National Adult Protective Services Resource Center to be created

The first National Adult Protective Services (APS) Resource Center will be established by the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) through a grant awarded by the US Administration on Aging (AoA). The goal of the Center is to provide state and local Adult Protective Services Programs with with current, accurate, research-based information and assistance to improve their capacity to provide effective protective services to vulnerable and elder adult abuse victims. Adult Protective Services (APS) are established by law in every state to receive, investigate and respond to reports of physical and sexual abuse, caregiver and self-neglect, and financial exploitation of older persons and of younger adults with severe disabilities.

"Cases of adult abuse, including rape, serious physical violence and extreme neglect, where victims are left to lie in their own waste without adequate food or water, are skyrocketing. Financial abuse cases, which may involve the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars, are increasing especially rapidly. Most APS victims have dementia or other significant disabilities and need protection and services. This new National APS Resource Center will provide state and local APS programs with the tools and information they need to respond effectively during this time of diminishing resources," said Kathleen Quinn, NAPSA's Executive Director. The objectives in establishing the National Adult Protective Services Resource Center are to: 1. Identify evidence-based best practices for APS programs and interventions; 2. Establish national baseline data on "state of APS" in 2012; 3. Identify and promote the evaluation of novel, but unevaluated, APS promising practices; 4. Compile and synthesize research that informs APS programming and interventions; 5. Provide specific and targeted technical assistance to state and local APS programs to facilitate the implementation of identified best practices and research findings.

Project activities will include the creation of an APS Resource Center webpage, Facebook page and Twitter account; comprehensive reports based on surveys of APS programs, applicable research and innovative practices; research and training webinars, a monthly newsletter, an APS-specific listserv and information packets. The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) was awarded $199,956 for the first year; the grant time frame is three years.

NAPSA's partners in the APS Resource Center are:• National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD); • National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD); • American Public Human Services Association (APHSA); • National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA); • Catholic University's School of Social Service's Center on Global Aging; • Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER); and • San Diego State University's Project MASTER in the Academy for Professional Excellence.Health Benefits ABC's will evaluate the project. Kathleen Quinn will be the Center's Director and Andrew Capehart of Ohio and NAPSA will be the Assistant Director.

ABOUT NAPSA: The National Adult Protective Services Association is a 700+ membership organization which represents state and local Adult Protective Services (APS) programs and professionals, and which serves as the national voice of vulnerable adult victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation. NAPSA hosts the only national conference on elder abuse, abuse of adults with disabilities and APS, as well as the National Summit on Elder Financial Exploitation. NAPSA provides other training and services to its members as well and participates in national policy efforts to address elder and vulnerable adult abuse. For more information: www.apsnetwork.orgContact: Kathleen Quinn, Executive Director, NAPSAkathleen.quinn@apsnetwork.org 202-558-4850