Item C26BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date:
May
21, 2008
Division: Community Services Division_
Bulk Item: Yes
X
No
Department: Community Services Division
Staff Contact Person/Phone #: Sheryl Graham
X 4592
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of the Memorandum of Understanding for APS (Adult
Protective Services) Referrals between Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (In -Home
Services), The Department of Children & Families and the Alliance for Aging (Aging and Disability
Resource Center/Aging Agency on Aging for Miami -Dade and Monroe Counties).
ITEM BACKGROUND: The approval of this MOU will allow a climate of cooperation between
agencies in order to achieve equitable delivery of services to vulnerable Elder Monroe County
residents in need of services or victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: Prior approval granted to the previous MOU on August
16, 2006.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: None
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval
TOTAL COST: -0- BUDGETED: Yes X No
COST TO COUNTY: -0- SOURCE OF FUNDS: N/A
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No X AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty X OMB/Purchasing X Risk Management X
DOCUMENTATION:
DISPOSITION:
Revised 11/06
Included Not Required
AGENDA ITEM #
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONTRACT SUMMARY
Contract with: Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) Alliance for Aging, and Dept. of
Children & Families
Effective Date:4/1/08
Expiration Date:
Indefinitely
Contract Purpose/Description: Approval of MOU will allow a climate of cooperation between agencies in order to
achieve equitable delivery of services to vulnerable Elder Monroe County residents in need of services or victims
of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Contract Manager: Sheryl Graham
(Name)
For BOCC meeting on 5-21-08
Social Services/Stop 1
(Ext.) (Department/Stop #)
Agenda Deadline: 5-6-08
CONTRACT COSTS
Total Dollar Value of Contract: $-0- Current Year Portion: $
Budgeted? Yes X_ No _ Account Codes: - - - -
Grant: $ -0- T - - - -
County Match: $ -0- - - - -
Estimated Ongoing Costs: $_ 0- /yr
(Not included in dollar value above)
ADDITIONAL COSTS
For:
utilities, janitorial, salaries, etc
CONTRACT REVIEW
Changes
Date Out
Division Director
Date In
S� of
Neede (�
Yes No �'.`b
ReviewS 1, D8
_1
Risk Management
O.M.B./Purchasing
(J
[5 I U�
Yes No
Yes
County Attorney
v�
Yes Oo
Comments:
OMB Form Revised 2/27/01 MCP #2
AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER/ AGING
RESOURCE CENTER /AREA AGENCY ON AGING
THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
And
COMMUNITY CARE FOR THE ELDERLY CASE
MANAGEMENT AGENCY
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES REFERRALS
This Memorandum of Understanding, made this 1st day of April , 2008, shall
be in effect indefinitely among _Alliance for Aging, Inc. , the Aging and
Disability Resource Center/Aging Resource Center/Area Agency on Aging for Planning
and Service Area I 1 ; _Monroe County In Home Services , the Community Care
for the Elderly case management agency; and the Department of Children and Families'
Adult Protective Services for referrals made in Monroe county.
The Department of Children and Families and the Department of Elder Affairs may,
consistent with their requirements under ss. 415.106(2) and 430.205(5), F.S., amend
this memorandum at any time in the best interest of the program.
The purpose of this agreement is to ensure the timely delivery of services to victims of
abuse, neglect or exploitation in need of services. Under this Memorandum of
Understanding, the Aging and Disability Resource Center/Aging Resource Center/Area
Agency on Aging (ADRC/ARC/AAA), Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency,
and Department of Children and Families agree to their respective responsibilities as
outlined in the Adult Protective Services Referrals Operations Manual attached to this
agreement and as periodically updated.
Page 1 of 3
Objectives
1. To maintain a climate of cooperation among agencies in order to achieve
equitable delivery of services to vulnerable elder Floridians who are victims
of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
2. To promote services and activities designed to protect vulnerable elders and
prevent premature institutionalization, pursuant to Chapters 415 and 430,
Florida Statutes.
3. To participate, together by means of shared information, in tracking delivery
of services to elder Floridians who are victims of abuse, neglect, or
exploitation in need of home and community -based services.
4. To provide technical assistance to, and consultation with, each other on
matters pertaining to actual service delivery and to share appropriate
assessment information.
The ADRC/ARC/AAA defines below which agency(ies) will be the intake entity(ies) for
the Department of Children and Families' Adult Protective Services referrals in each
county in their Planning and Service Area.
All Adult Protective Services (APS) referrals, regardless of risk level will be sent to
the following agency:
r" ADRC/ARC/AAA 8CCE Lead Agency
All "high" risk APS referrals will be sent to the following agency:
f— ADRC/ARC/AAA 1— Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency
All "intermediate" risk APS referrals will be sent to the following agency:
r" ADRC/ARC/AAA F_ Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency
All "low" risk APS referrals will be sent to the following agency:
'— ADRC/ARC/AAA F Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency
Page 2 of 3
Aging and Disability Resource Center/
Aging Resource Center/ Area Agency on
Aging:
Signature
Title
Printed Name
Agency
Date
Department of Children and Families:
Signature
Title
r'
Printed Name
Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency:
Signature
llayoa
Title
ChaAie6 "Sonny" NcCoy
Printed Name
Circuit
Date
l
l70nizoe Counz.y BOCC-In-Home Se ZV GCeb
Agency
5-21-08 M6 OE COUNTY RtAT,NEY
Date R VED AS TT
{ ul'
PEDRO J. CADO
ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY S' 6�
Date
Page 3 of 3
Adult Protective Services Referrals
Operations Manual.
Developed by the Department of Elder Affairs
And
The Department of Children and Families
December 11, 2007
Table of Contents
AppropriateReferrals.................................................................................................................. 3
HighRisk Referrals...................................................................................................................... 3
CrPntinaReferrals ------- ....................................................................................................... 5
Adult Protective Services Referral Tracking Tool (ARTT) Entries ........................................ 5
ReferralPackets............................................................................................................................ 7
Retracting/Rejecting Referrals.................................................................................................... 8
Accepting/Receiving Referrals..................................................................................................... 9
Client Information and Registration Tracking System (CIRTS) Entries ............................. 10
ServiceDelays/Refusals.............................................................................................................. 11
Case File Contents and Documentation.................................................................................... 12
Miscellaneous............................................................................................................................... 13
Definitions.................................................................................................................................... 15
Page 2 of 18
Appropriate Referrals
1. Each Adult Protective Services referral in need of home and community -based
services will be sent to the appropriate intake entity for the county in which the Adult
Protective Services referral resides. Referrals requiring placement only will not be
referred to the aging network.
2. Only Adult Protective Services referrals for individuals aged 60 and older will be sent
to intake entities and entered into the Adult Protective Services Referral Tracking
Tool (ARTT).
Only Adult Protective Services referrals for individuals residing in the community
who are capable of being safely served with home and community -based services will
be sent to intake entities and entered into the ARTT.
4. Pursuant to Section 430.205(5), Florida Statutes, Adult Protective Services referrals
in need of immediate services to prevent further harm will be given primary
consideration for receiving Community Care for the Elderly Services. The
Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency may elect to coordinate needed
services using other programs such as Home Care for the Elderly and non -
Department of Elder Affairs -funded services. Adult Protective Services referrals not
in need of immediate services to prevent further harm will be prioritized for services
in accordance with Department of Elder Affairs prioritization criteria. The provision
of services will be based on the need for services as determined by the assessment
priority score.
High Risk Referrals
5. If the person who is the subject of the Adult Protective Services referral needs
immediate protection from further harm, which can be accomplished completely or in
part with the provision of home and community -based services, the referral to the
aging network will be designated as "high -risk" and will be staffed by Adult
Protective Services and the Aging and Disability Resource Center/Aging Resource
Page 3 of 18
Center/Area Agency on Aging designated Community Care for the Elderly Lead
Agency to determine the specific services needed. Such services may be time limited
and must be designed to resolve the emergency or crisis situation that places the
person at risk of further harm. For referrals received during business hours, the
Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency must initiate the emergency or crisis
resolving service(s) within 72 hours of receipt of the referral packet. For referrals
received after business hours, the Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency must
initiate the emergency or crisis resolving service(s) within 72 hours of receipt of the
phone call from Adult Protective Services. This includes services identified by Adult
Protective Services, but not currently provided. Case management alone does not
meet this requirement. For high -risk referrals that are currently receiving
Department of Elder Affairs -funded services, the 72-hour time frame includes not
only existing services, but also any additional emergency or crisis resolving service(s)
identified at staffing.
Adult Protective Services staff must advise consumers upon referral that services put
in place may be limited to 31 days. Upon receipt of the referral, the Community Care
for the Elderly Lead Agency must also communicate to the consumer that services
put in place may be limited to 31 days. The provision of services may exceed 31 days
if 1) the emergency or crisis still exists and continuation of the services is needed for
resolution or 2) without the provision of services the crisis is likely to return.
6. If the Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency determines services can be
safely terminated, Adult Protective Services will be contacted and given the
opportunity to participate in determining if crisis -resolving services are still needed.
Before services are terminated the client must be reassessed. If services can safely be
terminated, the assessment must be entered in the Client Information and Registration
Tracking System (CIRTS) and the referral source set to "Other." This can be done by
creating a new assessment or selecting the "Update Assessment" button. This will
allow the individual to be prioritized for services in accordance with Department of
Elder Affairs prioritization criteria.
Page 4 of 18
7. Adult Protective Services staff must fax or hand -deliver referral packets for high -risk
referrals to the intake entity within 3 hours of entering the referral into the Adult
Protective Services Referral Tracking Tool (ARTT). In addition, the protective
investigator and intake entity will discuss the Adult Protective Services referral and
any safety issues and risk factors in person or over the telephone.
8. Adult Protective Services high -risk referrals made after business hours (including
evenings, weekends and holidays) require a telephone call to the intake entity. The
following referral information must be provided: name, social security number,
address, safety assessment, risk factors (such as environmental concerns), and type of
report. The referral will be entered into the Adult Protective Services Referral
Tracking Tool (ARTT) within the first 3 hours of business on the next business day.
Within 3 hours of entering the referral into the Adult Protective Services Referral
Tracking Tool (ARTT), a referral packet will be sent via fax or hand delivered to the
intake entity (see #18 below for packet contents).
Creating Referrals
9. Only an adult protective investigator supervisor or an adult protective investigator
with the approval of an adult protective investigator supervisor can initiate Adult
Protective Services referrals.
10. An Adult Protective Services referral initially sent to Adult Protective Supervision by
an adult protective investigator that is later referred to the intake entity will be entered
into the Adult Protective Services Referral Tracking Tool (ARTT).
Adult Protective Services Referral Tracking Tool (ARTT) Entries
11. Only referrals for victims of second party abuse, neglect, and exploitation or self -
neglect in need of home and community -based services as identified by Adult
Protective Services staff will be put into the ARTT. (Note: victims of self -neglect
were previously referred to as "vulnerable adults in need of services".)
Page 5 of 18
12. All Adult Protective Services referrals made during business hours will be entered
into the ARTT the same day the referral is made.
13. If the ARTT is not available at the time of referral, an Adult Protective Services
referral form will be manually completed and hand delivered or faxed to the intake
entity as part of the referral packet. When the ARTT becomes available, the referral
will be entered into the ARTT. The date the referral packet was sent is entered on the
"Section 4" tab if the date differs from the date the entry in the ARTT is made.
14. All Adult Protective Services referrals, regardless of risk level (i.e., high,
intermediate, or low), will be entered into the ARTT.
15. Each referral will be entered separately into the Adult Protective Services Referral
Tracking Tool (ARTT). If services are being requested for more than one member in
a household, separate referrals will be entered into the Adult Protective Services
Referral Tracking Tool (ARTT). The same abuse report number may be used for
more than one member in a household.
16. Each referral entered into the ARTT must be approved and signed in the ARTT by
the protective investigator supervisor within 24 hours of receipt from the adult
protective investigator.
17. If a new abuse report (number) is received for an individual who had been reported
and referred previously, a new referral will be entered into the ARTT, regardless of
whether or not the individual is currently receiving services.
18. The information the Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency will enter in the
ARTT is listed below according to risk level.
Requirements for high -risk referrals:
ARTT Field
Description
Requirements
Data Entry
Timeframe
Action Taken by
What actions have
Mandatory
Enter within 72
Provider
been taken for the
hours
client including
which services were
Page 6 of 18
rovided
Staffing or
Comments to assist
Enter as appropriate
Additional
with addressing the
Comments
needs of the client
Service
Name of the case
Mandatory for all referrals
Enter within 72
Provider's
manager
hours
Signature
Schedule Staffing
The date the case
Mandatory
Enter within 72
Date
will be staffed
hours
Reauirements for intermediate and low -risk referrals:
ARTT Field
Description
Requirements
Data Entry
Timeframe
Action Taken by
What actions have
Action Taken by Provider
Enter within 14
Provider
been taken for the
or Staffing or Additional
calendar days
client including
Comments mandatory
which services were
provided
Staffing or
Comments to assist
Action Taken by Provider
Enter within 14
Additional
with addressing the
or Staffing or Additional
calendar days
Comments
needs of the client
Comments mandatory
Service
Name of the case
Mandatory for all referrals
Enter within 14
Provider's
manager
calendar days
Signature
Schedule Staffing
The date the case
Enter as appropriate
Enter when
Date
will be staffed
available
* For referrals made during business hours, timeframes begin when the referral
packet is received. For referrals made after business hours, timeframes begin when
the phone call from Adult Protective Services is received.
19. The intake entity will work with Adult Protective Services staff to identify and
maintain, in accordance with law, accurate social security numbers should the two
agencies have different social security numbers for the same individual.
Referral Packets
20. Referral packets for high -risk referrals must be faxed or hand delivered to the intake
entity within 3 hours of entering the referral into the Adult Protective Services
Referral Tracking Tool (ARTT), and within 24 hours for intermediate- and low -risk
referrals. If circumstances prevent Adult Protective Services from completing the
Page 7 of 18
safety assessment within 3-hours for high -risk referrals, and within 24 hours for
intermediate and low -risk referrals, the protective investigator must contact the
intake entity to discuss the safety and risk factors.
21. Each referral packet will include the following:
• Referral Form (printed from the Adult Protective Services Referral Tracking Tool
(ARTT) if the Adult Protective Services Referral Tracking Tool (ARTT) is
available at the time of referral),
• Adult Safety Assessment of Safety Factors,
• Adult Safety Assessment of Overall Safety,
• Capacity to Consent Assessment,
• Provision of Voluntary Adult Protective Services CF-AA 1112 form if the
individual being referred does not have capacity to consent, but a caregiver or
guardian has given consent for services to be provided, and
• Court Order, if services were court ordered.
Retracting/Rejecting Referrals
22. If it is determined by the adult protective investigator supervisor that a referral should
not be sent to the aging network after it is entered into the ARTT, the referral will be
marked as "Should Not Be Sent" in the ARTT. This option is only available if the
referral has not yet been sent to the intake entity via the ARTT. Referrals marked as
"Should Not Be Sent" will not be visible to the aging network.
23. If it is determined that a referral sent to the aging network through the ARTT should
not have been sent, the adult protective investigator must contact the intake entity and
provide the reason why the referral should not have been sent. The intake entity will
then reject the referral and document the reason for the rejection in the ARTT.
24. Reasons for rejection of a referral in the ARTT may include the following:
• Adult Protective Services rescinds the referral;
• The referral is solely for placement, which is the responsibility of the Department
of Children and Families, and should not have been referred to the intake entity;
Page 8 of 18
• The referral is a duplicate (more than one referral is in the ARTT for the same
person referred on the same day), as confirmed by Adult Protective Services.
A referral must not be rejected due to the fact that the individual was receiving
services at the time of referral.
25. Referrals received for individuals that do not live in the jurisdiction of the intake
entity should not be rejected in the Adult Protective Services Referral Tracking Tool
(ARTT). The intake entity must contact Adult Protective Services and notify them
that the referral was not accepted and why. Adult Protective Services must update the
Adult Protective Services Referral Tracking Tool (ARTT) referral with the
appropriate address and county and hand deliver or fax the referral packet to the
appropriate intake entity. Adult Protective Services must also call the appropriate
intake entity to inform them of the new referral.
Accepting/Receiving Referrals
26. The intake entity must acknowledge receipt of all Adult Protective Services referrals
in the ARTT the same day the referral packet is received. If the referral was not
entered in the ARTT prior to the referral packet being received, the intake entity must
contact the protective investigator that made the referral. Once the referral is entered
in the ARTT, the intake entity must acknowledge receipt of the referral in the ARTT.
If the referral is being acknowledged one or more days after the packet was received,
the date the referral packet was received must also be entered in the "Aging Network"
tab in the ARTT. All appropriate entries in the ARTT must be made (see #18).
27. The intake entity will confirm receipt of a faxed referral packet by contacting the
Department of Children and Families office via telephone or email the same day the
referral packet is received. Email messages must only refer to the abuse report
number and must not include the name or social security number of the referral.
28. A 701 B comprehensive assessment must be completed in person within 72 hours of
receipt of the ARTT referral packet for high -risk referrals received during business
hours. For high -risk referrals received after business hours, the 72 hours begins
Page 9 of 18
when the phone call from Adult Protective Services is received. A 701A or a 701 B
must be completed within 14 calendar days for intermediate- and low -risk referrals.
29. Community Care for the Elderly co -payments for services will be waived for high -
risk referrals during the first 31 days of service or until the vulnerable adult's crisis
situation has resolved as determined by the Community Care for the Elderly Lead
Agency and Adult Protective Services staff.
Client Information and Registration Tracking System (CIRTS) Entries
30. The following information will be entered in the Client Information and Registration
Tracking System (CIRTS) for all Adult Protective Services referrals:
• Assessment information which includes setting the referral date to the date the
referral packet was received by the intake entity, the referral source set to
"abuse/neglect," and the risk level set as determined by Adult Protective
Services (high, intermediate, or low),
• Enrollment information,
• If services are provided, care plan information, and
• For high -risk referrals, the specific services provided within the first 72 hours
after the individual was referred. See #31 below for information about how
these services are to be recorded in CIRTS.
This information must be entered into the Client Information and Registration
Tracking System (CIRTS) within 14 calendar days of receipt of the referral packet for
high -risk referrals. For intermediate and low -risk referrals, this information must
be entered in CIRTS in accordance with Department of Elder Affairs policy.
31. Adult Protective Services high -risk referrals must have the following information
entered in CIRTS:
• Units of service for case management and services are entered using the date -
specific method for the 72-hour period following the referral. This includes
services that may normally be reported in aggregate such as Older Americans
Act services. For the next 27 days, services must be aggregated weekly, i.e., the
total number of units provided each week must be entered in CIRTS.
Page 10 of 18
(Alternatively, the date -specific method may be used for the full 31-day period.)
After this 31-day period, Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agencies may
return to entering units in compliance with CIRTS reporting requirements.
• Informal services arranged by the case manager (for example, services provided
by churches, neighbors, or other community resources) are entered using the
date -specific method by setting the Program to "Non -Department of Elder
Affairs Program" (NDP), the number of units to one, the unit type to "Episode"
(EPS) and the unit cost to zero.
• For current clients referred by Adult Protective Services and determined high -
risk by Adult Protective Services, the dates of service delivery and units of
service are entered as if the individual were a new high -risk referral, i.e., using
the date -specific method for the first 72 hours after referral.
Service Delays/Refusals
32. If the person being referred refuses to be assessed or served or there is a delay in
service provision for reasons beyond the control of the service providers, the
Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency will do the following:
• Contact the Adult Protective Services investigator to discuss the situation and
determine the next best course of action. If the referral is a high -risk referral,
Adult Protective Services must be contacted within 24 hours.
• If case management services were provided, create an entry in the Received
Services screen in the Client Information and Registration Tracking System
(CIRTS). Set the Service to "Case Management" with the appropriate date and
number of units.
• High -risk referrals require an entry in the CIRTS Received Services screen
identifying the reason for the refusal or delay in service provision. Set the
Program to "Non -Department of Elder Affairs Program" (NDP) and set the
Service using the most appropriate code listed below:
• CLDC - Consumer deceased
• CLDS - Consumer delayed services
Page 11 of 18
• CLRF - Consumer refused services
• CLUV - Consumer unavailable
• PLAF - Consumer placed in ALF
• PLFM - Consumer placed with family
• PLHS - Consumer placed in hospital
• PLNH - Consumer placed in nursing home
Set the number of units to zero and the unit type to "Episode" (EPS).
• Set the Staffing Date field on the Aging Network tab to the date the situation was
discussed with the Adult Protective Services investigator.
• If the individual is temporarily institutionalized, upon return to the community the
intake entity will work with DCF to discuss changes to the individual's service
needs.
Case File Contents and Documentation
33. A copy of all referral packets will be kept in the case files.
34. Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agencies will document the following in the
case notes/narratives for all high -risk referrals:
• Document the specific dates the individual was contacted by the case manager
during the 31 days following the referral.
• Document the specific dates the individual was assessed. This will include the
date the individual was initially assessed and the date the individual was
reassessed when and if the crisis was resolved.
• The case manager's determination of the individual's abilities, needs and
deficiencies observed during all assessments will be documented.
• Document the specific services and service dates for services provided during the
72 hours following the referral. This includes non -Department of Elder Affairs
funded services.
• Document the specific services provided and the frequency at which they were
provided during the 31 days following the referral. This includes non -Department
of Elder Affairs funded services.
Page 12 of 18
• Document all contact and discussions with Adult Protective Services staff.
• Document all contact and discussions with Nursing Home Diversion providers.
• Document when follow-ups are performed. At a minimum, follow-up within 14
calendar days to ensure services started and again after 31 days to determine if
services are still needed.
• If services could not be provided for reasons beyond the control of the provider,
document all actions taken in an attempt to provide services and/or contact the
referred individual.
• If services were delayed, document why, when services began, and which services
were provided.
Miscellaneous
35. For all vulnerable adults enrolled in the Nursing Home Diversion Waiver at the time
of referral, the ADRC/ARC/AAA or Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency
must contact the Nursing Home Diversion provider within two hours of receipt of the
referral packet. Upon confirmation that the vulnerable adult is enrolled with this
provider, the referral packet must be faxed or hand -delivered to the provider. The
name and phone number of a contact person at the Community Care for the Elderly
Lead Agency must be included in the packet. Prior to making the referral to the
Nursing Home Diversion Waiver provider, the Community Care for the Elderly Lead
Agency must ensure, using written and/or verbal information provided by the
Department of Children and Families, that the Nursing Home Diversion Waiver
provider or their sub-contractor(s) are not suspected or determined to be responsible
for the abuse, neglect or exploitation of the vulnerable adult.
For high -risk referrals, assurance that crisis -resolving services can be provided
within 72 hours (of receipt of referral by the intake entity) must be obtained from the
Nursing Home Diversion provider. If the Nursing Home Diversion provider is
contacted after business hours (including evenings, weekends and holidays), the
provider has 24 hours in which to provide such assurance. If assurance is not
obtained, the Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency is responsible for
Page 13 of 18
assessing and providing crisis -resolving services until assurance is provided by the
Nursing Home Diversion provider or the crisis is resolved.
Though the referrals not served by the Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency
will not be assessed, a new assessment record must be created in CIRTS. The
"Demographic" Assessment Type requires only the minimal demographic
information. The Community Care for the Elderly Lead Agency is responsible for
notifying the Aging and Disability Resource Center/Aging Resource Center/Area
Agency on Aging of the status of each Nursing Home Diversion referral. The Aging
and Disability Resource Center/Aging Resource Center/Area Agency on Aging
(ADRC/ARC/AAA) must then relay this information to their contract manager at
theDepartment of Elder Affairs.
36. If at any time during the process there are any disagreements between the Adult
Protective Services protective investigator and the Community Care for the Elderly
Lead Agency regarding services to be provided, the Adult Protective Services
protective investigator supervisor and a case manager supervisor at the Community
Care for the Elderly Lead Agency will jointly review the case to resolve the issue(s). If
the issue(s) cannot be resolved at this level, the case will be referred to the
ADRC/ARC/AAA and the Department of Children and Families district office for
final resolution.
Page 14 of 18
Definitions
• "Abuse," as defined in s. 415.102 (1), F.S., means any willful act or threatened act by
a relative, caregiver, or household member, which causes or is likely to cause
significant impairment to a vulnerable adult's physical, mental, or emotional health.
Abuse includes acts and omissions.
• "Capacity to Consent Form" is an assessment of the vulnerable adult's capacity to
consent. This form does not get signed. The adult protective investigator completes
the Capacity to Consent Form in the Department of Children and Families' statewide
abuse information system. The determination of the vulnerable adult's capacity to
consent is made by the protective investigator based on the information gathered. If,
based on the completed Capacity to Consent Form, the vulnerable adult's capacity is
questionable, the protective investigator seeks a professional decision of capacity
from the vulnerable adult's physician, a psychologist or psychiatrist.
• "Exploitation," as defined in s. 415.102 (7)(a) and (b), F.S., means a person who:
o Stands in a position of trust and confidence with a vulnerable adult and
knowingly, by deception or intimidation, obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain
or use, a vulnerable adult's funds, assets, or property with the intent to temporarily
or permanently deprive a vulnerable adult of the use, benefit, or possession of the
funds, assets, or property for the benefit of someone other than the vulnerable
adult; or
o Knows or should know that the vulnerable adult lacks the capacity to consent, and
obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or use, the vulnerable adult's funds, assets,
or property with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the vulnerable
adult of the use, benefit, or possession of the funds, assets, or property for the
benefit of someone other than the vulnerable adult.
"Exploitation" may include, but is not limited to:
o Breaches of fiduciary relationships, such as the misuse of a power of attorney or
the abuse of guardianship duties, resulting in the unauthorized appropriation, sale,
or transfer of property;
Page 15 of 18
o Unauthorized taking of personal assets;
o Misappropriation, misuse, or transfer of funds belonging to a vulnerable adult
from a personal or joint account; or
o Intentional or negligent failure to effectively use a vulnerable adult's income and
assets for the necessities required for that person's support and maintenance.
• "Further Harm" is defined as a vulnerable adult who is expected to suffer ill effects
from additional or continued maltreatment(s) of second -party abuse, neglect,
exploitation or self -neglect without the provision of services directed towards abating
such maltreatment. The potential for further harm will be inferred by the closure of a
report as a "vulnerable adult in need of services" (self -neglect) or a "second party"
investigation closed with one or more maltreatment findings or indicators AND the
protective investigator's initial assessment of risk of the victim is "high."
• "Ill effects of neglect" exist when a protective investigator determines that a
vulnerable adult is suffering some degree of harm or injury or that there is a
reasonable expectation of harm or injury directly resulting from second party or self -
neglect as defined in 415.102 (15), F.S..
• "Intake Entity" is defined as the agency to which the Department of Children and
Families sends Adult Protective Services referrals. There may be more than one
intake entity in a county. Each Planning and Service Area's Aging and Disability
Resource Center/Aging Resource Center/Area Agency on Aging determines which
agency(ies) will be the intake entity(ies) for Adult Protective Services referrals in
each county in their Planning and Service Area. Aging and Disability Resource
Centers/Aging Resource Centers/Area Agencies on Aging (ADRCs/ARCS/AAAs)
acting as the intake entity are responsible for notifying and transferring the
appropriate documentation to the ADRC/ARC/AAA designated Community Care for
the Elderly case management agency (hereinafter referred to as the Community Care
for the Elderly Lead Agency) when services are needed.
• "Neglect," as defined in s. 415.102 (15) F.S., means the failure or omission on the
part of the caregiver or vulnerable adult to provide the care, supervision, and services
necessary to maintain the physical and mental health of the vulnerable adult,
including, but not limited to, food, clothing, medicine, shelter, supervision, and
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medical services, which a prudent person would consider essential for the well-being
of a vulnerable adult. The term "neglect" also means the failure of a caregiver or
vulnerable adult to make a reasonable effort to protect a vulnerable adult from abuse,
neglect, or exploitation by others. "Neglect" is repeated conduct or a single incident
of carelessness, which produces or could reasonably be expected to result in serious
physical or psychological injury or a substantial risk of death.
• "Protective services," as defined in s. 415.102 (20) F.S., means services to protect a
vulnerable adult from further occurrences of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Such
services may include, but are not limited to, protective supervision, placement, and
in -home and community -based services.
• "Protective supervision," as defined in s. 415.102 (21) F.S., means those services
arranged for or implemented by the Department of Children and Families to protect
vulnerable adults from further occurrences of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
• "Signed Consent Form" is a consent form titled "Provision of Voluntary Adult
Protective Services" (Form #CF-AA 1112). This form is distinct from the Capacity to
Consent Form. A copy of the signed Provision of Voluntary Adult Protective
Services consent form is provided to the intake entity as part of the referral packet if
the vulnerable adult lacks the capacity to consent and consent was provided by the
caregiver or guardian.
If the vulnerable adult has capacity to consent the vulnerable adult will be asked to
sign this consent form for protective services. If the vulnerable adult refuses to sign
the consent form but verbally requests services:
• The protective investigator will note on the consent form that the vulnerable
adult refused to sign the consent form, and
• If someone is present that can serve as a witness to the vulnerable adult
verbally giving consent for services, the witness or witnesses will be asked to
sign and date the form as witness(es) to the vulnerable adult's verbal consent.
If the vulnerable adult lacks capacity to consent, a caregiver or guardian must provide
consent for services.
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• If the vulnerable adult has a caregiver who provides consent for the provision
of services (and the caregiver is not the possible responsible person for the
abuse, neglect or exploitation), the caregiver signs the consent form.
• If the vulnerable adult does not have a caregiver but has a guardian who
provides consent, the guardian signs the consent form.
• If the vulnerable adult lacks capacity to consent and there is neither a
caregiver nor guardian, the Department of Children and Families will file a
petition for court -ordered protective supervision whereupon a judge may issue
an order for the provision of services.
• "Vulnerable adult," as defined in s. 415.102 (26) F.S., means a person 18 years of
age or older whose ability to perform the normal activities of daily living or to
provide for his or her own care or protection is impaired due to a mental, emotional,
long-term physical, or developmental disability or dysfunctioning, or brain damage,
or the infirmities of aging.
• "Vulnerable adult in need of services," as defined in s. 415.102 (27) F.S., means a
vulnerable adult who has been determined by a protective investigator to be suffering
from the ill effects of neglect not caused by a second party perpetrator and is in need
of protective services or other services to prevent further harm. This is the statutory
definition for self -neglect.
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