Page 1 

APS Operational Plan: Iowa

State/Territory/District Iowa 

State Contact Gloriana Fisher

Budget Allocation $2,346,190

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

August 2021 – September 2023 $811,164

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 - Grant 2 

August 2022 – September 2024 $1,535,026

Vision 2025 The Iowa Department of Human Services’ Adult Protective Services Unit makes a positive difference in the lives of vulnerable 

adults we serve.

Mission Statement Adult Protective Services will help Iowans who are vulnerable adults achieve healthy, safe, stable, and self-sufficient lives, free 

from abuse through the programs and services we provide and the partnerships we maintain.

Guiding Principles / Core Values Customer Focus: We listen to and address the needs of our customers in a respectful and responsive manner that builds upon 

their strengths. our services promote meaningful connections to family and community.

Excellence: We are a model of excellence through efficient, effective, and responsible public service. we communicate openly and 

honestly and adhere to the highest standards of ethics and professional conduct.

Accountability: We maximize the use of resources and use data to evaluate performance and make informed decisions to improve 

results.

Teamwork: We work collaboratively with customers, employees, and public and private partners to achieve results.
APS Operational Plan Iowa Page 2

Additional information and context: 

A group of key informants were selected for interviews. This group supplied additional information, providing insight into the identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, 

and threats. 

Strengths: 

Respondents advised that workgroups, subject matter expertise, education and training events, and best practice models (such as the one in place in Polk County) were 

successes that could be expanded upon within the Operational Plan.

Weaknesses: 

Identified gaps included limited understanding, coordination, and engagement among legal services and entities.

Opportunities: 

The group identified several formal and informal policies, practices, and laws that should be modified to benefit APS including the development of training for workers that 

increases understanding of community-based services for people who need protective services.

Threats: 

Most respondents felt there was a low rate of engagement by the public with the issues that impact older Iowans and dependent adults. 
APS Operational Plan Iowa Page 3

Goals for Program

Improvement

Priority outcomes, details within the vision for APS in Iowa, include: 

o Enhancing referrals and investigations

o Improving reporting, response, and follow-up

o Increasing communication across stakeholders

o Building capacity and quality within the APS workforce

Iowa’s Operational Plan will include three goals. We will address the needs associated with these goals within the Operational Plan. 

o Workforce Challenges: APS staffing and staffing supports

o Lean staffing constrains our ability to infuse change and increase effectiveness of our programs and services.

o Service Coordination: APS system improvements and enhancements, including technology system improvements:

o Limitations within our data systems reduce our ability to respond, understand, and communicate.

o Adults have limited protection from financial exploitation. Financial vulnerabilities of dependent adults should be addressed.

o There is a need for improved and more frequent education and training opportunities across the spectrum of stakeholders and

providers, including APS workers and mandatory reporters, legal teams, and health care partners.

o Resource Limitations: Provision of goods and services to APS clients

o The limitations associated with resources, services, and supports limits the ability to place dependent adults and address their

needs, especially in rural locations.

To address these needs, our Operational Plan will include four targeted improvement projects:

o Technology System Improvements

o APS Staffing and Staffing supports

o APS System Improvements and Enhancements

o Goods and Services to APS Clients

The result of addressing these needs through targeted improvements would be the following: 

o Technology System Improvements will improve the intake, screening, and assessment infrastructure and processes including oversight and

evaluation.

o APS Staffing and Staffing Supports will increase the reach of the program, build capacity for partnerships, and augment planning and

implementation efforts.

o APS System Improvements and Enhancements will increase specialized training for staff and key APS partners such as legal and health care

providers. It will also support increased monitoring financial exploitation and abuse.

o Goods and Services to APS Clients will allow for immediate mitigation of risk and safety issues, appropriate care transitions, and increased

stability of vulnerable adults. Positive outcomes for the population will be facilitated through increased access to resources, services, and

supports.
APS Operational Plan Iowa Page 

4

Targeted

Improvement

Projects

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?
APS Operational Plan Iowa Page 5

Purpose/Needs to be 

filled by ARPA Funds

Inputs

(Resources

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from Investment Short-Term Outcomes Long-Term Outcomes

Limitations within our 

data systems reduce our 

ability to respond, 

understand, and 

communicate. 

$250,000

• DHS staff

• IT and Data

teams

• Contractors

ARPA 1, Project 1

Technology System Improvements

• Expanding data report production

• Improve functionality to user

• Enhancing interoperability between

systems

• Improvements to NAMRS data

collection and reporting

• System will identify

and prompt users

when data incomplete

• Reports will be

immediately available

to APS supervisor and

administrator to

facilitate real-time

oversight.

• Increased efficiency in

tabulating NAMRS

data

• Decrease in system

user errors while

increasing data

integrity

• Ability to identify

trends for APS in Iowa

• Improved coordination

between APS and

community services

• APS clients will be

better served through

improved coordination

Lean staffing constrains 

our ability to infuse 

change and increase 

effectiveness of our 

programs and services. 

$185,000

• DHS/APS

staff

ARPA 1, Project 2

APS Staffing and Staffing Supports

• Hire one additional permanent APS

administrator

• Support APS staffing costs associated

with increased APS cases, including

but not limited to travel, overtime,

and salary/benefits related to

additional field positions

• Strengthen program

oversight through

appropriate APS

program

administrative

workload

• APS clients will have

equal access to APS

professionals within

their community

• Established consensus

in APS operational

improvements.

• Increased efficiency

pertaining to APS

policy and

administration.

• Increased ability to

monitor and manage

decision-making

related to

environmental

changes that impact

the provision of APS

services.

• APS clients will be

better served

• Increased collaboration

with internal and

external APS partners

There is a need for 

improved and more 

frequent education and 

training opportunities 

across the spectrum of 

stakeholders and 

providers, including APS 

workers and mandatory 

$200,000

• Learning

Managem

ent

System

ARPA 1, Project 3

APS System Improvements and 

Enhancements

• New culturally competent training for

mandatory reporters available through

• New training materials

will be developed

• Data concerning

training will be

collected

• Training curriculum

will be consistent

• Better educated

reporters, adult

protection staff and

public on adult

protective service

issues

• APS clients will be safer

based on increased

reporting as well as

accurate and informed

procedures.
APS Operational Plan Iowa Page 6

reporters, legal teams, 

and health care partners. 

Adults have limited 

protection from financial 

exploitation. Financial 

vulnerabilities of 

dependent adults should 

be addressed.

• DHS/APS

team

members

an LMS to track completion and 

increase usability.

• Develop and implement training to

targeted disciplines to assist in

identifying, reporting, and responding

to adult abuse.

• Training and networking for adult

protective service workers.

• Contracts to support APS workers

• Create and maintain a centralized and

public facing adult abuse platform

• Informed adult

protection staff

• Support more efficient

work including

consistent analysis of

financial information

• Synthesized

information about

Iowa’s trifurcated

system

• Informed decision

making based on

data

• Accurate disposition

on financial

exploitation cases

The limitations 

associated with 

resources, services, and 

supports limits the ability 

to place dependent 

adults and address their 

needs, especially in rural 

locations.

$176,164

• DHS/APS

staff

• Contractors

ARPA 1, Project 4

Goods and Services to APS Clients 

• Execute Contracts to meet identified

needs for adult protective service

clients.

• More goods and

services will be

available to APS clients.

• Immediate mitigation

of risk and safety

issues, appropriate

care transitions, and

increased stability of

vulnerable adults.

• Identification of Iowa’s

APS service gaps.

• Decrease in re-abuse

Purpose/Needs to be 

filled by ARPA Funds

Inputs (Resour

ces Deployed)

Activities Outputs from Investment Short-Term Outcomes Long-Term Outcomes

Limitations within our 

data systems reduce our 

ability to respond, 

understand, and 

communicate.

$200,000

• DHS staff

• Contractors

ARPA 2, Project 1

Technology System Improvements

• Expanding data report production

• Improve functionality to user

• Enhancing interoperability between

systems

• Improvements to NAMRS data

collection and reporting

• Evaluate outcomes related to system

improvements

• System will identify

and prompt users

when data incomplete

• Reports will be

immediately available

to APS supervisor and

administrator to

facilitate real-time

oversight.

• Increased efficiency in

tabulating NAMRS

data

• Decrease in system

user errors while

increasing data

integrity

• Ability to identify

trends for APS in Iowa

• Improved coordination

between APS and

community services

• APS clients will be

better served through

improved coordination

Lean staffing constrains 

our ability to infuse 

change and increase 

$380,016 ARPA 2, Project 2

APS Staffing and Staffing supports

• Strengthen program

oversight through

appropriate APS

program

• Established consensus

in APS operational

improvements.

• APS clients will be

better served
APS Operational Plan Iowa Page 7

effectiveness of our 

programs and services.

• DHS/APS

staff

• Hire one additional permanent APS

administrator

• Support APS staffing costs associated

with increased APS cases, including but

not limited to travel, overtime, and

salary/benefits related to additional

field positions

administrative 

workload

• APS clients will have

equal access to APS

professionals within

their community

• Increased efficiency

pertaining to APS

policy and

administration.

• Increased ability to

monitor and manage

decision-making

related to

environmental

changes that impact

the provision of APS

services.

• Increased collaboration

with internal and

external APS partners

There is a need for 

improved and more 

frequent education and 

training opportunities 

across the spectrum of 

stakeholders and 

providers, including APS 

workers and mandatory 

reporters, legal teams, 

and health care partners.

Adults have limited 

protection from financial 

exploitation. Financial 

vulnerabilities of 

dependent adults should 

be addressed.

$447,036

Learning 

Managem

ent 

System

• DHS/APS

team

members

•

ARPA 2, Project 3

APS System Improvements and 

Enhancements

• New culturally competent training for

mandatory reporters available through

an LMS to track completion and

increase usability.

• Develop and implement training to

targeted disciplines to assist in

identifying, reporting and responding

to adult abuse.

• Training and networking for adult

protective service workers.

• Contracts to support APS workers

• Create and maintain a centralized and

public facing adult abuse platform

• New training materials

will be developed

• Data concerning

training will be

collected

• Training curriculum

will be consistent

• Informed adult

protection staff

• Support more efficient

work including

consistent analysis of

financial information

• Synthesized

information about

Iowa’s trifurcated

system

• Better educated

reporters, adult

protection staff and

public on adult

protective service

issues

• Informed decision

making based on

data

• Accurate disposition

on financial

exploitation cases

• APS clients will be safer

based on increased

reporting as well as

accurate and informed

procedures.

The limitations 

associated with 

resources, services, and 

supports limits the ability 

to place dependent 

adults and address their 

needs, especially in rural 

locations.

$668,984

• DHS/APS

staff

• Contractors

ARPA 2, Project 4

Goods and Services to APS Clients

• Execute Contracts to meet identified

needs for adult protective service

clients.

• More goods and

services will be

available to APS clients.

• Immediate mitigation

of risk and safety

issues, appropriate

care transitions, and

increased stability pf

vulnerable adults.

• Identification of Iowa’s

APS service gaps.

• Decrease in re-abuse
APS Operational Plan Iowa Page 8

Budget / Spending Plan for ARPA funds – Semi-annually for 3 to 5 years

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 Technology System Improvements $62,500 $62,500 $62,500 $62,500 $250,000

Project 2 APS Staffing and Staffing Supports $46, 250 $46, 250 $46, 250 $46, 250 $185,000

Project 3 APS System Improvements and Enhancements $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $200,000

Project 4 Goods and Services to APS clients $44,041 $44,041 $44,041 $44,041 $176,164

Total $202,791 $202,791 $202,791 $202,791 $811,164

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 Technology System Improvements $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $200,000

Project 2 APS Staffing and Staffing Supports $95,004 $95,004 $95,004 $95,004 $380,016

Project 3 APS System Improvements and Enhancements $71,500 $71,500 $71,500 $71,526 $286,026

Project 4 Goods and Services to APS clients $167,246 $167,246 $167,246 $167,246 $668,984

Total $383,750 $383,750 $383,750 $383,776 $1,535,026

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 $202,791 $202,791 $586,541 $586,541 $383,750 $383,776 $2,507,200