OHIO APS Operational Plan - Submitted to ACL on 1/28/2022 Page 1

OHIO APS Operational Plan 2021 – 2024

State Ohio

Contact Heidi Turner-Stone

Budget Allocation $9,405,187.00 (ARPA Grant 1 + ARPA Grant 2)

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

August 2021 – September 2023

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 - Proposed Grant 2 

August 2022 – September 2024

Vision 2025 Ohio’s adults aged 60 and older, who are handicapped by the infirmities of aging and who reside in an independent living 

arrangement, are protected from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. 

Mission Statement Ohio’s adult protective services program is state supervised, and county administered. Through partnerships between public and 

private agencies, the program works to ensure the protection of adults aged 60 and older, who are handicapped by the infirmities of 

aging and living in an independent living arrangement, from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Through the front-line work 

conducted by local county agencies, and with oversight by the state department of job and family services, the program seeks to do 

this by raising awareness of and responding effectively with the provision of services. These services will promote the 

independence and enhance the dignity of those we serve, while helping them lead independent, meaningful, and dignified lives.

Guiding Principles/ 

Core Values

Guiding Principles of Ohio’s APS Program

• Adults have the right to be safe in the least restrictive living arrangement.

• Adults have the right to make decisions that do not conform with social norms, as long as they do not harm others.

• Adults must retain all their civil and constitutional rights unless some of these rights have been restricted by court 

action.

• Adults are presumed competent and to have decision-making capacity.

• Adults with cognitive capacity have the right to accept or refuse services.

• Adults who appear to lack cognitive capacity must be professionally evaluated - if a lack of capacity is confirmed, 

APS and the courts will take steps to protect the person from harm. 

• Interventions in the lives of adults must be adequate and appropriate to their needs and wants; intervention should not 

be worse than NOT intervening. 
OHIO APS Operational Plan - Submitted to ACL on 1/28/2022 Page 2

Goalsfor Program 

Improvement

A. Client Outcomes

• Prevent abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults aged 60 and older who are handicapped by the infirmities of aging 

and reside in an independent living arrangement.

• Protect adults aged 60 and older who are handicapped by the infirmities of aging and reside in an independent 

living arrangement from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

• Help adults aged 60 and older who are handicapped by the infirmities of aging and reside in an independent living 

arrangement become as self-sufficient as possible and continue to live in their own homes as long as possible.

• Connect adults aged 60 and older who are handicapped by the infirmities of aging and reside in an independent 

living arrangement to the least restrictive services that will alleviate abuse and allow them to remain them in the 

community

• Emphasize a person-centered culture that provides outreach, embraces diversity, and assists with and honors 

individual choice and decision making.

B. Workforce

• Highly trained, engaged, passionate, and resilient adult protective services staff, supervisors, and administrators.

• Training needs are assessed, and new training needs are addressed

• Encourage a minimum of one dedicated adult protective services worker per county.

• Improved ability to address complex cases (e.g., financial exploitation, self-neglect, etc.)

C. Teamwork

• Create a strong environment that facilitates teamwork and communication around Ohio’s APS mission and vision.

• Promote consistent best practice across counties for the delivery of APS services.

D. Community Relations

• Members of the community, as well as other services providers, will have a clear understating about APS mandate.

• Area Agencies on Aging and APS have better working relationships.

• Every county is directly involved in an engaged and supported Interdisciplinary Team (I-Team).

• Current memorandums of understating among service providers and APS are in place in each county

• Establishment of Fatality Review Teams in Ohio counties.

E. Use of Data and Quality Assurance

• There is a quality assurance and technical assistance process that addresses not only compliance, but best practice 

for APS in Ohio.

• Enhanced and more user-friendly Ohio Database for Adult Protective Services (ODAPS).

• Participate in research on best practices in APS and utilize feedback from researchers.
OHIO APS Operational Plan - Submitted to ACL on 1/28/2022 Page 3

Targeted 

Improvement 

Projects

Funding will be used for targeted improvement projects that address the following areas as illustrated below –

• Service Provision (at the county level)

• Data Collection

• Quality Assurance

• Public Awareness/Community Outreach

• Training/Skill Building

Purpose/Needsto 

be filled by 

ARPA Funds

Inputs 

(Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputsfrom 

Investment

Short-Term Outcomes Long-Term Outcomes

In a state 

supervised, county 

administered 

environment, 

enhanced and 

improved direct 

services by local 

agencies are 

paramount to 

ensure the safety 

and well-being of 

Ohioans aged 60 

and older who are 

handicapped by

the infirmities of 

aging and reside in 

an independent 

living

arrangement.

Targeted 

Improvement 

Project 1 –

$5,280,000.00 –

Allocations to

each of the 88 

county 

departments of job 

and family 

services (CDJFS) 

that are mandated 

to provide APS 

services in Ohio.

August 2021 -

(approximately

$22,800.00 each)

August 2022 –

(approximately

$37,000.00 each)

Based on the needs of the 

agency and those eligible for 

APS services, each county will 

conduct activities that provide 

for the best client outcomes.

Each CDJFS will be asked to 

provide a written activity plan 

to ODJFS regarding how funds 

are anticipated to be spent. The 

plan should include a list of 

items and/or projects the 

CDJFS plans to spend the 

funds, and an initial

description of how the funds 

will impact APS in the county. 

CDJFSs will be requested to 

provide updates to ODJFS 

every six months so that 

progress can be monitored.

“Wrap-around” services 

and other necessary 

goods/supplies/support for 

APS clients.

Establishment of 

emergency, short-term 

sheltersfor APS clients.

Improved processes for 

intake, conducting 

investigations, case 

planning, and providing 

for services.

New and improved 

partnerships and 

processes for 

responding to financial 

exploitation.

Increase in appropriate 

service provision for APS 

clients.

Older adults will be able 

to remain in their own 

homes, making decisions 

for themselves as their 

capacity allows.

Decrease in recidivism of 

APS cases.
OHIO APS Operational Plan - Submitted to ACL on 1/28/2022 Page 4

Purpose/Needsto 

be filled by 

ARPA Funds

Inputs 

(Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputsfrom 

Investment

Short-Term Outcomes Long-Term Outcomes

Improved data 

collection for 

purposes of 

meeting 

requirements of 

the National Adult 

Maltreatment 

Reporting System 

(NAMRS), as well 

as for planning

and policy 

development at

the state and local 

level.

Targeted 

Improvement 

Project 2–

$1,000,000.00 –

Improving data 

collection at the 

state level

Enhancements and 

improvements to the Ohio 

Database for Adult Protective 

Services (ODAPS).

Purchase of more licenses to 

increase number of workers 

able to access and use 

ODAPS.

Increase user-friendliness 

of ODAPS for case 

workers and supervisors.

Add data elements so that 

information can be 

captured regarding 

substance abuse, service 

provision, etc.

Caseworkers and 

supervisors will have 

better access to more 

information regarding 

clients.

Legislators, policy 

developers, and managers 

will better plan for 

funding and service 

delivery.

More complete and 

consistent information 

will be provided to 

NAMRS.

Development of a 

quality assurance 

and technical 

assistance process 

to promote 

consistent best 

practice across 

counties.

Targeted 

Improvement 

Project 3 –

$1,000,000.00 –

Developing a 

continuous quality 

improvement 

process

Issue a request for proposals 

(RFP) for further research into 

Ohio’s APS program to 

determine ODAPS strengths 

and weaknesses; as well as to 

pull data from the system for 

use in developing a QA 

process.

Issue an RFP to hire the 

assistance of experts to devise 

outcome measures and goals 

related to client services.

Utilize research and input from 

qualified paid consultants to 

develop performance 

indicators.

A well-developed quality 

improvement/assurance 

process for Ohio’s APS 

program.

A QA/TA process used 

by the state to provide 

assistance to counties 

as they work to 

improve services to 

clients

Continued quality 

improvement that 

addresses not only 

compliance, but best 

practice as well, so that 

APS clients are served 

appropriately.
OHIO APS Operational Plan - Submitted to ACL on 1/28/2022 Page 5

Purpose/Needsto 

be filled by 

ARPA Funds

Inputs 

(Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputsfrom 

Investment

Short-Term Outcomes Long-Term Outcomes

Training for state staff in how 

to continuously utilize the 

developed QA/TA process, 

and how to make 

improvements to it.

Improved 

awareness and 

education related 

to elder abuse, 

neglect, and 

exploitation 

among members 

of the public as 

well as other 

services systems 

working with 

older Ohioans.

Targeted 

Improvement 

Project 4 –

$1,000,000.00 –

Outreach/

Public Awareness

Issuance of an RFP to hire a 

marketing and public relations 

firm to begin enhancements to 

Ohio’s APS public awareness 

campaign, including web page 

development and design, 

sustainable advertising, etc.

A strong public awareness 

campaign that receives 

good response.

Increased awareness 

among the general 

public and 

professionals of how to 

recognize suspected 

abuse, neglect, and 

exploitation of older 

Ohioans; and, how to 

report it.

Increased and more 

informed reporting of

abuse, neglect, and 

exploitation.

Clear understanding 

acrossstakeholders about 

APS mandate and 

responsibilities of 

agencies involved in 

providing services to 

Ohio’s older adults so 

that there is seamless 

service provision to APS 

clients.

Removal of 

bureaucratic 

obstacles and 

improved service 

coordination 

recognizes 

community needs 

and fills gaps.

Targeted 

Improvement 

Project 5 –

$500,000.00 –

Improved 

Community 

Partnerships

Participating in, and providing 

assistance to, statewide elder 

justice networks.

State level partnerships 

related to planning, policy 

development, and training 

for those involved in 

providing services for 

APS.

Toolkit for counties to use 

in developing and 

maintaining I-Teams.

Every county is directly 

involved in an engaged 

and supported I-Team 

with a strong MOU.

Area Agencies on Aging 

and APS working better 

together to ensure good 

outcomes for APS clients.

Establishment of Fatality 

Review Teams across the 

state.

Development of a 

well-trained, 

engaged, and 

resilient APS staff 

at both the state 

and county level.

Targeted 

Improvement 

Project 6 –

$625,187.00 –

Provision of learning and 

networking opportunities for 

state and county staff and their 

partners in service provision –

including training,

Training and learning 

opportunities at least twice 

per year.

Training needs are 

determined and 

addressed for both 

caseworkers and 

supervisors.

Improved ability of 

county agencies to 

coordinate servicesfor 

complex cases, and to 

combat recidivism.
OHIO APS Operational Plan - Submitted to ACL on 1/28/2022 Page 6

Purpose/Needsto 

be filled by 

ARPA Funds

Inputs 

(Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputsfrom 

Investment

Short-Term Outcomes Long-Term Outcomes

Administrative 

and training costs

conferences, and regional 

forums.

Online Mandated reporter 

training made available.

Supervisor/leadership 

training and support 

provided.

Online ODAPS training 

for workers and 

supervisors.

Increased supervisory 

leadership and support of 

staff.

APS clients will receive 

consistent service.

Budget / Spending Plan for ARPA funds

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

Description 2022

Period 1

2022

Period 2

2023

Period 1

2023

Period 2 Total

Project 1 Grants to Ohio’s 88 counties 2,000,000.00 $2,000,000.00

Project 2

Enhancements and improvements to the 

Ohio Database for Adult Protective 

Services (ODAPS) $162,500.00 $162,500.00 $325,000.00

Project 3

Developing a continuous quality

improvement process $125,000.00 $125,000.00 $250,000.00

Project 4 Outreach/ Public Awareness $100,000.00 $100,000.00 $100,000.00 $100,000.00 $400,000.00

Project 5 Community partnerships $10,000.00 $10,000.00 $20,000.00

Project 6 Administrative and training costs $14,099.50 $33,796.50 $47,896.00

Total $2,225,000.00 $286,599.50 $225,000.00 $306,296.50 $3,042,896.00
OHIO APS Operational Plan - Submitted to ACL on 1/28/2022 Page 7

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 Grants to Ohio’s 88 counties $3,280,000.00 $3,280,000.00

Project 2

Enhancements and improvements to the

Ohio Database for Adult Protective 

Services (ODAPS) $168,750.00 $168,750.00 $168,750.00 $168,750.00 $675,000.00

Project 3

Developing a continuous quality 

improvement process $187,500.00 $187,500.00 $187,500.00 $187,500.00 $750,000.00

Project 4 Outreach/Public Awareness $100,000.00 $200,000.00 $200,000.00 $100,000.00 $600,000.00

Project 5 Community partnerships $120,000.00 $120,000.00 $120,000.00 $120,000.00 $480,000.00

Project 6 Administrative and training costs $144,322.75 $144,322.75 $144,322.75 $144,322.75 $577,291.00

720572.75 $4,000,572.75 $820,572.75 $820,572.75 $720,572.75 $6,362,291.00

Summary of ARPA 1 + ARPA 2 Expenses

2022

Period 1

2022

Period 2

2023

Period 1

2023

Period 2

2024

Period 1

2024

Period 2 Total

Summary $2,225,000.00 $286.599.50 $4,225,572.75 $1,126,869.25 $820,572.75 $720,572.75 $9,405,187.00

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