RESULTS OF A NATIONAL SURVEY OF STATE PROTECTIVE SERVICES PROGRAMS - ASSESSING RISK AND DEFINING VICTIM OUTCOMES

A national survey of state adult protective services programs (APS) wa s conducted to collect information about the current status of documen tation systems, risk assessment protocols, and outcome measures in adu lt protective services interventions. Fifty responses were received fr om 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. The results highligh t the wide variation in the state protective services programs, not on ly dissimilarities in structure and administration, but in age of clie nt eligibility, types and definitions of abuse, reporting requirements , and state level data. About half the states are using some form of r isk assessment tool. Reason for case closure is the most common client outcome measure while reporting and substantiation statistics serve a s the primary criteria for achievement of program goals.