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) was conducted to collect information about the current status of documentation systems, risk assessment protocols, and outcome measures in adult protective services interventions. Fifty responses were received from 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. The results highlight the wide variation in the state protective services programs, not only dissimilarities in structure and administration, but in age of client eligibility, types and definitions of abuse, reporting requirements, and state level data. About half the states are using some form of risk assessment tool. Reason for case closure is the most common client outcome measure while reporting and substantiation statistics serve as the primary criteria for achievement of program goals.