APS Program Operational Plan: North Dakota 

State/Territory/District North Dakota 

Contact Michelle Gayette 

Budget Allocation $1,995,000 

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

August 2021 – September 2023 

$645,450 

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 - Proposed Grant 2 

August 2022 – September 2024 

$1,349,550 

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. 

We imagine a North Dakota where people have 

access to quality and effective person-centered 

services that promote safety and independence and 

improve lives. 

Page 1 
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 asto 

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. 

North Dakota Vulnerable Adult Protective Services 

(VAPS) addresses the safety of vulnerable adults who 

are at-risk of harm due to the presence or threat of 

abuse, neglect, or exploitation through short-term 

support. VAPS links adults to eligible services to 

minimize risk while advocating for the person’s right to 

self-determination and to live in the most integrated 

setting. 
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. 

• Teamwork and Collaboration – work together

as a team and with our state and community

partners for the best outcome for adults we serve

• Self-Determination – remember adults have the

right to make decisions about their lives

• Dignity and respect – treat each adult

experiencing abuse, neglect or exploitation

(ANE) with dignity and respect

• Safety – every adult has a right to be safe

• All-inclusive and non-biased – all services will

be offered to each adult without bias
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. 

Goals of Vulnerable Adult Protective Services 

• Protect vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

• Prevent abuse, neglect or exploitation of vulnerable adults through

education and community partnerships.

• Help vulnerable adults continue to live in their own homes and

communities as long as possible through connections with in-home

and community-based services.

• Advocate and educate for the right of self-determination for vulnerable

adults and help them connect to services of choice.
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 isthisimprovement 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.
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 6 

Purpose/Need 

s to be filled 

by ARPA 

Funds 

Inputs(Resources 

Deployed) 

Activities Outputsfrom 

Investment 

Short-Term Outcomes Long-Term Outcomes 

Some 

individuals 

served by 

APS are not 

eligible for 

existing state 

or federally 

$137,550 

Funds may be 

used for 

cleaning 

hoarded homes 

to allow service

ARPA 1 

Project 1 

Provide 

Goods and 

Services to 

allow individuals 

We estimate 30 

vulnerable adults 

will receive 

goods and 

services to assist 

them to remain in 

their home 

Funding in place 

for emergency 

interventions 

Vulnerable adults will 

continue to live independently 

and remain safe in their 

chosen home environment. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 7 

funded 

programs 

or are 

awaiting 

approval, 

have 

exhausted 

existing 

funds 

provision, 

medical 

transportation, 

emergent 

housing issues, 

supervision for 

older adults, 

purchase of 

goods and 

services to allow 

an individual to 

remain in their 

chosen home 

environment, 

personal cares 

in shelter 

settings, etc. 

to remain in 

their home 

(Continuation 

of COVID 

funded project) 

High 

caseloads 

and 

increased 

workload 

$195,000 

$30,000 to 

continue to fund 

an existing staff 

member 

from .75 FTE to 

1 FTE. 

$165,000 to 

hire a staff 

member to 

assist in 

Regions 7 and 

8. 

ARPA 1 

Project 2 

Increase 

staffing 

numbers to 

reduce 

caseloads 

and workloads 

Decrease 

caseloads per 

worker by and 

estimated 15% 

and reduce 

documentation 

time by an 

estimated 15% 

All workers will meet 

30-day

documentation

deadline and new

staff are hired by

March 30, 2022.

Paperwork (case notes, 

face to face documentation, 

etc) will remain up-to-date, 

and caseloads per individual 

staff will be reduced. 

Providing a higher level of 

care to vulnerable adults. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 8 

Lack of 

Resources 

for tribal 

case 

management 

$90,000 

$90,000 to hire 

a PT Tribal 

Case Manager 

for designated 

tribal areas. 

ARPA 1 

Project 3 

Tribal Case 

Management 

Hire tribal 

liaisons for the 

two tribes 

served by APS 

in ND (Spirit 

Lake and Turtle 

Mountain). 

Tribes have 

increased 

knowledge of 

APS and there is 

an estimated 10% 

increase in 

reports from the 

two reservations 

covered by ND 

APS. 

Establishing a tribal 

liaison will help to 

develop strong 

working 

relationships with 

Spirit Lake and 

Turtle Mountain 

Providing a higher level of 

care and case coordination 

to vulnerable adults on the 

identified reservations. 

Complex 

cases and 

lack of 

resources 

$45,000 

$30,000 to 

continue to 

send regional 

staff to the 

NAPSA 

conference and 

to continue 

membership for 

all staff. 

$15,000 to seek 

online training 

for staff 

members. 

ARPA 1 

Project 4 

Staff Training 

100% of staff will 

attend training 

sessions 

Staff will have 

increased 

knowledge of 

national APS trends 

and increased 

connection with 

other APS staff. 

Increased knowledge on 

practices and ability to 

provide higher level of care 

and case coordination. 

Field staff 

need smart 

phones for 

greater 

safety and 

$12,900 

$12,900 to 

cover costs of 

smart 

ARPA 1 

Project 5 

100% of remote 

investigative staff 

have access to 

smart phones 

Investigative staff 

will have access to 

smart phones 

Greater safety for 

investigators, access to 

resources in the field, and 

more responsive services 

for vulnerable adults. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 9 

responsiven

e ss 

phones for 

remote work. 

Technology – 

Smart Phones 

(Continuation 

of COVID 

funded project) 

High 

caseloads 

and 

increased 

workload 

$165,000 

Redirected 

funds from doing 

Operational 

Plan Internally 

rather than 

outsourcing 

ARPA 1 

Project 6 

Staffing 

$165,000 to 

hire a staff 

member to 

assist in 

Regions 3 and 

4. 

Decrease 

caseloads per 

worker by an 

estimated 15% 

and reduce 

documentation 

time by an 

estimated 15%. 

All workers will meet 

30-day

documentation

deadline and new

staff are hired by

March 30, 2022.

Paperwork (case notes, 

face to face documentation, 

etc) will remain up-to-date, 

and caseloads will be 

reduced. Providing a higher 

level of care to vulnerable 

adults. 

High 

caseloads 

and 

increased 

workload 

$360,000 

• $30,000 to

continue to

fund an

existing staff

member 

from .75 FTE 

to 1 FTE.

• $165,000 to

support new

staff member

to assist in

Regions 7

and 8.

ARPA 2 

Project 1 

Continued 

funding for 

positions in 

Regions 7 & 8 

($165,000), 3 

& 4 ($165,000), 

and existing .75 

FTE to 1 FTE 

($30,000). 

Positions 

started in 

COVID, and 

ARPA 1 

Decrease 

caseloads per 

worker by an 

estimated 15% 

and reduce 

documentation 

time by an 

estimated 15% 

All workers will meet 

30-day

documentation

deadline and

services will be

offered sooner.

Paperwork (case notes, 

face to face documentation, 

etc) will remain up-to-date, 

and caseloads will be 

reduced. Providing a higher 

level of care to vulnerable 

adults. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 10 

• $165,000 to

support new

staff member

to assist in

Regions 3

and 4.

Projects 2 

and 6. 

Insufficient 

time to 

manage 

complex 

cases 

$330,000 

Hire a nurse 

and quality 

assurance/ 

technical 

assistance staff 

member. 

ARPA 2 

Project 2 

Staffing for 

complex cases 

• $165,000 to

hire a nurse

to assist with

complex

medical

cases.

• $165,000 to

hire a

QA/technical

assistance

staff members 

to aid in 

creating a 

robust QA

system to

develop

consistency

statewide.

Increase 

response time for 

complex cases by 

an estimated 

10%. 

Workers will be able 

to rely on a nurse’s 

medical experience 

to assist with 

complex cases. QA 

will be more robust 

and in line with 

national standards. 

Consistency in documentation 

and timeliness of 

documentation through QA. 

Providing a higher level of 

care to vulnerable adults. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 11 

Lack of safe 

beds for 

vulnerable 

adults 

(safe beds = 

emergency 

placement) 

$140,000 

Initial funding to 

contract with 

providers to 

arrange safe 

beds for 

vulnerable 

adults 

ARPA 2 

Project 3 

Safe beds for 

vulnerable 

adults. Partner 

with community 

agency to 

arrange safe 

beds for 

vulnerable 

adults across 

the state. 

Reduce nursing 

home 

placement by 

an estimated 

10% by utilizing 

safe beds until 

services can be 

arranged in the 

adult’s home. 

Workers will have 

access to safe beds 

to assist an 

individual who 

cannot remain in 

their own home due 

to safety concerns 

and require cares 

that make them 

ineligible for other 

housing options. 

Reduce reliance on skilled 

nursing facilities as a longterm placement option and 

offer a short-term alternative to 

individuals so they can remain 

in the most integrated setting. 

Limited 

prosecution 

of 

perpetrators

/ legal limits 

$136,650 

• Funding to

continue

forensic

accounting

contract

• Training Law

Enforcement

on financial

exploitation

and other

ANE

ARPA 2 

Project 4 

Extend contract 

with current 

provider to 

continue 

forensic 

accounting 

services that 

will enable 

workers to 

better partner 

with law 

enforcement/ 

prosecutors 

and bring more 

cases to court. 

Enhance 

education 

efforts for law 

Increase number 

of cases accepted 

for prosecution by 

an estimated 10%. 

Increase training 

for law 

enforcement and 

prosecution by 

offering and 

seeking to 

conduct two 

trainings per 

region per year. 

Workers will receive 

education on 

forensic accounting 

and have access to 

experts who can 

review cases and 

develop files that will 

be better accepted 

and actionable by 

law enforcement/ 

prosecution. 

Trainings offered to 

Law Enforcement 

and Prosecution will 

increase knowledge 

on APS, reporting, 

and efforts to 

remediate financial 

exploitation and 

other ANE. 

Addressing financial 

exploitation and other ANE by 

providing education to those 

in legal professions benefits 

and protects vulnerable 

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

enforcement 

and 

prosecutors on 

all ANE 

Complex 

cases and 

lack of 

resources 

$200,000 to 

add staff/funds 

to contracts in 

Regions 2 and 6 

ARPA 2 

Project 5 

$180,000 to hire 

a staff member to 

assist in Region 

2. 

$20,000 to add 

funds to an 

existing contract 

to retain trained 

staff. 

Decrease 

caseloads per 

worker by an 

estimated 15% 

and reduce 

documentation 

time by an 

estimated 15% 

All workers will meet 

30-day

documentation

deadline and

services will be

offered sooner.

Paperwork (case notes, 

face to face documentation, 

etc) will remain up-to-date, 

and caseloads will be 

reduced. Providing a higher 

level of care to vulnerable 

adults. 

Lack of 

Resources 

for tribal 

case 

management 

$90,000 

$90,000 to 

continue fund 

the PT Tribal 

Case Manager 

for designated 

tribal areas. 

(Continuation of 

pilot project 

from ARPA 1, 

Project 3) 

ARPA 2 

Project 6 

Tribal Case 

Management. 

Hire tribal 

liaisons for the 

two tribes 

served by APS 

in ND (Spirit 

Lake and Turtle 

Mountain). 

Tribes have 

increased 

knowledge of 

APS and there is 

a an estimated 

10% increase in 

reports from the 

two reservations. 

Establishing a tribal 

liaison will help to 

develop strong 

working 

relationships with 

Spirit Lake and 

Turtle Mountain 

Providing a higher level of 

care and case coordination 

to vulnerable adults on the 

identified reservations. 

Some 

individuals 

served by 

APS are not 

eligible for 

$80,000 for 

emergency 

funds 

ARPA 2 

Project 7 

Provide Goods 

and Services to 

We estimate 15 

vulnerable adults 

will receive goods 

and services to 

assist them to 

Funding in place 

for emergency 

interventions 

Vulnerable adults will 

continue to live independently 

and remain safe in their 

chosen home environment. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 13 

existing state 

or federally 

funded 

programs or 

are awaiting 

approval, 

have 

exhausted 

existing 

funds 

Funds may be 

used for 

cleaning 

hoarded homes 

to allow service 

provision, 

medical 

transportation, 

emergent 

housing issues, 

supervision for 

older adults, 

purchase of 

goods and 

services to allow 

an individual to 

remain in their 

chosen home 

environment, 

personal cares 

in shelter 

settings, etc. 

allow individuals 

to remain in 

their home 

(Continuation of 

COVID and 

ARPA 1 Project 

1 funded 

projects) 

remain in 

their home. 

Field staff 

need smart 

phones for 

greater 

safety and 

responsiveness 

$12,900 

$12,900 to 

cover costs of 

smart phones 

for remote work. 

ARPA 2 

Project 8 

Technology – 

Smart Phones 

(Continuation 

of COVID and 

ARPA 1 Project 

5 funded 

project) 

100% of remote 

investigative staff 

have access to 

smart phones 

Investigative staff 

will have access to 

smart phones 

Greater safety for 

investigators, access to 

resources in the field, and 

more responsive services 

for vulnerable adults 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 14 

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 

Description 2022 

Period 1 

2022 

Period 2 

2023 

Period 1 

2023 

Period 2 Total 

Project 1 

Goods and 

services to 

vulnerable 

adults 

(emergenc

y funds) $34,389 $34,387 $34,387 $34,387 $137,550 

Project 2 Staffing $48,750 $48,750 $48,750 $48,750 $195,000 

Project 3 

Tribal Case 

Manager $22,500 $22,500 $22,500 $22,500 $90,000 

Project 4 Training $11,250 $11,250 $11,250 $11,250 $45,000 

Project 5 

Technology for 

remote work $3,225 $3,225 $3,225 $3,225 $12,900 

Project 6 Staffing $41,250 $41,250 $41,250 $41,250 $165,000 

Total $161,364 $161,362 $161,362 $161,362 $645,450 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 15 

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 

Regional 

Staffing $90,000 $90,000 $90,000 $90,000 $360,000 

Project 2 

Staffing for 

complex cases 

and lack of 

resources $82,500 $82,500 $82,500 $82,500 $330,000 

Project 3 

Safe beds for 

vulnerable 

adults --- --- $70,000 $70,000 $140,000 

Project 4 

Limited 

prosecution of 

perpetrators/

leg al limits $34,164 $34,162 $34,162 $34,162 $136,650 

Project 5 

Staffing for 

complex cases 

and lack of 

resources $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $200,000 

Project 6 

Tribal Case 

Manager $22,500 $22,500 $22,500 $22,500 $90,000 

Project 7 

Goods and 

services to 

vulnerable 

adults 

(emergency 

funds) --- --- $40,000 $40,000 $80,000 

Project 8 

Technology for 

remote work $3,225 $3,225 $3,225 $3,225 $12,900 

Total $282,389 $282,387 $392,387 $392,387 

$1,349,550 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 16 

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 $161,364 $161,362 $443,751 $443,749 $392,387 $392,387 

$1,995,000