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APS Program Operational Plan: Pennsylvannia

State/Territory/District Pennsylvania 

Contact Denise Getgen (PDA) & Laura Deitz (APS)

Budget Allocation $10,880,012

Timeline AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) OF 2021- Grant 1 

August 2021 – September 2023 $3,520,052 

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 - Proposed Grant 2 

August 2022 – September 2024 7,359,960 (ARPA 1 + COVID) 

Vision 2025

The Vision clarifies what your ARPA Grant 1 Program 

aspires to become and to achieve. It is designed to 

inspire by providing a picture of where the program 

is heading in 3-5 years.

Note: If you are a part of a larger organization, does 

it have its own future vision? If so, you may want to 

adapt it to your own program.

The Department of Aging’s vision is a Pennsylvania where older adults are embraced 

and empowered to live and age with dignity and respect.

The Department of Human Service’s vision is that all Pennsylvanians live safe, healthy, 

and independent lives, free of discrimination and inequity.

Vision 2025 (Protective Services) 

The vision of the APS Program is to enhanced quality, consistency, and equity within 

the program model of protective services across separate government bureaus, 

offices, and staffing. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 2 

Mission Statement

Mission and Values statements can be an effective 

tool to educate the public; state and local 

government officials; state government agencies; 

provider agencies; and service recipients as to what 

the Adult Protective Services is and how they do 

business.

Mission Statements answer four key questions 

about your APS Program:

• Who do we serve?

• What needs do they have that we can fulfil?

• How do we meet those needs? How do we 

make the clients' lives better?

• Does it link directly to the Vision Statement?

Note: if you are a part of a larger organization, does 

it have its Mission Statement? If so, you may want 

to adapt it for your own program.

The Office of Long-Term Living mission statement is “Serving more people in 

communities rather than in facilities, giving them the opportunity to work, spend more 

time with their families, and experience an overall better quality of life.”

The mission of the Department of Human Services is to assist Pennsylvanians in leading 

safe, healthy, and productive lives through equitable, trauma-informed, and outcomefocused services while being an accountable steward of commonwealth resources.

The PA Department on Aging’s mission is to promote independence, purpose, and wellbeing in the lives of older adults through advocacy, service, and protection. 

The Mission of the Pennsylvania APS program is to serve vulnerable older adults and 

adults with disabilities that have been alleged to be experiencing maltreatment (abuse, 

neglect, and exploitation) by evaluating the need for protective services and mobilizing 

services at the county level.
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 3 

Guiding Principles / Core Values

Guiding Principles or Core Values guide internal 

processes and client interactions for your APS 

Program. 

Note: if you are a part of a larger organization, does it 

have its own set of Guiding Principles or Core Values? 

If so, you may want to adapt it for this program.

Pennsylvania Department of Aging (60 and older)

Core Values

Diversity and inclusion strengthen us.

Innovation drives us.

We are passionate about the customer experience.

We lead strategically to meet future needs.

We listen and effectively communicate with consumers and partners.

We act with integrity. 

We value our workforce. 

Partnership and collaboration enhance our capacity.

We hold ourselves and partners accountable for results.

We manage resources entrusted to us responsibly.

Department of Human Services (Adults living with disabilities 18-59 years old)

Core Values

Collaboration: We coordinate our practices internally and externally with our 

employees and stakeholders. 

Communication: We strive to be transparent and open in our conversations, both 

written and oral. We will promote awareness with our employees and stakeholders. 

Accountability: We are responsible caretakers of taxpayer funds entrusted to DHS by 

engaging in sound financial management practices when providing services and 

supports. We are responsible for our actions, and we will hold our partners to similar 

standards in providing services and supports to our stakeholder community. 

Respect: We foster a fair, open, and honest work environment. We embrace our 

stakeholders and treat others as we want to be treated. 

Effectiveness: We are efficient in our operations and empower our employees to deliver 

results for our stakeholders.
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 4

Goals for Program Improvement

These are goals to be obtained in order to move your APS 

program from current practices to your Vision.

Now that you have new funds targeted for your work with 

APS, what can be enhanced or improved in your current 

program? These goals must meet the APS Formula Grant 

requirements. It is recommended these goals become 

SMART goals (specific, measurable, actionable, and 

timely).

Using the results of your Environmental Scan, identify key 

issues that need to be addressed during this planning 

cycle. 

These are goals to move your APS Program from current 

practices to your Vision #1.

Centralizing intake

• Increase consistency in how the intake function is performed throughout 

protective services and the state of PA

• Increase the quality of documented information

• Increase the consistency of categorization 

• Increase the equity in service provision by ensuring consistency and 

addressing the most urgent needs first 

• Increase quality customer service

Training & Education 

• Increase consistency in how protective services staff perform investigations

• Increase the quality of investigations and case documentation 

• Increase the equity in received services with an expert pool of staff

Unit of shared positions in quality management and education

• Increase consistency between practices and policies of DHS and PDA

• Increase quality improvement efforts by focusing internal resources on 

analyzing data reports and using the data to drive accountability and quality

measures for contracted service agencies 

• Increase equity in received services and among responsibilities of DHS, PSA, 

and OLTL staff
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 5 

Targeted Improvement Projects

Using the results of your Environmental Scan and PESTEL, 

describe the targeted improvements and enhancements 

needed for this planning cycle. 

Your improvements should be concrete, measurable, and

complete.

WHY is this improvement needed? 

What Purpose or NEED will it fill? 

What RESOURCES will be used? 

What ACTIVITIES will it entail? 

What are the direct OUTPUTS of the activities? What are 

the intended results and how will clients benefit?

See example on next page.

We will accomplish this by focusing on: 

• Centralizing intake, 

• Developing a standardized training and education curriculum for each 

investigator’s first year in protective services (including shadowing experienced 

investigators and mentoring), and 

• Creating positions in quality management and improvement, data analysis, and 

education. These positions will be shared between the APS and OAPSA 

programs. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 6 

Purpose/Needs to be 

filled by ARPA Funds

Inputs

(Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term Outcomes

Updated, streamlined, 

protective servicedriven data system for 

APS and OAPS. 

$3,330,052

PS program 

staff. Project 

Manager. Aging 

QM staff. 

WellSky project 

team. Network 

staff. 

ARPA 1: Project 1

APS Solutions

Develop Statement 

of Work

Vendor Selection

Project Kick Off

Build APS (internal)

Test APS (internal)

Improve APS 

(internal)

Trial release to 

network (external)

Testing period with 

network (external)

Evaluation period

(external)

APS Solutions – new 

protective services 

database

Reduction in 

reporting errors

Increase in quality 

investigations 

Improved data 

tracking software 

that is specific to 

protective services

Improved 

communication 

between APS/OAPS 

and the network of 

agencies serving 

older adults and 

people with 

disabilities. 

Protective service data 

base that is driven by 

reporting requirements

Less duplication of data 

entry

More time with older 

adults and people with 

disabilities that may be or 

are in crisis. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 7 

Purpose/Needs to be 

filled by ARPA Funds

Inputs

(Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term Outcomes

Improve APS

(external)

Release APA with 

quarterly check-ins

for one year with 

network (external)

Need project manager 

to help keep ARPA 

Projects on track 

Manage and oversee 

project deliverables of 

procurement, ensure 

training and 

maintenance 

requirements are met 

for both of 

Pennsylvania’s APS 

and OAPS 

programs and monitor 

project risks 

$80,000

Possible 

external 

consultant

ARPA 1 

Project 2

Project Manager/ 

Consultant

Manage and 

oversee project 

deliverables of 

procurement, 

ensure training and 

maintenance 

requirements are 

met for both of 

Pennsylvania’s APS 

and OAPS programs 

and monitor 

project risks

Ensure requirements 

are met for both of 

Pennsylvania’s APS 

and OAPS programs 

and monitor project 

risks

Manager Identified 

and hired

Clients and Victims benefit 

from well managed 

projects and efficiently 

run APS and OAPS 

programs
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 8 

Purpose/Needs to be 

filled by ARPA Funds

Inputs

(Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term Outcomes

Need training for 

supervisors and 

caseworkers on new 

database

$50,000 ARPA 1: Project 3

Training and 

Outreach

Conduct PS 

Supervisor and 

Caseworker 

training on new 

database with an 

emphasis on data 

integrity and 

analysis

Review and analyze 

data reports

Customize data 

reports to meet 

statewide need

Training sessions 

developed

# of training sessions 

completed or 

employees trained

Training developed

Data and reports 

developed and 

implemented

Clients and Victims benefit 

from well managed 

projects and efficiently 

run APS and OAPS 

programs

Need for support and 

administration of 

Grant funding 

$10,000 ARPA 1: Project 4

Administrative 

Costs

Funding grants 

supported

Administrative 

needs are met to 

manage grants

Clients and Victims benefit 

from well managed 

projects and efficiently 

run APS and OAPS 

programs
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 9 

Purpose/Needs to be 

filled by ARPA Funds

Inputs

(Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term Outcomes

Increasing protection 

against the financial 

exploitation of older 

adults and people with 

disabilities by 

streamlining electronic 

communication 

between protective 

services and finance 

users for the purpose 

of reporting, 

information sharing, 

and service provision. 

$44,000

PDA PS staff

DHS APS staff

Financial 

exploitation task 

force

PDA Quality 

Assurance staff 

ARPA 1: Project 5

HelpVul 

Secure document 

sharing between PS 

and financial 

institutions 

Collaboration 

between PS and 

financial institutions

Time saver in 

preventing financial 

exploitation

Connecting 

financial 

institutions with 

organizations 

providing 

protective services

Reduction in financial 

exploitation

Stopping financial 

exploitation before it 

begins 

It will streamline the 

protective services 

intake process for over 

and under 60 by 

centralizing the 

responsibility to one to 

three over-arching 

agencies for specific 

PA regions. Intake is 

disjointed and 

currently completed 

by 52 Area Agencies 

on Aging and Liberty 

(under 60). 

Essentially, there are 

53 entities 

determining how 

$4,488,702

APS and PDA PS 

staff. Project 

Manager. 

Stakeholder 

investment and 

guidance. SAMS 

access and RON 

regulations. 

ARPA 2: Project 1

(Centralized 

Intake)

Writing a Request 

for Proposal. 

Forming a Review 

Panel. Selecting a 

PS Intake provider. 

Training selected 

Intake provider. 

Create a transition 

plan. Create a 

communication 

plan for the 

transition. 

A Request for 

Proposal. A Proposal 

Review Panel. A PS 

Intake provider. A 

Transition Plan. A 

Communications Plan 

for the Intake 

Transition. 

RFP or cooperative 

agreement 

extension

Review Panel

Communications 

Plan

Transition Plan

Selecting an APS intake 

Provider

Training selected APS 

intake provider

Transitioning intake to 

selected intake provider 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 10

Purpose/Needs to be 

filled by ARPA Funds

Inputs

(Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term Outcomes

intake will work to 

address abuse, neglect, 

abandonment, and 

exploitation. 

Protective services

investigations are 

often done without 

the level of detail 

that’s needed to make 

an accurate 

categorization. This 

effects our ability to 

address urgent needs 

timely and in the 

order of highest need.

 

$1,831,258

Temple

University 

Potentially other 

educational 

institutions

PDA and DHS 

staff

Staff from AAAs 

and Liberty

ARPA 2: Project 2

Training and 

Education

“On the job” 

shadowing and 

mentoring 

Shadowing and 

mentoring training 

modules

Updated contract with 

Temple

New contract with 

other educational 

entity

Updated contracts Training Modules

Training the Trainers

Staff between the 

departments have 

shared/similar needs 

and are operating in 

separate government 

bureaus. There is a 

growing need for 

shared data and 

strategy to build on 

$540,000

Departmental

licensing staff

PDA and DHS PS 

staff

ARPA 2: Project 3

Shared QM 

(APS/OAPS)

Shared positions in 

quality 

management and 

improvement, data 

3 new, shared 

positions

MOU/other form of 

agreement between 

DHS and PDA

Gain support/buy 

in from bureau 

leads 

Job Descriptions

MOU and/or other 

shared work 

Post for positions

Interview for positions

Hire 3 new, shared 

positions 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 11

Purpose/Needs to be 

filled by ARPA Funds

Inputs

(Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term Outcomes

consistency and 

quality of services and 

programs for adults 

and older adults. 

Sharing 

resources/staff will 

help build better 

communication and 

policy while creating a 

stronger support 

network some of the 

most vulnerable 

Pennsylvanians. 

3 new, shared 

positions that 

analysis, and 

education

statement between 

DHS and PDA 

PDA intends to work 

with Penn State Univ 

to develop evidencebased decision trees 

and case specific 

training protocols.

$500,000

PDA staff

Penn State 

faculty 

ARPA 2: Project 4

Penn State Nursing 

Assessment

Assessment to 

improve investigations

Older adults are 

provided with 

appropriate 

services, faster.

Older adults are safer and 

with less or eliminated 

risk(s). 

Need to retain project 

manager to help keep 

ARPA Projects on 

track 

Manage and oversee 

project deliverables of 

procurement, ensure 

training and 

$160,000

Possible 

external 

consultant

ARPA 2 

Project 5

Project Manager/ 

Consultant

Manage and 

oversee project 

deliverables of 

procurement, 

ensure training and 

Ensure requirements 

are met for both of 

Pennsylvania’s APS 

and OAPS programs 

and monitor project 

risks

Continued 

productive use of 

manager hired 

earlier

Clients and Victims benefit 

from well managed 

projects and efficiently 

run APS and OAPS 

programs
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 12

Purpose/Needs to be 

filled by ARPA Funds

Inputs

(Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term Outcomes

maintenance 

requirements are met 

for both of 

Pennsylvania’s APS 

and OAPS 

programs and monitor 

project risks 

maintenance 

requirements are 

met for both of 

Pennsylvania’s APS 

and OAPS programs 

and monitor 

project risks

Need for support and 

administration of 

Grant funding

$20,000 ARPA 2: Project 6 

Administrative 

Costs

Funding grants 

supported

Administrative 

needs are met to 

manage grants

Clients and Victims benefit 

from well managed 

projects and efficiently 

run APS and OAPS 

programs
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 13

Budget / Spending Plan for ARPA funds – Semi-annually for 3 to 5 years

Budget/Spending Plan will be used to enhance, improve, and expand the ability of APS workers to investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, and 

exploitation. Be sure to use separate line items for each major improvement project.

Operational Plan Submission due by January 31, 2022.

ARPA 1- First Grant Allocation - August 2021 - September 2023

ARPA 1: Description 2022 Period 1

2022 

Period 2

2023 

Period 1

2023 

Period 2 Total

Project 1 APS Solutions $832,513 $832,513 $832,513 $832,513 $3,330,052

Project 2 Project Manager / Consultant $40,000 $40,000 $80,000

Project 3 Training & Outreach $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $50,000

Project 4 Administrative Costs $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $10,000

Project 5 Helpvul $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $50,000

Total $860,013 $860,013 $900,013 $900,013 $3,520,052

ARPA 2- Second Grant Allocation - August 2022 September 2024 

Description

2023 

Period 1

2023 

Period 2

2024 

Period 1

2024 

Period 2 Total

Project 1 Centralized Intake $1,122,175.50 $1,122,175.50 $1,122,175.50 $1,122,175.50 $4,488,702 

Project 2 Training and Education $457,814.50 $457,814.50 $457,814.50 $457,814.50 $1,831,258

Project 3 Shared QM (APS/OAPS) $90,000 $90,000 $90,000 $90,000 $360,000

Project 4

Penn State Nursing 

Assessment $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $500,000

Project 5 Project Manager / Consultant $40,000 $40,000 $40,000 $40,000 $160,000

Project 6 Administrative Costs $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $20,000

Total $1,839,990 $1,839,990 $1,839,990 $1,839,990 $7,359,960 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 14

Summary of ARPA 1 + ARPA 2 Expense

2022 

Period 1

2022 

Period 2

2023 

Period 1

2023 

Period 2

2024 

Period 1

2024 

Period 2 Total

Summary $860,013 $860,013 $2,740,003 $2,740,003 $1,839,990 $1,839,990 $10,880,012