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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Minnesota Adult Protective Services

ARPA Formula Grant Operational Plan
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

About Minnesota’s plan

Contact 

Mary McGurran, LSW, Adult Protection Supervisor, mary.mcgurran@state.mn.us

Budget allocation 

• ARPA 1 $1,376,357 (NOA 8.3.21)

• ARPA 2 $2,877,779 (estimate FFY22)

• Budget allocation estimated total of 4,254,136

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

Date submitted 

March 21, 2022 
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

A new direction for Minnesota’s Adult Protective Services

The following vision, mission, and core operating principles were developed by an eightmember Vision Team composed of county Adult Protective Services (APS) professionals and 

state program administrators. They were refined based on survey feedback from over 200 

community and institutional stakeholders and focus group feedback from six special interest 

groups including Minnesota American Indian tribal health and human services leadership, 

Diverse Elders Coalition, Minnesota Council on Disability, Minnesota Elder Justice Center, 

Minnesota Board on Aging, and the DHS Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council. 

Vision 

Minnesota’s Adult Protective Services exists so that all adults who are vulnerable to abuse, 

neglect, or exploitation are supported to live in safety and dignity, consistent with their own 

culture, values, and goals, and so people concerned about them have resources for support. 

Mission 

Adults who are vulnerable and those who support them receive the assistance they need to 

identify, prevent, report, stop, and minimize the risk for abuse, neglect, and exploitation 

through tribal, state, and county partnerships. 

Core principles guiding our work 

Sometimes adults need support 

Adult Protective Services engages adults who are vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and 

exploitation and those who support them using trauma-informed, culturally appropriate, and 

person-centered approaches in assessment, investigation, safety planning, and service 

intervention. 

Choice and values are balanced with safety 

Respect for the cultural identity and dignity of all involved guides protective services while we 

balance the choices and values of the person who is vulnerable with support for them to be 

safe from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. 

Focus on outcomes 

Tribal, state, and county partners commit to continuously improve the adult protection system 

and services, remove barriers, eliminate disparities, and focus on outcomes of safety and 

dignity for the adult who is vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and exploitation. 
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Goals for program improvement 

Armed with an abundance of information generated from community and institutional 

stakeholders and qualified researchers, the new vision, mission, and core operating principles, 

and the list of what they determined were the most significant challenges, the Vision Team 

developed the following goals for program improvement and the significant challenges they 

plan to have an impact on. 

Goal 1. Adults who are vulnerable to maltreatment and referred to APS have equitable access to 

protective services. 

• Racial and ethnic groups are screened out more frequently than white people.

• County discretionary decisions may pose a risk to objective and equitable APS decisionmaking.

• Services are not equitably accessible among all disability types.

• County of residence impacts screen-out rates.

• Screening and intake lack consistency.

Goal 2. Adults who are vulnerable to maltreatment and referred to APS experience personcentered, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed assessment, services, and supports to 

reduce risk and recover from maltreatment. 

• The system is not culturally responsive.

• Stakeholders don’t understand reporting system.

• The VAA isn’t focused on prevention.

Goal 3. Tribal nations are supported in development of agreements with the state to assume 

administration of adult protection program duties. 

• Racial and ethnic groups are screened out more frequently than white people.

• County discretionary decisions may pose a risk to objective and equitable APS decisionmaking.

Goal 4. APS workers across the state have equitable access to resources to meet client needs to 

reduce risk for adults who are vulnerable to maltreatment. 

• Adult protection is under-resourced, resulting in funding inequities.

• County discretionary decisions may pose a risk to objective and equitable APS decisionmaking.

• County of residence impacts screen-out rates.

Goal 5. Tribal, state, and county partnerships in program management and evaluation of 

outcomes for adults who are vulnerable are enhanced. 

• There are not enough options for resolving reports of maltreatment.
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

• Data and good measures don’t drive continuous improvement efforts.

• Data sharing restrictions hinder collaboration and trust-building, but privacy is also

important.
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Targeted improvement projects 

Having identified these five overarching system goals, state program administrators identified targeted improvement 

projects feasible because of ARPA funding. The following are the targeted improvement projects. 

Goal Inputs (Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term 

Outcomes

Goal #1

Adults who 

are 

vulnerable to 

maltreatment 

and referred 

to APS have 

equitable 

access to 

protective 

services.

1. $200,000 Racial

and cultural

equity

1. Statewide

community

listening tour in

three areas of

the state for six

different racial,

ethnic, and

disability

communities

underrepresented

in APS referrals

or service

acceptance.

1. Report on needs,

priorities,

barriers, and

recommendations

from

communities to

improve equity

and cultural

competence in

APS.

1. Increased

awareness by

state and

partners on

needs and

priorities for APS

program

administration in

underrepresented

communities.

1. APS policy,

services, and

public awareness

are more

culturally

appropriate and

reflect service

needs and

approaches

recommended by

underrepresented

communities. The

state sees equal

percentages of

vulnerable adults

with different

characteristics

referred to APS

being accepted

for APS.
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Goal Inputs (Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term 

Outcomes

2. $110,000 Clarify

APS role in the

Social Services

continuum

2. Stakeholder

engagement and

policy analysis

for when there

is a case

manager,

hospital, or

another service

provider or

support

involved.

2. Process map,

policy, and

training tools are

developed for

APS roles and

integrated into

APS training,

manuals, and

screening

practices.

2. APS and

stakeholders

have improved

clarity on APS

roles. APS has

improved policies

to support

screening

decisions.

2. The reporting

system reflects

the needs of

underrepresented

communities. The

state sees 20

percentage

points fewer

vulnerable adults

meeting policy

criteria being

screened out for

APS based on a

county-based

discretionary

decision. (From

59% to 39%).
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Goal Inputs (Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term 

Outcomes

3. $560,000 Improve

the reporting

system

4. $100,000

Mandated

reporter training

3. Analyze and

enhance the webbased technology

to reduce

inefficiencies in

the reporting

process and

improve reporters’

data entry.

4.Develop new

training module

for mandated

reporters on how

to identify and

report vulnerable

adults

experiencing

maltreatment and

understand what

to expect from

APS.

3. Simplified, more

efficient, userfriendly reporting

form for ease of

reporters.

4. Training modules

for mandated

reporters are

available to

reporters.

3. The web

reporting system

is available to the

public with

improved

accessibility and

translation

capability. This

improves

information

provided for APS

intake.

4. Mandated

reporters have

improved

guidance for

identifying and

reporting

suspected

vulnerable adult

maltreatment

for APS referral.

3. 30% increase in

reports made

electronically to

improve access

and manage

costs. More

equitable

vulnerable adult

service outcomes

as APS referrals

contain robust

report data for

intake decisions.

4. Vulnerable adults

in need of APS

are referred to

APS. Report

information

entries support

APS intake and

service decisions.
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Goal Inputs (Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term 

Outcomes

Goal #2

Adults who 

are 

vulnerable to 

maltreatment 

and referred 

to APS 

experience 

personcentered, 

culturally 

appropriate, 

and traumainformed 

assessment, 

services, and 

supports to 

reduce risk 

and recover 

from 

maltreatment.

1. $350,136 APS

Training

1. Implement use

of statewide LMS

for APS. Develop

e-learning on

balancing

honoring choices

with

interventions to

keep the person

safe from

maltreatment.

1. LMS for APS is

activated. Elearning

developed

through CRRSA

and new module

on choice and

safety are

available through

the LMS.

1. APS workers in

counties and

tribal nations

have access and

receive training

to support

service outcomes

that align with

policy. The state,

counties, and

tribes could track

compliance with

training

requirements.

1. 85% of APS

workers are

compliant with

training

requirements

and are better

trained to

understand

policy and

services

outcomes, and

have tools to

engage

vulnerable adults

in personcentered,

culturally

appropriate

services.
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Goal Inputs (Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term 

Outcomes

2. $900,000 APS

Service Grants

2. County and tribal

APS programs

are supported to

apply for and

expend grant

funds for personcentered,

culturally

appropriate

housing, goods,

and services for

APS clients.

2. APS has supports

from the state to

apply for and

expend grants

for vulnerable

adults’ service

needs.

2. More vulnerable

adults receive

services to stop,

reduce risk, and

prevent

maltreatment

reoccurrence.

2. APS accepts

more vulnerable

adults referred

who meet policy

criteria because

they have

effective

partnerships to

offer personcentered,

culturally

appropriate

service

interventions.

More vulnerable

adults are safe

from

maltreatment

following APS

service

interventions.
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Goal Inputs (Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term 

Outcomes

Goal #3

Tribal nations 

are supported 

in 

development 

of 

agreements 

with the state 

to assume 

administration 

of adult 

protection 

program 

duties.

500,000 Tribal 

Nations Program 

Development

Tribal Nations who 

want to assume 

administration or 

improve APS 

programs receive 

support to meet 

their goals.

Tribal Nations are 

supported to 

develop or improve

APS programs 

including code, 

manuals, training, 

services, system and 

infrastructure 

development.

Tribal Nations are 

supported in APS 

program 

development or 

improvements for

culturally responsive 

services for tribal 

elders and members 

with disabilities.

Tribal Nations 

choosing to

administer APS 

programs have 

contractual 

agreements with the 

state for program 

operation and are 

eligible for state and 

federal APS funding 

when available.
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Goal Inputs (Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term 

Outcomes

Goal #4

APS workers 

across the 

state have 

equitable 

access to 

resources to 

meet needs 

to reduce 

risks for 

adults who 

are 

vulnerable to 

maltreatment.

$150,000 APS 

Resource Needs 

Evaluation

Evaluate APS 

program 

administration needs 

for counties and 

tribal nations.

Budget estimates 

are developed for 

APS program 

administration needs 

at the state and 

local levels.

State, county, and 

tribal partners and 

policy makers are 

aware of what 

resources are 

needed to 

accomplish the APS 

mission and vision.

More vulnerable 

adults meeting the 

policy criteria for 

APS are accepted. 

Statewide 

consistency and 

equity in outcomes 

for vulnerable adults 

are realized as the 

state, counties, and 

tribal nations 

receive funding and 

technical assistance 

to accomplish the 

mission and vision. 
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Goal Inputs (Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term 

Outcomes

Goal #5

Tribal, state,

and county 

partnerships 

for program 

management 

and 

evaluation of 

outcomes for 

adults who 

are 

vulnerable to 

maltreatment 

are 

enhanced.

1. $150,000 Quality

Assurance

2. $523,357

Enhance the

Social Services

Information

System (SSIS)

1. Develop best

practices, analyze

data, and engage

stakeholders to

develop quality

assurance

measures for

intake,

assessment, and

service outcomes

for vulnerable

adults.

2. Improve the

Vulnerable Adult

module in SSIS.

Enhance the

state’s case-level

data submission

to the National

Maltreatment

Reporting System

(NAMRS).

1. Report with

recommendations

for new quality

assurance

measures to

monitor program

improvements in

statewide

consistency,

equity, and

service outcomes.

2. Improved worker

experience. Tribal

Nations who

choose to

participate are

included in the

state’s NAMRS

report.

1. Improved

alignment

between policy

and program

administration

on outcomes for

vulnerable

adults. The state

and its partners

are aligned in

benchmarks to

measure

program quality

in service

outcomes.

2. Vulnerable adult

module in SSIS

better aligns

with policy

goals. Reduced

pain points and

improved SSIS

data.

1. More adults from

all communities

and from all

racial and

disability groups

across the state

experience

outcomes of

safety and

dignity as a result

of improved

alignment

between DHS

and APS program

administrators.

2. Improved

alignment

between policy

and program

administration.

The state and its

partners have

more accurate

data for program

improvements
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Goal Inputs (Resources 

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term 

Outcomes

3. $200,000 Public

Awareness

3. Develop a public

awareness

campaign

approach that is

consistent with

culturally

appropriate,

person-centered

messaging.

3. Improved

awareness for the

public on

vulnerable adult

maltreatment

reporting.

3. Improved

understanding

by the

community

about who is a

vulnerable adult

and what is

maltreatment.

and for national 

reporting.

3. Public awareness

messages are

culturally

appropriate and

align with policy

and

recommendations

from

underrepresented

communities.

Vulnerable adults

in need of

protective

services are

referred to APS

and offered

services to stop,

reduce risk, and

prevent

maltreatment.
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Budget/spending plan for ARPA funds 

First Grant Allocation: August 2021 - September 2023, $1,376,357

Project Description 2022 

Period 1

2022 

Period 2

2023 

Period 1

2023 

Period 2

Total

Project 1 Statewide Community Listening Tour blank blank $50,000 $150,000 $200,000

Project 2 Systems Enhancement blank blank 45,000 51,357 96,357

Project 3 Training Mandated Reporter blank blank 50,000 50,000 100,000

Project 4 Policy Guidance for Role of APS in 

Social Service Continuum Modification

blank blank 50,000 60,000 110,000

Project 5 APS Resource Need Evaluation blank 50,000 50,000 50,000 150,000

Project 6 Improved web reporting system blank blank 200,000 90,000 290,000

Project 7 Tribal Nations APS Development blank blank 100,000 100,000 200,000

Project 8 Administration and Evaluation blank blank 115,000 115,000 230,000

Total blank blank 50,000 660,000 666,357 1,376,357
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DHS Adult Protection Unit

Second Grant Allocation: August 2022 - September 2024, $2,877,136 

Project Description 2023 

Period 1

2023

Period 

2

2024 

Period 1

2024 

Period 2

Total

Project 1 Tribal Nations APS Program 

Development (Tribal Nations in SSIS) 

$100,000 $100,000 $50,000 $50,000 $300,000

Project 2 APS partnerships and technical 

support for culturally and racially 

appropriate service interventions

230,000 230,000 230,000 210,000 900,000

Project 3 Public Awareness 100,000 50,000 50,000 blank 200,000

Project 4 APS Training 90,000 90,000 90,000 80,136 350,136

Project 5 Improve web reporting system 200,000 25,000 25,000 20,000 270,000

Project 6 Quality Assurance Intake and 

Assessment Outcome Benchmark 

Report 

100,000 50,000 blank blank 150,000

Project 7 System enhancements and tribal 

NAMRS reporting

106,750 106,750 106,750 106,750 427,000

Project 8 Administration and Evaluation 70,000 70,000 70,000 70,000 280,000

Total blank 996,750 721,750 621,750 536,886 2,877,136