Maine Department of Health and Human Services

Aging and Disability Services 

11 State House Station 

41 Anthony Avenue 

Augusta, Maine 04333-0011 

Tel; (207) 287-9200; Toll Free: (800) 262-2232 

Fax (Disability) (207) 287-9915; Fax (Aging) (207)287-9229 

TTY: Dial 711 (Maine Relay 

TTY: Dial 711 (Maine Relay)

Janet T. Mills 

Governor 

Jeanne M. Lambrew, Ph.D.

Commissioner

State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services

Adult Protective Services Operational Plan

American Rescue Plan Act Formula Grant

State Maine

Contact Erin Salvo, Associate Director – APS 

Budget Allocation Anticipated Total - $1,995,000

$645,450 (Grant 1)

$1,349,550 (Grant 2 estimate)

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

Table of Contents

I. Vision.............................................................................................................2

II. Mission...........................................................................................................2

III. Guiding Principles .........................................................................................2

IV. Goals for Program Improvement ...................................................................3

V. Targeted Improvement Projects.....................................................................4

VI. Budget/Spend Plans.......................................................................................9
2

I. Vision

Maine Adult Protective Services Vision:

We promote individual dignity through respect, choice, and support for all incapacitated and 

dependent adults. 

II. Maine Adult Protective Services Mission:

To promote the highest level of independence, health, and safety for older adults and adults with 

disabilities throughout Maine and act in accordance with the Adult Protective Services Act’s

authorizations (22 M.R.S. ch. 958-A, sec. 3473):

• Protect incapacitated and dependent adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation and 

protect incapacitated and dependent adults in circumstances that present a substantial 

risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation

• Prevent abuse, neglect, or exploitation of incapacitated and dependent adults

• Enhance the welfare of these incapacitated and dependent adults; and

• Promote self-care wherever possible. 

III. Guiding Principles

• Respect

Treat everyone with dignity.

Respect clients’ autonomy and self-determination.

Respect clients’ values and beliefs.

• Care

Promote client welfare and safety, balancing clients’ right to self-determination 

the duty to protect and advocate.

• Integrity

Demonstrate professional ethics, competence, and honesty in daily work.

• Collaboration

Partner with other organizations and natural supports to maximize likelihood of 

successful outcomes for clients to the greatest extent possible.
3

IV. Goals for Program Improvement

Based on the results of the environmental scan, Maine APS’s goals for program improvement 

are:

1. Identify and address service and resource gaps that impact client safety. 

− Improve client outcomes consistent with clients’ values, beliefs, and preferences, 

to the greatest extent possible.

2. Enhance APS’s ability to protect and support clients by identifying and instituting

strategies to address growing case volumes, growing case complexities, and process 

efficiencies.

− Focus on adaptability.

3. Continually assess program impact and areas for improvement through data review, 

analysis, and reporting.

− Make data-informed decisions to maintain consistent, accurate, and equitable 

processes. 

4. Enhance public awareness of the APS program to encourage timely reporting among 

community members and professionals.

− Build greater community-level understanding of abuse, neglect, and exploitation 

of older adults and adults with disabilities.
4

V. Targeted Improvement Projects

Based on the goals identified in Section V above, the American Rescue Plan Act funds will be 

distributed in the areas outlined in the below summary table. 

The detailed improvement projects table follows on Page 7.

Targeted Improvement Projects Summary

Goals – Projects ARPA 1 ARPA 2 TOTAL

Goal 1: Client Safety/Needs $580,450 $864,715 $1,445,165

Goal 2: Staff/Program Needs $65,000 $333,835 $399,835

Goal 3: Program Evaluation $ - $110,000 $110,000

Goal 4: Program Awareness $ - $40,000 $40,000

Total $645,450 $1,349,550 $1,995,000
5

Targeted Improvement Projects Detail

Needs 

to be 

filled by 

ARPA 

Funds

Inputs –

Resources 

Deployed

Activities 

–

Improve

ment 

Projects

Outputs from 

Investment Short-Term Outcomes Long-Term Outcomes

Identify 

and 

address 

service 

and 

resource 

gaps 

that 

impact 

client 

safety

$250,000

Procurement 

process/contra

ct

Development 

of process and 

procedure 

documents; 

staff 

communicatio

ns

ARPA 1 

Project 1

Elder 

Advocate 

Connectio

n/Service 

Navigator 

Program –

“warm 

hand off” 

to 

advocate 

for 

continued 

support

Estimated 20 new 

advocate-client 

connections per 

month

Cases transferred for 

ongoing/continued 

support and follow 

through (APS caseloads 

more manageable) 

Clients receive support 

previously unavailable

Reduced rates of client 

recidivism (decreased 

likelihood of returning 

to crisis) 

Increased percentage of 

service-connected 

clients and clients 

receiving appropriate 

level of care/supports

Identify 

and 

address 

service 

and 

resource 

gaps 

that 

impact 

client

safety

$330,450

Procurement 

process/ 

Controller 

approvals

Development 

of process and 

procedure 

documents; 

staff 

communicatio

ns

ARPA 1 

Project 2

Direct 

Goods and 

Services 

Pilot –

procureme

nt card 

purchases 

for clients 

to address 

emergenc

y needs

Procurement card 

purchases directly 

on behalf of 

clients (e.g., 

transportation, 

short-term 

housing, food, 

medication, home 

repair/cleaning)

Additional time to 

devote to client-focused 

activities and 

interactions (previously 

spent on searching for 

emergency resources)

Improved staff morale 

knowing clients are 

receiving support 

previously unavailable

Enhanced client safety 

and stability

Increased likelihood of 

clients able to remain inhome or receive in-home 

supports

Data available to help 

identify resource gaps

Institute 

strategie

s to 

address 

growing 

case 

volumes

, 

growing 

case 

complex

ities, 

and 

process 

$10,000

Staff time 

ARPA 1 

Project 3

Conferenc

e and 

training 

participati

on

Attendance at 

statewide 

conferences by 

staff at all levels 

of APS 

organization

Identify training areas 

Staff skill building and 

continuing education

Network with 

community service 

providers to increase 

collaboration on 

investigations

Develop greater subject 

matter expertise in APS 

topic areas

Enhanced relationships 

with community 

providers resulting in 

greater collaboration to 

support clients during 

investigations
6

efficien

cies

Institute 

strategie

s to 

address 

growing 

case 

volumes

, 

growing 

case 

complex

ities, 

and 

process 

efficien

cies

$55,000

Procurement 

process/contra

ct

Training time

ARPA 1 

Project 4

Temp/cont

ract 

staffing 

support

Temp/contract 

staffing support

Address surge capacity 

challenges with 

additional support

Minimize case closure 

backlogs

Additional time to 

devote to client-focused 

activities and 

interactions

Improved caseload 

management practices 

Increased timeliness on 

investigations to 

promote client safety

Identify 

and 

address 

service 

and 

resource 

gaps 

that 

impact 

client 

safety

$520,000

Procurement 

process/contra

ct

ARPA 2 

Project 1

Elder 

Advocate 

Connectio

n Program 

– /Service 

Navigator 

Program

“warm 

hand off” 

to 

advocate 

for 

continued 

support

Estimated 20 new 

advocate-client 

connections per 

month

Cases transferred for 

ongoing/continued 

support and follow 

through (APS caseloads 

more manageable) 

Clients receive support 

previously unavailable

Reduced rates of client 

recidivism (decreased 

likelihood of returning 

to crisis) 

Increased percentage of 

service-connected 

clients and clients 

receiving appropriate 

level of care/supports

Identify 

and 

address 

service 

and 

resource 

gaps 

that 

impact 

client 

safety

$344,715

Ongoing 

program 

evaluation/ana

lysis

ARPA 2 

Project 2

Direct 

Goods and 

Services 

Pilot –

procureme

nt card 

purchases 

for clients 

to address 

emergenc

y needs

Procurement card 

purchases directly 

on behalf of 

clients (e.g., 

transportation, 

short-term 

housing, food, 

medication, home 

repair/cleaning)

Additional time to 

devote to client-focused 

activities and 

interactions (previously 

spent on searching for 

emergency resources)

Improved staff morale 

knowing clients are 

receiving support 

previously unavailable

Enhanced client safety 

and stability

Increased likelihood of 

clients able to remain inhome or receive in-home 

supports

Data available to help 

identify resource gaps
7

Institute 

strategie

s to 

address 

growing 

case 

volumes

, 

growing 

case 

complex

ities, 

and 

process 

efficien

cies.

$141,835

Training and 

policy 

development

ARPA 2 

Project 3

Technolog

y 

Enhancem

ents

Tablets for all 

APS investigators 

and supervisors 

and corresponding 

data plan

ScanWriter 

software and 

annual license(s)

Increased efficiency and 

flexibility with ability to 

enter case notes in the 

field; additional time 

available to commit to 

client-centered activities

Reduce staff time 

manually reviewing 

financial records; 

increase efficiency

Improved timeliness 

entering case 

notes/managing 

caseloads; greater 

amount of time available 

to commit to clientcentered activities

Thorough record 

reviews that enhance 

coordination with law 

enforcement/prosecutors 

in cases involving 

financial exploitation of 

clients

Institute 

strategie

s to 

address 

growing 

case 

volumes

, 

growing 

case 

complex

ities, 

and 

process 

efficien

cies.

$30,000

Staff time

ARPA 2 

Project 4

Conferenc

e and 

training 

participati

on

Training 

developm

ent

Conferenc

e 

organizati

on

Attendance at 

statewide, 

regional, and 

national 

conferences by 

staff at all levels 

of APS 

organization

Organization of 

statewide/regional 

conference 

Staff training 

development with 

subject matter 

experts

Identify training areas

Staff skill building

Develop greater subject 

matter expertise in APS 

topic areas to enhance

protective services to 

clients 

Institute 

strategie

s to 

address 

growing 

case 

volumes

, 

growing 

case 

complex

ities, 

and 

process 

efficien

cies.

$163,000

Procurement 

process/contra

ct

Training time

ARPA 2 

Project 5

Temp/cont

ract 

staffing 

support

Temp/contract 

staffing support

Address surge capacity 

challenges with 

additional support

Minimize case closure 

backlogs

Additional time to 

devote to client-focused 

activities and 

interactions

Improved caseload 

management practices 

Increased timeliness on 

investigations to 

promote client safety
8

Continu

ally 

assess 

program 

impact 

and 

areas for 

improve

ment 

through 

data 

review, 

analysis, 

and 

reportin

g

$110,000

Procurement 

process

Meetings/train

ing time

ARPA 2 

Project 6

Research/ 

Formative 

Evaluation

s (e.g., 

Structured 

DecisionMaking 

Case 

Readings 

and 

Continuin

g 

Training)

Case Reading 

report and training 

session materials

Formative 

evaluation 

report(s)/Annual 

Program Data 

Report

Identify areas for 

improvement in 

consistency and 

accuracy in assessment 

tools, initiatives, and 

strategies for 

implementation

Improved consistency, 

efficiency, accuracy, and 

equity in Intake and 

Safety Structured 

Decision-Making

assessments

Enhanced accountability

and transparency to the 

public and greater public 

awareness of program 

impact

Enhance 

public 

awarene

ss of the 

APS 

program 

to 

encoura

ge 

timely 

reportin

g among 

commu

nity 

member

s and 

professi

onals.

$40,000

Procurement/c

ontracting 

process

ARPA 2 

Project 7

Public 

Service 

Announce

ment 

Campaign 

–

Outreach

Enhanced 

online 

mandated 

reporter 

training

Traditional and 

Social Media buys

Printed 

promotional 

materials

Greater awareness 

among members of the 

public regarding abuse, 

neglect, exploitation; 

greater public 

understanding of APS 

programs and activities; 

increased public 

confidence in program

Increased awareness of 

APS program; earlier 

intervention to protect 

clients from abuse and 

neglect 
9

VI. Budget/Spend Plans

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

Elder 

Advocate/Servic

e Navigator

Program

$62,500 $62,500 $62,500 $62,500 $250,000

Project 2

Direct Goods 

and Services

Pilot

$ - $110,150 $110,150 $110,150 $330,450

Project 3 Training/Confere

nce Attendance

$ - $5,000 $2,500 $2,500 $10,000

Project 4 Temp/Contract 

Staffing Support $ - $18,333 $18,333 $18,334 $55,000

Total $62,500 $195,983 $193,483 $193,484 $645,450

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

Elder 

Advocate/Service 

Navigator 

Program $130,000 $130,000 $130,000 $130,000 $520,000

Project 2

Direct Goods and 

Services Pilot $86,178.75 $86,178.75 $86,178.75 $86,178.75 $344,715

Project 3

Technology 

Enhancement $77,535 $21,434 $21,433 $21,433 $141,835

Project 4

Trainings/Confer

ences $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $30,000

Project 5

Temp/Contract 

Staffing Support $43,000 $40,000 $40,000 $40,000 $163,000

Project 6

Data 

Analysis/Reporti

ng $45,000 $35,000 $15,000 $15,000 $110,000

Project 7 Public Awareness $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $40,000

Total $399,213.75 $330,111.75 $310,111.75 $310,111.75 $1,349,550

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 $62,500 $195,983 $592,697 $523,596 $310,112 $310,112 $1,995,000