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Adult Protective Services (APS)
Adult Protective Services (APS) investigates reports on elder adults (60 years and older) and dependent adults (ages 18 to 59 with physical or mental limitations) when these adults are unable to meet their own needs or are victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Many adults are at risk with the most vulnerable being those with physical disabilities, those who are frail, and those with mental or emotional disabilities. Abuse can go on for years or may be a recent threat to the safety of an individual. Those who are abused often need assistance in protecting themselves, their income, their assets or their environment.
What We Do
Adult Protective Services provides services with the goal to create a safe environment where the individual can safely function without requiring additional intervention from the APS program. Every APS case starts with an initial suspected abuse report. Once a report is received, an APS Social Worker may:
- Initiate a personal visit to interview the adult within 24 hours to 10 days and determine if there is risk to the individual and the capacity of that individual to make their own decisions
- Interview collateral contacts
- Discuss with the individual what actions are needed to prevent further risk and/or harm
- With the adult's consent, assist in locating services which are necessary to maintain physical or mental health, i.e.:
- Legal services
- Medical care
- Appropriate living arrangements
- Food
- Clothing
- Adequate shelter
- Protection from maltreatment
- Transportation
- Assistance with personal hygiene
- Provide advocacy to assure protection of personal rights and confidentiality
The APS program is not intended to interfere with the life style choices of elders or dependent adults. An elder who has been abused may refuse or withdraw consent at any time for services offered by APS. An exception to this policy can occur when an elder is mentally incapacitated by significant cognitive impairments and/or is being subjected to undue influence by another person.
Additional Programs Related to APS
Home Safe Adult Protective Services Program (HSAPS)
HSAPS assists Adult Protective Services clients who are experiencing, or at imminent risk of experiencing, homelessness. HSAPS implements prevention and diversion services including housing stabilization, housing navigation, case management, short-term financial assistance and referrals to appropriate providers for longer term services to promote housing stability.
Who is Eligible
An Individual who meets all of the following conditions:
- Is an Adult Protective Services (APS) client, or is in the process of intake to APS
- Is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness
- Voluntarily agrees to participate in the program
Interventions Used in HSAPS
- Enhanced Case Management (Intensive, longer-term)
- Housing Stabilization (connection to legal assistance, eviction prevention, hazard removal, deep cleaning)
- Housing Navigation (housing search, application assistance)
- Housing Direct Financial Assistance (rental assist, security deposit, housing rehabilitation, temporary housing)
- Connections to Longer-Term Supports (referrals and coordination of services within community)
Special Needs Awareness Program (SNAP)
Do you need assistance evacuating during an emergency? As part of Butte County's Emergency Evacuation Plan, the Department of Employment and Social Services works collaboratively with multiple agencies to ensure that those in need of evacuation assistance during an emergency are identified and evacuated safely and efficiently. Click here for more information.
APS Education & Awareness
Local Students Create Awareness of Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse through Statewide Competition. The State of California Department of Social Services in conjunction with the Elder Justice Coalition and the Coordinating Council on Aging sponsored an Art and Media Contest to bring public awareness to Elder and Dependent Abuse Month which occurs each June. The contestant entry categories consisted of Radio Public Service Announcements, Hashtags and Posters.
The winner in the youth categories were all students at Pleasant Valley High School (PV) in Chico who are enrolled in a media course taught by Michael Peck. An awards ceremony was held at PV and the winner won certificates and cash awards provided by Wells Fargo Bank. The art has also been displayed at the Capital building in Sacramento. The following video highlights the winning posters and one of the public service announcements:
Visit the California Department of Social Services website for further information about this program.
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Adult Protective Services
Phone: 530-538-7538 or 855-398-8899Fax: 530-538-5093
Hours
Monday to Friday
8 am to 5 pmReports of Adult Abuse/Neglect
Reports of adult abuse or neglect are taken 24 hours per day, 7 days per week at 800-664-9774.
- What is elder abuse?
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Abuse of an elder or dependent adult includes any of the following:
- Physical Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Abandonment
- Isolation
- Financial Abuse
- Neglect
- Self-Neglect
- Mental Suffering
- What are the signs of elder abuse?
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- Physical Abuse: e.g. Hitting, kicking, burning, dragging, over or under medicating.
- Sexual Abuse: e.g. Unwanted sexual contact, sexual exploitation, forced viewing of pornography.
- Abandonment: e.g. Desertion or willful forsaking by anyone having responsibility for care.
- Isolation: e.g. Preventing the individual from receiving mail, telephone calls, visitors.
- Financial: e.g. Theft, misuse of funds or property, extortion, duress, fraud.
- Neglect: e.g. Failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, or health care for an individual under one's care when the means to do so are available.
- Self-Neglect: e.g. Failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, or health care for oneself.
- Mental Suffering: e.g. Verbal assaults, threats, causing fear.
View the Red Flags of Elder Abuse (PDF) to learn more.
- What can you do to help?
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If you suspect that an older or dependent adult needs help:
- Call 800-664-9774 to report Elder abuse occurring in Butte County
- Submit a form:
- Suspected Dependent Adult/Elder Abuse Form (PDF)
- Suspected Dependent Adult/Elder Abuse Form - Financial (PDF)
- Fax Suspected Dependent Adult/Elder Abuse forms to 530-538-5093
If you are in immediate danger, please contact 911.
- Who must report?
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Reports are made by either of the following:
- Concerned citizens
- Mandated Reporters
The law requires mandated reporters to make a verbal report immediately or as soon as possible, but within 24 hours, followed by a written report within 2 days.
- Any person who has assumed full or intermittent responsibility for care or custody of an elder or dependent adult, whether or not that person receives compensation
- Administrators, supervisors, and any licensed staff of a public or private facility that provides care or services for elder or dependent adults
- Any elder or dependent adult care custodian
- Health practitioners
- Clergy member
- County welfare departments
- Law Enforcement and Fire departments
- Any other protective, public, sectarian, mental health, private assistance or advocacy agency or person providing health services or social services to elders or dependent adults
- Financial institutions when suspecting financial abuse
Mandated Reporter Training Information
This training is recommended for all employees of public and private care facilities, for health care workers, members of the clergy, employees of financial institutions, law enforcement personnel and anyone with full or intermittent responsibility for the care and custody of an elderly or dependent adult.
You can find the free Mandated Report Training online. For more information about the requirements for a Mandated Reporters please visit the CA Adult Protective Services page.