About

NAPSA

National Adult Protective Services Association

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WHY WE EXIST

To strengthen the capacity of Adult Protective Services (federal, state & local) to serve elders and adults with disabilities.

Our History

LEADERSHIP

Get to know the Board of Directors, Staff, and Committee Members that help NAPSA fulfill its mission every day.

Our Team

What is

NAPSA?

The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) is a national non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization with members in all fifty states, DC and the territories. Formed in 1989, the goal of NAPSA is to provide Adult Protective Services (APS) programs a forum for sharing information, solving problems, and improving the quality of services for victims of elder and vulnerable adult mistreatment.

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OUR MISSION

NAPSA’s mission is to strengthen the capacity of APS at the national, state, and local levels, to recognize, report, and respond to the needs of elders and adults with disabilities who are the victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and to effectively and efficiently prevent such abuse whenever possible.

Our holistic

APPROACH

Fulfilling our mission requires a coordinated, multi-layered approach. To that end, NAPSA:

Partners with many diverse organizations to provide a cohesive network of research, practice and policy to meet the diverse needs of the ever-changing population of vulnerable adults.

Actively conducts national research on topics such as APS training activities, services to self-neglecting adults, and national APS data collection as well as partnering with academic researchers on elder and vulnerable adult mistreatment studies.

Hosts an annual conference and a national summit on financial exploitation featuring nationally known and respected professionals who share their expertise on cutting-edge issues applicable to APS practice and other disciplines.

Works to increase national awareness of elder and vulnerable adult mistreatment through education, advocacy, and congressional testimony.

NAPSA Code of Ethics

Adult Protective Services programs and staff promote safety, independence, and quality-of-life for older persons and persons with disabilities who are being mistreated or in danger of being mistreated, and who are unable to protect themselves.

Guiding Value

Every action taken by Adult Protective Services must balance the duty to protect the safety of the vulnerable adult with the adult’s right to self-determination.

Secondary Value

Older persons and persons with disabilities who are victims of mistreatment should be treated with honesty, caring, and respect.

Principles

Adults have the right to be safe.
Adults retain all their civil and constitutional rights, e.g., the right to live their lives as they wish, manage their own finances, enter into contracts, marry, etc. unless a court adjudicates otherwise.
Adults have the right to make decisions that do not conform with societal norms as long as these decisions do not harm others.
Adults have the right to accept or refuse services.

NAPSA (or APS) Practice Guidelines

APS worker practice responsibilities include:

Recognize that the interests of the adult are the first concern of any intervention.
Avoid imposing personal values on others.
Seek informed consent from the adult before providing services.
Respect the adult’s right to keep personal information confidential.
Recognize individual differences such as cultural, historical and personal values.
Honor the right of adults to receive information about their choices and options in a form or manner that they can understand.
To the best of one’s ability, involve the adult as much as possible in developing the service plan.
Focus on case planning that maximizes the vulnerable adult’s independence and choice to the extent possible based on the adult’s capacity.
Use the least restrictive services first whenever possible—community-based services rather than institutionally-based services.
Use family and informal support systems first as long as this is in the best interest of the adult.
Maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries.
In the absence of an adult’s expressed wishes, support casework actions that are in the adult’s best interest.
Use substituted judgment in case planning when historical knowledge of the adult’s values is available.
Do no harm. Inadequate or inappropriate intervention may be worse than no intervention.

Recommended Minimum Program

STANDARDS FOR APS

The Recommended Minimum Program Standards constitute current best practice in APS and are written so that the principles may be applied to any APS agency or program, regardless of size or structure. You can view them here.

Understanding NAPSA’s

HISTORY

Formed in 1989, NAPSA currently has members in all 50 states. Explore the history of our organization, and read more about milestones and success stories we have celebrated along the way.

Learn more on our History page.

View our

Accomplishments

1999-2011
National Center on Elder Abuse
Partnered in the National Center on Elder Abuse from 1999 to 2011 to assist in the development of:
- An electronic newsfeed on elder abuse and abuse of adults with disabilities
- An APS training archive
- A national study of APS training needs and strategic plan
- An on-line training on elder abuse for health care clinicians
- Two large-scale surveys to measure APS reports received and the services provided
- Several national surveys and summary publications on elder abuse
U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
In 2010, NAPSA advocated for a report on APS by the General Accountability Office, resulting in a public hearing before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.

2010
2010
Research to Practice Webcasts
Began convening quarterly “research to practice” webcasts in 2010
Kohl Senate Aging Committee
In 2011 NAPSA represented APS at the Kohl Senate Aging Committee hearing on Elder Justice and at numerous other national meetings, conferences, and symposia.

2011
2011
National APS Resource Center
Established the first ever National APS Resource Center in 2011.
Over 500 Members
Membership has increased from a handful of APS administrators in 1989 to over 500 APS and allied professionals in 2012.

2012
2013 - Today
APS Advocate
Continue to advocate for federal APS legislation and funding for all APS agencies across the country

In the over 20 years that NAPSA has existed it has worked tirelessly to advance the field of Adult Protective Services, raise awareness of elder and adult abuse, and advocate on behalf of those victims.

Some other highlights of its accomplishments are:

NAPSA advocated for federal APS legislation and funding for over 20 years.
NAPSA helped form the Elder Justice Coalition and worked closely with that group to get the Elder Justice Act passed and is now working to have it funded.
NAPSA has worked to make sure that APS is represented in all the proposed legislation and national policies that would have an impact on abused and neglected seniors and adults with disabilities.
Publishes an APS newsletter and listserv.
Created a training archive.
Hosts the only annual National Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse APS Training Conference.
Hosts an annual National Summit on Elder Financial Exploitation.
Created a Code of Ethics and Best Practice Guidelines for APS.
Participated in the National Training Partnership with San Diego State University’s Academy for Professional Excellence to develop professional training curriculum in 23 practice-specific competencies for APS workers.
Provides technical assistance and referrals to APS and allied professionals, students, and victims and their families searching for information and help with vulnerable adult abuse.
NAPSA annually confers the only awards for outstanding contributors to the field of APS and to the work of serving elder and vulnerable adult abuse victims.

ABOUT NAPSA

The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) is a national non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization with members in all fifty states, D.C., and the territories. Formed in 1989, the goal of NAPSA is to provide Adult Protective Services (APS) programs a forum for sharing information, solving problems, and improving the quality of services for victims of elder and vulnerable adult mistreatment. Its mission is to strengthen the capacity of APS at the national, state, and local levels, to effectively and efficiently recognize, report, and respond to the needs of elders and adults with disabilities who are the victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and to prevent such abuse whenever possible.

NAPSA OFFICES

NAPSA (National Adult Protective Services Association)

Address:
1612 K Street NW #200
Washington, DC 20006

Phone:
(202) 370-6292

Hours:
9am – 5pm EST

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NAPSA

DONATE

WHY WE EXIST

LEADERSHIP

NAPSA?

OUR MISSION

APPROACH

NAPSA Code of Ethics

Guiding Value

Secondary Value

Principles

NAPSA (or APS) Practice Guidelines

STANDARDS FOR APS

HISTORY

Accomplishments

1999-2011

2010

2010

2011

2011

2012

2013 - Today

ABOUT NAPSA

NAPSA OFFICES

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