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

State/Territory/District Arkansas 

Contact Jennifer Reynolds 

Budget Allocation $2,355,139

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

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 envision an Arkansas where we work together to improve the quality 

of life of older Arkansans by protecting the vulnerable, working with other 

agencies, care providers, and community stakeholders to foster 

independence and promote better health. 
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.

Adult Protective Services promotes the health, safety, and independence of 

Arkansans by ensuring the elderly and vulnerable are protected from abuse, 

neglect, and exploitation. 
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.

We believe...

• Openness to change and a willingness to think outside of the box 

ensures the renewal and innovation of our practices and programs. 

• Safety for adults is achieved through positive relationships with caring 

family and community members. 

• Skill based training and consultation forms the foundation for 

successful practices. 

• How we work is as important as the work we do. 

• Every staff position, role and activity of APS shows continuous effort 

to protect impaired or endangered adults from maltreatment. 

• APS is committed to building and maintaining relationships that better 

serve the citizens we assist. 
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.

Goal One: Cultivate and support the skills, knowledge, and abilities of 

APS staff and community partners through training, collaboration, 

events, and improved information sharing. 

Goal Two: Empower APS staff to become highly trained and motivated 

by concentrating on caseworker needs through equipping staff with 

tools/resources needed to conduct APS investigations, custody client

interventions, and case management. 

Goal Three: Identify processes and procedures that need to be updated 

or changed in light of changes in technology, information collected, and 

evolving APS staffing needs. 

Goal Four: Identify available resources and services to explore 

mechanisms to connect older and dependent Arkansans to service 

providers. 

Goal Five: Better capture and track specific data to increase data-driven 

decisions such as staff needs, resource allocations, targeted services,

screen out rates, substantiated cases, and increase number of offenders 

placed on our Adult Maltreatment Registry. 

Goal Six: Improve relationships with service providers and facilitate 

provider development across the state.
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.
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 6

EXAMPLE: Illustrate targeted improvements using a Logic Model Framework

Purpose/Needs 

to be filled by 

ARPA Funds

Inputs (Resourc

es Deployed)

Activities Outputs from 

Investment

Short-Term 

Outcomes

Long-Term Outcomes

Personnel 

Costs 

$251,149.68 ARPA1 Project 1 

Funding for salaries and 

fringe benefits for three full 

time positions and salaries 

five temporary extra help 

positions. 

Positions to be 

funded: Grant 

Coordinator, Central 

Screening and 

Appeals Manager, 

Long Term Case and 

Services 

Coordinator, and 

five extra help 

positions. 

Immediate 

assistance with 

custody cases and 

other areas of 

need. 

A sort of “pipeline” is 

established, allowing APS to 

bring is quality employees 

and given them opportunities 

to move into regular full-time

positions. 

Training and 

Professional 

Development 

$188,300.00 ARPA 1 Project 2 

Training events for staff, 

community partners and 

stakeholders. 

Training events will 

be hosted for staff 

on understanding 

diversity, mental 

health first aid 

training, financial 

exploitation 

training, etc.

Staff will be given 

resources to assist 

them with their 

current 

responsibilities and 

out stakeholders 

will be aware of 

what APS’s goals 

are. 

Staff will develop a deeper 

understanding of issues 

affecting our clients and we 

will continue to foster 

positive relationships with 

community partners and 

stakeholders. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 7

Increased 

needs for 

services 

provided to 

clients

$83,520.32 ARPA 1 Project 3

APS will provide emergency 

shelter, food, deep cleaning 

for dwellings, moving 

services for custody clients 

that will not be returning to 

their homes. 

APS will also work with a 3rd

party agency to provide in 

home care for custody 

clients while they await 

placement, provide 

assistance to hearing 

impaired clients, and work 

with a forensic accountant 

to analyze complex financial 

records and educate APS 

staff on pinpointing 

financial exploitation cases. 

Provide continuing 

services to 150 

clients. 

APS staff will be 

able to identify 

clients who need 

additional services 

and APS staff will 

have the resources 

to connect the 

clients with those

services. 

Increase in services provided

to clients to protect their 

wellbeing. 

Office 

Equipment and 

Goods

$17,300.00 ARPA 1 Project 4

Funds to purchase new 

color printers and scanners 

for the main office and field 

offices. Funds will also be 

used to fund staff members 

becoming Notaries. 

Each office will gain 

new printers and 

scanners for use in 

Investigation

paperwork, and six 

staff members will 

complete the 

process to become a 

Notary. 

Each office will 

have access to new 

equipment to ease 

technical

difficulties in the 

paperwork process, 

including going out 

of their way to find 

a notary. 

Offices will be equipped with 

the necessary office 

equipment and have the 

convenience of their own 

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

The increased 

caseload on 

Investigators

$156,997 to use 

data analytics to 

better 

understand 

caseload and 

caseload 

management 

ARPA 1 Project 5

APS will work with the 

information from the LEAPS 

database and Power BI 

systems to make informed 

decisions. 

Decrease the 

amount of time 

spent on cases by 

20% and hire 

additional staff in 

extra help positions 

in the regions 

identified as having 

a larger case load to 

assist in caseload 

management and 

provide continuing 

services. 

APS will be able to 

quickly identify 

issues in staffing, 

caseload 

management, and 

case time 

management. 

We will increase the 

understanding and 

application of outcomefocused performance and 

evidence-based practices at 

all levels of APS to drive 

placement of resources 

across the state and achieve 

more equitable caseload 

management and workload. 

Mental health, 

wellbeing, and 

loneliness of 

the clients in 

custody and in 

long-term care 

facilities

$13,500 ARPA 1 Project 6

APS will implement projects 

designed to identify issue 

and raise awareness to 

improve services offered to 

custody clients. The first 

project APS will implement 

is the purchase of robotic 

companion pets for custody 

clients and clients in long 

term care facilities.

Starter project: 

25 robotic cats @ 

$125 each 

25 robotic dogs @ 

$140 each

Clients who receive 

one of the robotic 

pets will feel a 

sense of 

companionship and 

a connection to 

their new pet. 

Clients suffering from 

loneliness, isolation, 

Alzheimer’s, and all forms of 

dementia will have the ability 

to make meaningful 

connections, feel a sense of 

purpose, and have increased 

feelings of happiness. 

Database 

Enhancements 

and 

Maintenance

$51,200 ARPA 1 Project 7 

APS will continue to work 

with Jumpstart on 

enhancing the LEAPS 

database to include any 

necessary updates to meet 

APS will meet with 

Jumpstart staff 

monthly to discuss 

any possible 

updates and work to 

fix any issues. 

Any current issues 

will be easily 

identified and fixed 

to ensure ease in 

use and ensure APS 

is meeting 

reporting 

requirements. 

The LEAPS database will meet 

all needs of APS and work in a 

continuous and 

unproblematic manner. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 9 

APS reporting 

requirements. 

Attract and 

retain 

competent and 

qualified 

employees

$264,000 

($132,000 per 

fiscal year) 

ARPA 2 Project 1 

Continue the 

implementation of the 7% 

pay incentives for APS staff 

or other employment 

incentives. 

APS staff members 

will receive a 7% 

incentive payment 

for SYF 2024 and SYF 

2025.

Increased feelings 

of job security, 

employees feel 

valued and 

appreciated, and 

attracts qualified 

employees.

Employee performance and 

retention will be increased. 

We will have Increased our 

ability to attract and maintain 

employment of competent 

employees. 

Personnel 

Costs 

$330,000.00 ARPA2 Project 2

Funding for salaries and 

fringe benefits for three full 

time positions and salaries 

five temporary extra help 

positions. 

Positions to be 

funded: Grant 

Coordinator, Central 

Screening and 

Appeals Manager, 

Long Term Case and 

Services 

Coordinator, and 

five extra help 

positions. 

APS will continue to 

have necessary 

support to conduct 

investigations and 

perform APS 

duties. 

APS will have established 

connections and cultivated 

meaningful relationships with 

extra help positions and 

assisted in placing those

employees in positions to 

continue to assist APS.

Needs of 

Clients 

$199,172.00 APRA 2 Project 3 

Resource room(s) will be 

established. These rooms 

will be available to 

caseworkers to provide 

vulnerable adults with 

Funds will be used 

to provide any 

necessary goods or 

services to clients 

across the state 

when the necessity 

arises. 

APS workers will 

have resources on 

hand to quickly 

assist the 

vulnerable in our 

communities 

during emergency 

APS has readily available 

goods, services, and other 

resources immediately 

accessible to serve vulnerable 

clients with sudden needs. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 10

necessities and emergency 

resources (adult diapers, 

dietary supplements, 

toiletries, etc.) Assistance 

with financial exploitation 

cases. 

APS will also be able to 

provide access to shortterm living arrangements to 

clients, including hotel 

rooms and short-term 

leases. APS will also 

facilitate transportation 

services to vulnerable 

clients. 

situations. They will 

also have 

assistance in 

connecting clients 

with services we 

can not provide. 

Staff Training $470,000.00 ARPA 2 Project 4

APS will continue to host 

the all-staff trainings, the 

quarterly supervisor 

trainings, and continue 

sending staff to the NAPSA 

Conference. We will also 

bring in outside subject 

matter experts to conduct 

staff training. This includes 

travel costs. 

At least one all staff 

training will be held 

each year, four 

Supervisor’s 

meetings each year, 

and ten staff will 

attend the NSPSA 

conference each 

year. We will send 

staff to other 

various subject 

matter conferences 

through the year. 

APS will be up to 

date on best 

practices and will 

have knowledge of 

new tactics to 

better perform job 

duties and 

responsibilities. 

Staff are given the resources 

and education needed to 

perform their duties and 

provided the highest level of 

services to clients. 
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 11

Caretakers, 

clients, and 

families across 

the state do 

not have 

outside 

support 

$100,000.00 ARPA 2 Project 5

Develop family caregiver 

resources that connect 

individuals to respite care 

and mental health services 

and other needed supports, 

focusing on early 

intervention. Expand family 

caregiver supports including 

access to training and 

strengthening selfidentification as a caregiver. 

Provide in home services to 

assist clients and caregivers 

to allow clients to maintain 

their lives in their own 

homes. (Ex. Wheelchair 

ramps.

APS will join with 

community partners 

to host informative 

conferences across 

the state and 

continue to reach 

out to community 

partners across the 

state to connect 

them with 

caretakers who 

need assistance. 

APS will connect 

with caregivers 

across the state to 

learn where gaps 

currently exist and 

work alongside 

caregivers to fill 

those gaps. 

Caregivers in Arkansas will 

feel that they have a support 

system and have resources 

available to assist them with 

individuals they care for. 

Supported caregivers means 

lower rates of repeat reports 

on the same offenders. 

Database 

Enhancements 

and 

Maintenance

$120,000 APRA 2 Project 6

APS will continue to work 

with Jumpstart on 

enhancing the LEAPS 

database to include any 

necessary updates to meet 

APS reporting requirements.

APS will meet with 

Jumpstart staff 

monthly to discuss 

any possible 

updates and work to 

fix any issues.

Any current issues 

will be easily 

identified and fixed 

to ensure ease in 

use and ensure APS 

is meeting 

reporting 

requirements.

The LEAPS database will meet 

all needs of APS and work in a 

continuous and 

unproblematic manner. 

Office 

Equipment and 

Other 

Resources

$100,000 ARPA 2 Project 7 

Funds will be used to pay 

for any necessary 

Items such as office 

chairs, printers, 

desks, and other 

small office 

Each office will 

have access to new 

equipment to ease 

technical 

All offices will be equipped 

with all necessary resources 

to conduct duties and 

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

equipment required for 

office or field work and 

tools that assist with 

remote operations, in-home 

visits, safety and security, 

clients, or any other 

necessity. 

equipment will be 

provided to staff 

when necessary. 

Items such as 

clipboards, pens, 

and other tools will 

be purchased to 

assist in field work. 

difficulties in the 

paperwork process.

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 2022 2023 2023

Total

Period 1 Period 2 Period 1 Period 2

Project 1 Personnel Costs $0 $125,574.84 $125,574.84 $251,149.68 $0 

Project 2 Training $0 $62,766.00 $62,767.00 $62,767.00 $188,300.00 

Project 3 Client Services $0 $27,840.00 $27,840.00 $27,840.32 $83,520.32.00

Project 4

Office 

Equipment and 

Goods

$0 $5,000 $6,150.00 $6,150.00 $17,300.00 

Project 5 Data Analytics $0 $100,000.00 $0 $56,997.00 $156,997.00

Project 6 Companion Pets $0 $6,750 $6,750 $0 $13,500.00
APS Program Planning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 13

Project 7 Database 

Enhancements $0 $0 $25,600 $25,600 $51,200.00 

Total $0 $202,356 $254,681.84 $304,929.16 $761,967.00

ARPA 2- Second Grant Allocation - August 2022 September 2024 

 Description

2023 Period 1

2023 Period 2

2024 2024

Total

Period 1 Period 2

Project 1 Pay Incentives $66,000 $66,000 $66,000 $66,000 $264,000 

Project 2 Personnel Costs $0 $0 $165,000 $165,000 $330,000 

Project 3 Client Services $50,000 $59,000 $50,000 $50,172 $209,172 

Project 4 Training $117,500 $117,500 $117,500 $117,500 $470,000 

Project 5 Community 

Outreach $75,000 $0 $25,000 $0 $100,000 

Project 6 Database 

Enhancements $0 $60,000 $0 $60,000 $120,000 

Project 7 Supplies $25,000 $15,000 $30,000 $30,000 $100,000 

Total $333,500 $317,500 $453,500 $488,672 $1,593,172 

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 $0 $202,356 $588,182 $622,429 $453,500 $488,672 $2,355,139