Adult Protective Services (APS) works with other community agencies to prevent or alleviate abuse, neglect, exploitation, or fiduciary abuse of vulnerable adults 18 years of age or older. At-Risk adults are those individuals who are unable to protect their own interests due to physical, emotional, or mental impairment, and who are harmed or threatened with harm through action or inaction by themselves or others. Services are typically provided to persons with physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, mental illness, and the elderly.
After a report is made and it has been determined it meets the criteria for APS involvement, the SRS social worker will interview the involved adult to gather information. The social worker will then contact anyone else who may have information about the report, including the alleged perpetrator, if the involved adult consents. The social worker will then take the necessary steps to protect the involved adult, including referrals to other community agencies if the involved adult and/or their guardian consents. The social worker will make a finding of whether abuse, neglect, exploitation, or fiduciary abuse did occur or is likely to occur.
The social worker will take steps to protect client confidentiality at all times and, whenever possible, will have the involved adult or their legal guardian sign a consent form to obtain or share information. The name of the person making a report cannot be released without the written consent of the person making the report or through a court order.
| Adult Protective Services | |
| Annual Investigations --SFY 2006 | 6,835 |
| Actual Expenditures---SFY 2006 | $341,209 |
| State General Funds | $197,895 |
"I suspect an elderly person is being abused by a care giver. Who do I call?"
Call 1-800-922-5330 to report adult abuse. If the adult is in imminent danger, follow-up will occur within 24 hours. If the adult has been abused but is not in imminent danger, follow-up will occur within three working days. If the adult is being neglected or exploited, follow-up is required within five working days. If the adult resides in, or receives services from, facilities or agencies such as a nursing facility or home health agency, assisted living facility, medical care facility, or non long-term care entities and you suspect abuse, call 1-800-842-0078. Such facilities are licensed by either the Kansas Department on Aging or the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The appropriate agency will be responsible for the investigation.
"Why was action not taken in an APS case?"
There are many reasons why action might not be taken in an APS case. For questions about specific instances, SRS central office staff can contact local APS staff and ask them to review the investigation and the findings. Central office staff may review the APS report to make sure all procedures were followed and the decision made was justified.