adults we serve. The likelihood of implementing successful interventions that stop, prevent. and reduce risks of maltreatment is increased when APS coordinates with other disciplines in assessment to develop a person-centered service plan that is consistent with the adults culture, values, and goals.
Collaboration is a process of shared planning, decision-making, responsibility, and accountability to address the adult’s needs. An effective collaborative practice includes folks who bring trust, mutual respect, strong communication skills, and appreciation of each other's skills. While some skills and services may appear to overlap, most are complementary and reinforce each other.
The interpersonal skills needed to be a strong collaborator are the same skills required to be a successful APS worker, such as, humility, respect, active listening, a sense of humor, cultural responsiveness, and a collaborative spirit. We should be using these skills every day with the adults we serve as well as using these skills to strengthen relationships with our partners. The benefits to the adults and their support system will be worth the effort.
Check out Module 9: APS Coordination and Data Sharing from the Minnesota APS eLearning modules and "Case Collaboration" from the National Adult Protection Training Center (NATC).
Question?
Please connect with the DHS Adult Protection Unit at (651) 431-2609 or dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us.
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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 image below shows the statistic that 95% of counties/collaboratives have Adult Protection Multi-Disciplinary Teams as allowed under Minnesota Statutes 626.5571.
DHS Adult Protection Resource Specialist (APRS)
DHS Adult Protection Resource Specialist (APRS) staff support adult protection 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 and reported as having experienced maltreatment.
Connect with an APRS today at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or (651) 431-2609.
MN Adult Protection Foundations: eLearning Courses
MN Adult Protection Foundations: eLearning courses provide self-paced foundational trainings for adult protection professionals across Minnesota. The 12 online Foundations: eLearning courses can be taken in any order and reviewed at any time. The Foundations: eLearning courses align with national adult protection core competencies and Minnesota state adult protection policy.
The 12 Foundations: eLearning courses are prerequisite for the MN Adult Protection Foundations: Live Training
Links to Foundations: eLearning courses are available on the Adult Protection: policies and procedure website, or click the links below to access each Foundations: eLearning course:
- What is Adult Protection in Minnesota?
- Adult Protective Services Populations Served & Eligibility
- MAARC Functions and Duties
- Lead Investigative Agencies (LIA) and Jurisdiction for Maltreatment Response
- EPS Intake
- APS Intake
- Assessment Response
- APS Assessment
- APS Coordination and Data Sharing
- Completing Protective Services and Case Closure
- Engagement Strategies
- Completing Final Disposition and Appeals
MN Adult Protection Foundations: eLearning courses were developed to complement existing National Adult Protective Services Training Center (NATC) training opportunities and support adult protection professional development.
MN Adult Protection Foundations: eLearning courses support equity and consistency in service response and outcomes that safeguard and promote dignity for adults who are vulnerable, regardless of their location in Minnesota, and the courses address core competency training recommendations in the ACL Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State APS Systems. The Foundations: eLearning courses support adult protection professionals meeting education requirements under 626.557 Subd. 9e (8 hours annual training specific to adult protection duties).
Questions? Please contact the DHS Adult Protection team at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us.
MN Adult Protection Foundations: Live Training
MN Adult Protection Foundations: Live Training is a 3-hour interactive online training facilitated by MN DHS Adult Protection Unit staff. The Foundations: Live Training reviews case examples and practical scenarios in order to apply foundational statutory definitions and MN state adult protection policy principles covered in the Foundations: eLearning courses.
The 12 Foundations: eLearning courses are prerequisite for the MN Adult Protection Foundations: Live Training
Click a link below to register for a MN Adult Protection Foundations: Live Training
MN Adult Protection Foundations: Live Training supports equity and consistency in service response and outcomes that safeguard and promote dignity for adults who are vulnerable, regardless of their location in Minnesota, and the course addresses core competency training recommendations in the ACL Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State APS Systems. The Foundations: Live Training supports adult protection professionals meeting education requirements under 626.557 Subd. 9e (8 hours annual training specific to adult protection duties).
Questions? Please contact the DHS Adult Protection team at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us.
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:
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 self-paced eLearning courses for adult protection professionals nationwide. NATC course topics include APS Overview; Ethics, Values, and Cultural Responsiveness; Voluntary Case Planning; Trauma-Informed Practices; Case Documentation; and more. MN Adult Protection Foundations: eLearning courses were developed to complement existing NATC training opportunities.
To access NATC eLearning courses, create a free account and click "Find Courses" to view available courses. Check out the NATC LMS User Guide (PDF) 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 Adult Protection Foundations: eLearning courses, and support adult protection professionals meeting education requirements under 626.557 Subd. 9e (8 hours annual training specific to adult protection duties).
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APS Technical Assistance and Resource Center (TARC)
APS TARC provides a variety of free educational opportunities for adult protection professionals including podcasts, webinars, briefs, and toolkits that align with APS Core Competencies in national standards. APS TARC offerings address a wide variety of topics including ethics, frauds and scams, interviews with experts, implicit bias, trauma informed practice, and more.
Keep up to date with APS TARC offerings by joining their mailing list, and check out the APS TARC YouTube page for additional content. Many APS TARC educational opportunities can support adult protection professionals meeting education requirements under 626.557 Subd. 9e (8 hours annual training specific to adult protection duties).
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Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment Dashboard
The Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment 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).
Additional Practice Resources
Find information on adult protection policy, procedure, resources, and training for mandated reporters on the DHS Adult Protection: Policies and Procedures webpage. Specific training resources for adult protection professionals are included under the "Adult protection worker resources and training" drop down. These resources support adult protection professionals meeting education requirements under 626.557 Subd. 9e (8 hours annual training specific to adult protection duties).
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 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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