Project Abstract
Current law allows for only one type of response for a county department of human or social services to follow after a report of mistreatment or self-neglect of an at-risk adult, regardless of the level of risk reported. That type of response requires a full investigation, including unannounced initial in-person interviews, and a finding by the county department.
SB21-118 created an alternative response (AR) pilot program that a participating county department can utilize when it receives a report–related to an at-risk adult–of mistreatment or self-neglect, and the report has identified the risk as lower risk, as defined by rules promulgated by the state department of human services.
The goal of the evaluation is to inform practice and policy development, scalability, and sustainability of an AR model for Adult Protective Services. The evaluation is intended to move AR for at-risk adults through the evidence-building process by first focusing on theory-informed evidence-building strategies and then obtaining initial evidence about its effectiveness through a rigorous evaluation design.