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The first month of data following implantation of the updated SDM ® intake tool shows promise towards meeting the APS goal of accepting 31% of adults referred to Adult Protective Services (APS) in 2025. Acceptance rates increased from an average of 28% in 2023 to 32% in September of 2024.
Among counties, 49% reported higher acceptance rate in September compared to their CY23 average, 32% showed a decrease, and 19% saw no significant change with a statewide average of 32% of adults referred by MAARC being accepted for APS in September.
The consistent use of SDM ® definitions may prove instrumental in improving statewide equity and consistency in screening decisions for adults referred for APS who meet policy criteria as vulnerable and maltreated. This early success following update of the tool with accompanying policy training on definitions for adults who are vulnerable and potentially maltreated maltreatment, supports APS outcomes to stop, prevent and reduce risks from abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation for adults who are vulnerable.
On December 3rd and 10th Evident Change and DHS Adult Protection provided a training webinar, "SDM Intake Assessment Webinar: SDM Intake Assessment Demo." The video link below is from the December 10, 2024 webinar.
The webinar provided an overview of why the SDM intake was updated and how the updates move MN APS closer to achieving desired outcomes. Additionally, a demonstration of the SDM intake assessment is provided with an example report. The demonstration clarifies points APS staff identified in the recent statewide SDM survey.
Please click the link to access the webinar recording:
"SDM Intake Assessment Webinar: SDM Intake Assessment Demo"
Closed captioning is available by selecting cc in the video
If you have questions, please contact Doug Smith (dsmith@evidentchange.org) or the DHS Adult Protection Unit (651-431-2609 or dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us).
APS in Minnesota has undergone a transformation from a focus on facilities and determining who was responsible for maltreatment, to person centered engagement with the adult and their supports to assess the person’s strengths, identify their needs and use the assessment to plan and engage the adult in service interventions to stop, reduce risk and prevent maltreatment reoccurrence. This change to a person-centered focus is reflected in the vision agreed upon by APS professionals and stakeholders that APS exists so that all adults who are vulnerable to abuse, neglect, or exploitation are supported to live in safety and dignity, consistent with their own culture, values, and goals, and so people concerned about them have resources for support.
The end of 2024 is a good time for a little review of the timeline of our professional’s development:
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1980 VAA establishes county administration of APS and duties of county
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2004 DHS issues Adult Protection manual for policy guidance
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2008 Adult Protection worker module in the Social Services Information System SSIS
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2012 Standardized tools required for Intake, Safety, Strengths and Needs, Service Planning
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2013 Legislature defines Adult Protection as an essential human service delivered by counties
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2013 First ever state allocations
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2013 DHS Resource Specialists to support local agencies for policy, training and consultation
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2015 Centralization of Common Entry Point duties from each county to the state– launch of Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC)
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2018 AP Policy manual aligns with recommended federal guidelines
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2019 Centralized APS worker Foundations Training launch
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2019 -2020 VAA Redesign stakeholder engagement, visioning and recommended changes
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2020 Data dashboard on DHS public web site
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2021 First federal funding dedicated to APS
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2022 APS State Operational Plan developed with stakeholders and submitted to ACL
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2022 DHS/MACSSA APS partnership group launches for county/state partnership
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2022 VAA redesign policy changes passed by the legislature for improved person-centered service approach
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2023 Additional NEW state allocations which include Tribal APS programs
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2024 APS Foundations on-demand E-learnings
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2024 DHS/MACSSA recommended APS screening guidelines
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2024 Fiscal bulletin to support reporting state allocation spending and determine APS program costs
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2024 Update SDM ® Intake Tool to support statewide consistency for adults referred who are accepted for APS
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2024 Agencies establish local goal for performance measures to improve statewide equity and consistency in adults accepted for APS
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2024 First federal regulation for Adult Protective Services by the Administration for Community Living
Starting on January 1, 2025 description of incident (DOI) field in the MAARC Adult Maltreatment Report (AMR) will no longer refer to PAR’s as AP1, AP2, AP3 etc. and no more than 10 PAR’s will be identified in phone reports. Persons identified in the DOI will be referenced by name or relationship to the vulnerable adult if known by the reporter. There will be no changes for reports entered by web reporters. The change will align phone and web reports for the maximum number of PARs in the report and support APS intake efficiency.
Initiating Assessment
Response to reports of the alleged maltreatment of an adult who is vulnerable are initiated within either 24 or 72 hours following initial disposition, which is the screening decision made using the SDM ® intake tool and the agency’s prioritization guidelines to accept or not accept the adult referred for APS. Decisions on if assessment is initiated within 24 or 72 hours are based on the SDM ® intake tool’s guidance for response priority based on risks to the adult.
What does “initiated” mean?
“Initiated” means the actions taken by APS for adults accepted for APS, following initial disposition to: face to face with the adult when determined necessary by the agency for the safety and wellbeing on the adult; engage the adult and their supports in assessment of the adult’s strengths and needs; initiate service planning; start gathering facts to determine if maltreatment occurred; and to gather facts to determine who was responsible for the maltreatment for reports accepted for assessment with determination.
Please refer to the “Initiating APS and Assessment” section of the MN Adult Protection Policy Manual for more policy information.
Question?
Questions regarding initiating APS assessment can be directed to your APRS at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us
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Many of the following training opportunities support APS professionals meeting education requirements under 626.557 Subd. 9e (8 hours annual training specific to adult protection duties).
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 on-demand, self-paced foundational training for adult protection professionals across MN. The twelve Foundations: eLearning courses can be taken in any order, reviewed at any time, and align with national adult protection core competencies and MN adult protection policy.
Links to the 12 Foundations: eLearning courses are available on the Adult Protection: policies and procedure website.
The 12 Foundations: eLearning courses are prerequisite for the MN Adult Protection Foundations: Live Training
These 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.
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 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
This course 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.
Questions? Please contact the DHS Adult Protection team at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us.
Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment 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).
SSIS Essentials eLearning
SSIS Essentials eLearning is a collection of six courses that provide an introduction to basic navigation and functionality of core SSIS functions. SSIS Essentials eLearning is offered through TrainLink. Please visit the SSIS Essentials eLearning website for registration and TrainLink instructions, technical requirements, and more information about each of the courses.
SSIS Adult Protection Worker Training
The SSIS Adult Protection Worker course is a technical training that provides an overview of data entry in SSIS as related to APS. 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. Please visit the SSIS Adult Protection Worker Training website for available training dates, registration instructions, and more detailed information about the course.
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. 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.
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Newsletter Archive
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. The DHS Adult Protection newsletter archive includes 12 months of past newsletters. Please contact us with any questions at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or (651) 431-2609
For more information, visit us online at DHS Adult Protection: Program Overview
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