APS Program Operational Plan

State/Territory/District California

Contact Kim Rutledge, MSW

Adult Protective Services Program Liaison 

California Department of Social Services 

Kim.rutledge@dss.ca.gov

Budget Allocation ARPA 1 = $$8,687,314; ARPA 2 = ~$18,164,015 (tbd)

Total projected ARPA allocation = ~$26,851,329

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

Vision2025

The Vision clarifies what your ARPA 

Grant 1 Program aspiresto become 

and to achieve. It is designed to 

inspire by providing a picture of 

where the program is heading in 3- 

5 years.

By 2025, we envision a California where older and dependent adults will live in communities that 

understand their needs and provide them with protection and support to live safely with autonomy and 

dignity.

Page 1 
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 2

Note: If you are a part of a larger 

organization, doesit have its own 

future vision? If so, you may want 

to adapt it to your own program.

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

The mission of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is to serve, aid, and protect needy and 

vulnerable children and adults in ways that strengthen and preserve families, encourage personal 

responsibility, and foster independence. 

California Adult Protectives Services (APS) is made up of California’s 58 county-run APS programs. 

Counties administer their APS programs with minimal oversight from CDSS. Together, the county APS 

programs and CDSS:

• Serve older adults (60 years and above) and dependent adults (18-59 years of age) who live in the 

community and are at risk of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and/or exploitation.

• Fulfill the protective service needs of older adults and dependent adults, as well as educate 

caregivers and families about protective service provision and coordination to help older adults and 

dependent adults live safely and empowered in their communities.

• Investigate reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation; provide, refer, and coordinate protective 

services for older adults and dependent adults when needed; facilitate protective collaboration 

across criminal justice, healthcare, ombudspersons, and other service agencies; and enhance public 

awareness to prevent elder abuse.
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 3

want to adapt it for your own 

program.

GuidingPrinciples / 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.

1. Diversity – We work inclusively and demonstrate respect for the rights of all people,their equal

opportunity to succeed, and for the contributions that our workforce makesto serve our Mission 

and Vision.

2. Person-centered – We work toward solutions thatstem from each client’s needs and consider their 

goals, preferences, culture, values, and family situation.

3. Trauma-informed – We work to understand pathwaysfor recovery from the widespread impact of 

trauma, actively prevent re-traumatization, and seek to restore justice through skills and knowledge 

obtained from trauma-informed training and practices for workforce and clients served.

4. Data-informed quality improvement – We work systematically and iteratively to adopt the best 

available data-informed research and evidence to improve the ways that services are delivered to 

clients, to measure outcomes, and to make additional improvements to processes.
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 4

Goalsfor Program Improvement

These are goalsto 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).

NEED/GOAL 1: Enhance systems coordination and communication.

1.1 Strengthen coordination structures to process cases in common and/or integrate 

service-delivery with other entities. 

 County options:

• EstablishanAdult Abuse Forensic Center or support partnershipwith an existing Forensic Center.

• Establishor support a Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST).

• Establishor support a Self-Neglect Team.

• Develop transition processes for child welfare systemyouth who are developmentally/intellectually

delayed and are “aging out” of the foster care system.

1.2 Upgrade technological infrastructure of APS operations.

 County options:
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 5

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 

Programfrom current practicestoyour 

Vision #1.

• Purchase equipment or upgrade technology to build or reformcoordination and communication

systems,suchastoconduct tele-evaluations,support work of a Multidisciplinary Team(MDT), etc.

• Purchase equipment or software (i.e., internet access)for clients to improve their remote access to

professionals.

1.3 Bolster partnership with law enforcement agencies.

 County options:

• Facilitate cooperation between APS and law enforcement. (For example, establishAPS social worker

positions within law enforcement, so they are embedded in a diverse team in the police

station/Sheriff’s office to facilitate services and/or assist law enforcement in the community to

investigate cases of elder and dependent adult abuse. This could take the form of an MOU with the

Sheriff’s office, which includes salaries, etc.)

NEED/GOAL 2: Bolster consistency of services within and across counties.

2.1 Enhance resource and service equity and access.

 State projects:

• Establish state-level resources/partnerships that counties cantap into when needed (e.g.,

neuropsychologists, forensic accountants, tribal, deaf/blind resources, etc.)

 County options:

• Support development and administrationof county-wide Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs)toaccelerate

coordination of efforts and pool resources for clients with extra needs (e.g., Sonoma County’s model).

• Provide financial incentives for socialworkersto take jobs in low resource regions(e.g., rural, mountain

regions, etc.).

2.2 Replicate evidence-informed APS practices.

 County option:

• Train staff on the theory and protocols of implementing the Identification, Services, and Outcomes

(ISO) Matrix (piloted by San Franciscoand Napa counties, and also used by Stanislaus and Calaveras)to

their practice.

• Provide tools for APS administrators tomanage programperformance based on client outcomes (e.g.,

activate or add dashboards and program performance management tools that measure client

outcomes as a result of APS interventions and Service Plans.
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 6

2.3 Expand inclusive practices with clients.

 State project:

• Track and evaluate SOC 242 data for equity changes (e.g., demographics, service components, staffing,

and outcomes to guide practice and advocate for additional funding and/or resources) and recidivism

rate over time.

 County options:

• Hire bilingual and bicultural APS workers or language translators.

• Contract with services that provide translation of written materials.

• Hire American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters or provide communication access in real time (CART)

services to clients who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or late Deafened individuals.

• Provide co-navigatorsfor the deafblind.

• Work with peersupport leadersto help people with disabilities who have been sexually assaulted.

NEED/GOAL 3: Strengthen ongoing case management.

 County options:

• Hire dedicated staff who canmove beyond touch-and-go case management and facilitate longer-term

case management (e.g. supporting homeless victims and adults who have serious mental illness, as

well as teaming with family, etc.).

• Develop best practices for longer-termcasemanagement.

• Expand contract funding for case management and tangibles for clients served(e.g., preventive

services, wrap-around services, therapy, crisis intervention).

NEED/GOAL 4: Bolster APS workforce and capacity.

4.1 Strengthen APS workforce recruitment and retention.

 State projects:

• Expand MSW stipend programthrough 2025-26 academic year. Include in contract a multi-year careertracking evaluation of graduates.

 County options:

• Establish financial paritywith Child Protective Services (CPS) regarding competitive worker salaries and

caseload sizes.
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 7

• Hire temporary staff, and offer one-time sign-up bonuses,staffbonuses over time, etc.

4.2 Broaden disciplinary diversity of APS workers beyond social work.

 County options:

• Hire mental health professionals, public health nurses, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, community

healthcare workers, etc. to work directly with/within county APS programs.

NEED/GOAL 5: Increase public awareness and prevention of elder abuse and APS.

 State projects:

• Work with NAPSA to create a library of public awareness messages or public service announcements

(PSAs) that counties can use, with materials in multiple languages that can be sharedvia socialmedia,

text, billboards, etc.

 County options:

• Disseminate public awareness materials or public service announcements locally as appropriate for

communities’ linguistic and cultural needs.

NEED/GOAL 6: Assess and address emergency need for housing.

 County options:

• Provide clients in need with emergency shelter, emergency assisted living beds, etc.

• Contract with specialists for additional evaluations of clients’ housing needs.

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.

WHYis this improvement needed? 

What Purpose or NEED will it fill?

See logic model below.
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 8

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.

Purpose/Needs

to be filled by 

ARPA Funds

Inputs (Resources

Deployed)

Activities Outputs from Investment Short-Term

Outcomes

Long-Term

Outcomes

NEED/GOAL 1: 

Enhance systems 

coordination and 

communication. 

• Funding will be

allocated to

counties to

support

activities.

County options: 

1.1 Strengthen coordination structures 

to process cases in common and/or 

integrate service-delivery with other 

entities. 

• # of countiesthat elected

to use ARPA funds to

enhance systems

coordination and

communication.

• Outcomes will

be dependent

upon which

county

activities are

• Outcomes will

be dependent

upon which

county

activities are
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 9

• EstablishanAdult Abuse

Forensic Center or support

partnershipwith an existing

Forensic Center.

• Establishor support a Financial

Abuse Specialist Team (FAST).

• Establishorsupport a SelfNeglect Team.

• Develop transition processes for

child welfare system youth who

are

developmentally/intellectually

delayed and are “aging out” of

the foster care system.

1.2 Upgrade technological 

infrastructure of APS operations. 

• Purchase equipment or upgrade

technology to build or reform

coordination and

communication systems.

• Purchase equipment orsoftware

for clients.

1.3 Bolster partnership with law 

enforcement agencies. 

• Facilitate cooperation between

APS and law enforcement. (For

example, establish APS social

worker positions within law

enforcement, so they are

embedded in a diverse team in

the police station/Sheriff’s office

to facilitate services and/or

assist law enforcement in the

• Items or services

purchased with ARPA

funds to enhance systems

coordination and

communication.

selected(e.g., 

law 

enforcement 

calls, 

emergency 

room visits, 

contact; 

increase use of 

supportive 

services).

selected(e.g., 

change in 

client risk

assessment 

scores, 

increase rate

of clients that 

shift from 

“crisis” to 

“stable” in the 

ISO Matrix 

dashboard).
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 10

community to investigate cases 

of elder and dependent adult 

abuse. This could take the form 

of an MOU with the Sheriff’s 

office, which includes salaries, 

etc.)

NEED/GOAL 2. 

Bolster 

consistencyof 

services within 

and across 

counties. 

• Funding will be

allocated to

state and

counties to

support

activities.

State project: 

2.1 Enhance resource and service 

equity and access. 

• Establishstate-level

resources/partnershipsthat

counties cantap into when needed

(e.g., neuropsychologists, forensic

accountants, tribal, deaf/blind

resources, etc.)

2.3 Expand inclusive practices with 

clients. 

• Trackand evaluate SOC 242 data for

equity changes and recidivism rate

over time.

County options: 

2.1 Enhance resource and service 

equity and access. 

• Support development and

administration of county-wide

MDTstoaccelerate coordination of

efforts and pool resources.

• Provide financial incentives for

socialworkers to take jobs in low

resource regions.

• # of counties that elected

to use ARPA funds to

bolster consistency of

services within and across

counties.

• Items or services

purchasedwith ARPA

funds to bolster

consistencyof services

within and across

counties.

• # and type of resources

and partnerships

established.

• # of recidivism referrals in

the state.

• What community

partnerships/MOUs were

created to expand

inclusive services with

clients.

• Outcomes will

be dependent

upon which

county

activities are

selected(e.g.,

increase # of

MDTs in the

state).

• Outcomes will

be dependent

upon which

county

activities are

selected(e.g.,

reduce

recidivism rate

by abuse

type).
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 11

2.2 Replicate evidence-informed 

APS practices 

• Train staff on the theory and

protocols of implementing the

Identification, Services, and

Outcomes(ISO) Matrix (piloted by

San Francisco and Napa counties,

and also used by Stanislaus and

Calaveras) to their practice.

• Provide toolsfor APS administrators

to manage program performance

based on client outcomes.

2.3 Expand inclusive practices with 

clients. 

• Hire bilingual/bicultural APS

workers or language translators.

• Contract with services that provide

translation of written materials.

• Hire ASL interpreters or CART

services to clients.

• Provide co-navigatorsfor the

deafblind.

• Work with peersupport leadersto

help people with disabilities who

have been sexually assaulted.

NEED/GOAL 3. 

Strengthen ongoing case 

management. 

• Funding will be

allocated to

counties to

support

activities.

County options:

• Hire dedicated staffto facilitate

longer-term case management

when and where possible.

• Develop best practicesfor longterm case management.

• # of countiesthat elected

to use ARPA funds to

strengthen ongoing case

management.

• Items or services

purchasedwith ARPA

funds to strengthen

• Outcomes will

be dependent

upon which

county

activities are

selected(e.g.,

increase # of

longer-term

• Outcomes will

be dependent

upon which

activities are

selected(e.g.,

increase client

satisfaction
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 12

• Expand contractfunding for case

management and tangiblesfor

clients served.

ongoing case 

management.

case 

management 

cases in the

state).

due to case 

management).

NEED/GOAL 4: 

BolsterAPS 

workforce and 

capacity. 

• State will enter

into a contract

to expand MSW

stipend program

using ARPA 1

and 2 funds.

• Funding will be

determined to

support county

activities,

including

scholarshipsto

counties to

attendthe 2021

NAPSA

conference.

State projects: 

4.1 StrengthenAPS workforce 

recruitment and retention. 

• Expand MSW stipend program

through 2025-26 academic year,

including a multi-year careertracking evaluation on graduates.

County options: 

4.1 StrengthenAPS workforce 

recruitment and retention. 

• Establish financial paritywith CPS

regarding competitive worker

salaries and caseload sizes.

• Hire temporary staff, and offer onetime sign-up bonuses, staff,

bonuses over time, etc.

4.2 Broaden disciplinary diversity of 

APS workers beyond social work. 

• Hire mental health professionals,

public health nurses,

neuropsychologists, psychiatrists,

community healthcare workers, etc.

to work directly with/within county

APS programs.

• # of countiesthat elected

to use ARPA funds to

bolster the APS workforce

and capacity.

• Items or services

purchased with ARPA

funds to bolster the APS

workforce and capacity.

• # of MSW students who

receive APS stipends.

• # of graduates whowork

for California APS.

• # of graduates who

become MSW field

instructors within

California APS.

• Increase

percentage of

students who

go to work for

CA APS.

• Outcomes will

be dependent

upon which

county

activities are

selected (e.g.,

increase client

satisfaction

with a

workforce of

high-quality

training and

reasonable

caseload).

NEED/GOAL 5: 

Increase public 

awareness and 

prevention of 

• Funding will

support state

activities with

NAPSA.

State projects:

• Work with NAPSA to create a library

of public awareness messages or

public service announcements

(PSAs) that counties can use, with

• # of countiesthat elected

to use ARPA funds to

increase public awareness

and prevention of elder

abuse and APS.

• Outcomes will

be dependent

upon which

counties

choose to use

• Outcomes will

be dependent

upon which

counties

choose to use
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 13

elder abuse and 

APS. 

• Funding will be

determined to

support county

effortsto

customize and

disseminate

NAPSAdeveloped

materials.

materials in multiple languages that 

can be shared via social media, text, 

billboards, etc.

County options:

• Disseminate public awareness

materials or PSAs locally as

appropriate for communities’

linguistic and cultural needs.

• Items or services

purchased with ARPA

funds to increase public

awareness andprevention

of elder abuse and APS

• # of PSA campaigns

created and disseminated

• # of language types

available for PSAs

• # of channel types for

disseminating PSAs (e.g.,

social media, text,

billboards, etc.)

PSA materials 

and how.

PSA materials 

and how.

NEED/GOAL 6: 

Assess and 

address 

emergency 

needsfor 

housing. 

• Funding will be

determined to

support county

activities.

County options:

• Provide clients in need with

emergency shelter, emergency

assisted living beds, etc.

• Contract with specialists for

additional evaluations of clients’

housing needs.

• # of countiesthat elected

to use ARPAfunds to

assess andaddress

emergency needs for

housing.

• Items or services

purchased with ARPA

funds to assess and

address emergencyneeds

for housing.

• Outcomes will

be dependent

upon which

counties

choose to use

funds for

housingrelated

services.

• Outcomes will

be dependent

upon which

counties

choose to use

funds for

housingrelated

services.

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 Support county APS activities. $4,004,110
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 14

Project 2 Expand MSW stipend program. $4,023,657

Project 3 Develop and produce public

awareness campaign with NAPSA.

$20,000

Project 4 Fund 2021 NAPSA Conference

scholarshipsfor county APS staff.

$339,547

Project 5 Contract withUniversity of California,

San Francisco for operational plan 

development assistance.

$300,000

Total $8,687,314

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 Support county-level APS

improvement projects outlined 

above.

$10,000,000

Project 2 Expand MSW stipend program

through 2025-26 academic year.

$5,000,000

Project 3 Disseminate the APS PSAs codeveloped and produced with 

NAPSA (Project 3) throughout

California.

$2,000,000

Project 4 Provide resources to CDSS to 

better analyze statewide APS data,

including equity data and 

recidivism rates.

$664,015

Project 5 Provide resources to CDSS to 

create statewide partnerships with 

community partners, for example, 

neuropsychologists, forensic 

accounts, tribal, deaf/blind

resources, etc.

$500,000

Total $18,164,015
APS ProgramPlanning Template: State/Territory/District-Specific Focus Page 15

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 $26,851,329