EVALUATING OUTCOMES OF ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES IN THE UNITED STATES: WHAT DO WE KNOW?

Abstract Adult protective services and other community-based agencies respond to hundreds of thousands of elder abuse cases annually in the United States; however, few studies include elder abuse victims’ voices. This study explored the most distressing aspects of elder abuse, as identified by victims themselves; to date, this is the first known study on this topic. Guided by a phenomenological qualitative methodology, this study conducted in-person, semi-structured interviews with a sample of elder abuse victims (n = 30) recruited from a community-based elder abuse social service program in New York City. To enhance trustworthiness, two researchers independently analyzed transcript data to identify key transcript codes/themes. Distressing aspects of elder abuse were identified across three key domains, related to feelings of loss (50% of codes), threats/negative consequences (55%), and client-needs/system incongruity (14%). Specifically, the first theme represented outcomes related to loss of relationships (19% of ‘loss’ codes), personhood (16%), credibility (19%), faith/trust in others (38%), and finances (8%). The second theme looked at threats to physical self (34% of ‘threat’ codes), psyche (39%), and others, including the perpetrator (27%). The third theme focused on mismatches in client/system goals (50% of ‘incongruity’ codes) and legal system involvement (50%). The findings in this study provide a comprehensive and conceptually organized range of aspects to serve as infrastructure for the development of meaningful interventions to address the needs of victims. This study represents one of the largest efforts to understand and integrate the perspectives and needs of victims into elder abuse intervention practice/research to date.

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Families at the Intersection of the Criminal Justice and Child Protective Services Systems

The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science ◽

10.1177/0002716216633058 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 665 (1) ◽

pp. 171-194 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Lawrence M. Berger ◽

Maria Cancian ◽

Laura Cuesta ◽

Jennifer L. Noyes

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

At Risk ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Longitudinal Data ◽

Family Involvement ◽

Child Protective Services ◽

The United States ◽

Future Research ◽

Protective Services ◽

Men And Women

The prevalence of incarceration in the United States is increasingly well known. The prevalence of family involvement with child protective services (CPS) is less understood, though, and there is limited research examining links between incarceration and CPS involvement. Here, we describe the incidence and prevalence of incarceration and CPS involvement in the United States and outline reasons that the same individuals and families may be at risk for involvement in both systems. We then use unique longitudinal data from Wisconsin to describe intergenerational and intragenerational overlap in the two systems. Specifically, we calculate (1) the proportion of all CPS-involved children who have an incarcerated parent; (2) the proportion of incarcerated adults who have a CPS-involved child; (3) the proportion of incarcerated young men and women who were involved in the CPS system as adolescents; and (4) the proportion of CPS-involved adolescents who subsequently became incarcerated. We conclude with a discussion of directions for future research and implications for practice and policy.

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Organized and Unstructured Activity Participation Among Adolescents Involved with Child Protective Services in the United States

Child & Youth Care Forum ◽

10.1007/s10566-017-9392-3 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 46 (4) ◽

pp. 495-517

Author(s):

Yoonyoung Kwak ◽

Ting Lu ◽

Sharon L. Christ

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Child Protective Services ◽

The United States ◽

Activity Participation ◽

Protective Services

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Closing the Loop: An Environmental Scan of APS-Reporter Feedback Policies and Practices

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3365 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 939-939

Author(s):

Olanike Ojelabi ◽

Randi Campetti ◽

Kathy Greenlee ◽

Kristin Lees Haggerty

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

The United States ◽

Protective Services ◽

Adult Protective Services ◽

Environmental Scan ◽

Early Results ◽

Key Points ◽

Closing The Loop ◽

Mandated Reporters ◽

Policies And Practices

Abstract Abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults are prevalent and underreported in the United States. Pathways to identifying and resolving cases of abuse against older adults depend on mandated and non-mandated reporters bringing attention to these cases through reports to Adult Protective Services (APS). However, existing research points to several barriers to reporting. One significant barrier is a lack of communication from APS to reporters about reports they have made (e.g., whether the report is appropriate for APS, the investigation outcome, and services provided by APS). This lack of reciprocal communication likely serves as a disincentive for future reporting. This study aims to promote improved communication between APS and reporters by examining the legal, ethical, and practical barriers and facilitators to communication at key points in the reporting and response pathways. In this first phase of the project, we conducted an environmental scan of policies and practices related to reporting, investigation, and feedback. Early results from the environmental scan suggest most APS agencies (81%) do not currently provide feedback to reporters. Among those providing feedback, 20% provide feedback only to mandated reporters, and 50% provide only procedural feedback, which focuses on the process of receiving and screening reports for investigation and not on the outcome of the investigation. In the next phase of this study, we will supplement these findings through interviews with APS leaders across the U.S. These early results will begin to fill an important gap in the understanding of feedback loops between APS and reporters.

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Abuse of and Intervention for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.329 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 86-86

Author(s):

Pamela Teaster ◽

Cory Bolkan

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Service Providers ◽

Elder Abuse ◽

The United States ◽

Protective Services ◽

Term Care ◽

Adult Protective Services ◽

Service Staff ◽

State And Local ◽

Novel Coronavirus

Abstract Beginning in the United States in 2020, SARS-CoV-2 lead to unprecedented changes in the lives of both younger and older people. Efforts to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, which included physical distancing and self-quarantine not only upended the lives of many people but also created natural laboratory conditions for the mistreatment of older adults. Exploring the mistreatment of older adults during the pandemic presented an unprecedented opportunity to examine perspectives of service providers and affected older adults. This symposium offers four perspectives on this subject. Dr. Karen Roberto and colleagues will present changes and challenges that COVID-19 brought for Adult Protectives Service staff and the vulnerable adults whom they serve. Ms. Lori Smetanka and colleagues will present changes and challenges that COVID-19 created for state and local Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Dr. Holly Ramsey-Klawsnik and Ms. Tammy Seaver will report on how the pandemic affected Nevada Adult Protective Services clients, casework, and staff. Finally, Dr. Pamela Teaster and colleagues will discuss how older adults experienced exploitation attempts during the early months of the pandemic. Dr. Cory Bolkan will begin the discussion, highlighting how conditions brought about by COVID-19 both enabled and thwarted efforts to address elder abuse.

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