Share Your Feedback on Draft APS Guidelines

ACL is soliciting comments, and will be hosting 12 listening sessions, on newly-released draft voluntary guidelines for Adult Protective Services (APS) systems.

ACL envisions a comprehensive, multidisciplinary system that effectively supports older adults and adults with disabilities so they can exercise their right to live where they choose, with the people they choose and fully participate in their communities without threat of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation.

APS agencies are a critically important component of this comprehensive system to address abuse, neglect, self-neglect or financial exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities. In all states, APS is charged with receiving and responding to reports of maltreatment and working closely with clients and a wide variety of allied professionals to maximize clients’ safety and independence.

Historically, there has been no federal “home” for APS nor a designated federal appropriation for this critically important service. Instead, states and local agencies have developed a wide variety of APS practices, resulting in significant variations.

Strong federal leadership in addressing adult maltreatment must include a commitment to bolstering and assisting the APS system in responding to victims in the most effective way possible. ACL is uniquely qualified to spearhead these efforts because of its mission to maximize the independence, well-being, and health of older adults, people with disabilities, and their families and caregivers.

As one part of these efforts, ACL is facilitating the development of field-driven, consensus-informed, national guidelines in order to provide a core set of principles and common expectations to encourage consistency in the policies and practices of APS across the country.

Through these guidelines, ACL seeks to help ensure that adults are afforded similar protections and service delivery, regardless of which state or jurisdiction they are in. These draft guidelines build upon existing work and have been developed based on the best science available on what works in APS agencies and in other analogous systems throughout the United States.

ACL is now launching a stakeholder engagement and outreach strategy to refine and finalize this draft set of guidelines. Through October 13th, members of the public are strongly encouraged to provide feedback on the draft guidelines by commenting via an electronic form on the ACL website. ACL will also convene at least 12 listening sessions with general and targeted audiences. Listening sessions will be held via conference call and in person at national conferences.

Learn more and read the the full draft guidelines, submit comments, andparticipate in a listening session.