Transcript Professional Boundaries CFASD Program Meeting January 17, 2002

Why Do Adults Need
Protection?
Mary McGurran, LSW
and Jennifer Kirchen, LSW
MN Department of Human Services
Aging & Adult Services
June 17, 2013
Why Do Adults Need
Protection?




87 frail elderly woman with dementia who
lives in a nursing home
55 year old developmentally delayed man
who receives services from a day training
and habilitation (DT&H) program
18 year old physically disabled woman
who receives PCA services
You?
How Are They Protected?

MS 626.557 Vulnerable Adults Act
– Safe services and living environments for
vulnerable adults who have been maltreated
– Require reporting
– Investigation
– Protective Services
Categorical Vulnerable Adult

A person, 18 years of age or older, who is a:
– Resident or inpatient of a facility, regulated
by MDH or DHS, or
– Receives services from a facility, regulated
by MDH or DHS, or
– Recipient of home care services from MDH
facility or PCA services.
Functional Vulnerable Adult

A person 18 years of age or older who,
regardless of residence or service has an:
– impairment or disability, and because of this
impairment has:
• an impaired ability to meet basic needs, and
• an impaired ability to protect self from
maltreatment.
What is Maltreatment?

Abuse
– Physical, verbal, emotional or sexual

Financial Exploitation
– With or without a fiduciary

Neglect
– Caregiver or self
REPORTERS

MANDATED REPORTERS
are required by law to report!

VOLUNTARY
– ALL OTHERES!
–
–
–
–
Social services
Law enforcement
educators
licensed health & human
service professionals
– Personal Care Attendants
– Employees of licensed
facilities
– Medical examiner or
coroner
Where do I report?



Each County Board designates a CEP
The CEP is the unit responsible for
receiving maltreatment reports 24/7
CEP may be:
-Social Services
Generally Monday through Friday 8:00 to 5:00
-Law Enforcement Center/Private Agencies
Generally Evenings, holidays, weekends
COMMON ENTRY POINT
RESPONSIBILITIES
•
•
•
Determine immediate risk
Capture reports of alleged or suspected
maltreatment
Make necessary referrals
Criminal issues-refer to law enforcement
Emergency Protective Services
Appropriate Lead Investigative Agency
Ombudsman (suspicious death)
Referrals



Reports collected by the Common Entry Point
(CEP) are forwarded to the appropriate lead
investigative agency:
– MN Department of Health – Office of Health
Facility Complaints;
– DHS Licensing division; OR
– County Adult Protection
CEP refers reports to law enforcement if there is
an element of criminal activity
CEP reports are maintained in a central,
statewide database (SSIS)
How is the Lead Investigative
Agency Determined?

County Social
Services

Department of Health

Department of Human
Services
County Social Service Agencies
County Adult Protection is responsible for:
•
•
•
Emergency Protective Services
Maltreatment investigations within the
community
Extensive involvement with Law
Enforcement
Mary Northern Case





72 year old woman
Nashville, TN
Subfreezing temperatures
Home was burned, no heat
Infected legs
Assessing Self-Neglecting
Clients
Safety




Right to Die Case?
Capacity (sane with
psychic denial)
Guardian
No “imminence of death”
Risk




Housing (previous living
conditions)
Lack of medical treatment
Intrusive Intervention
Death
Discussion




What are the problems with this case?
What would your county have done?
What other possible alternatives are
there?
What can you learn from this case?
Online Mandated Reporter
Training Tool

The Vulnerable Adults Mandated Reporting
course is designed to introduce you to:
–
–
–
–


The Vulnerable Adults Act
Definition of maltreatment
Who are the mandated reporters
The Common Entry Point (CEP)
Found on the DHS website, Adult Protection
page
http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/DSDTraining/We
bManRpt/default.htm
Questions?
Contact
Information
[email protected]
651-431-2609