WHAT ARE PROTECTIVE SERVICES?

The goal of adult protective services is to ensure that safety and basic needs are being met in the least restrictive environment. This can be in an adult's home or elsewhere. These services are provided or arranged by the Department of Family Services (DFS). Services may include but are not limited to: social casework, case management, home care, day care, health care services, homemaker services, emergency shelter, assistance obtaining guardianship and referrals to appropriate community agencies.

WHO IS COVERED UNDER ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES?
The program serves vulnerable adults which means any person eighteen (18) years of age or older who is unable to manage and take care of himself or his property without assistance as a result of advanced age or physical or mental disability.

ADULT CARE FACILITIES
DFS will also accept for investigation and assessment, concerns for people residing in nursing homes and other residential care facilities.

WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES?
Any eligible adult who is being abused, neglected, abandoned or exploited. Usually this involves a caregiver, but also would include adults who live alone and are not able to care for themselves without serious risk of harm to their well being.

Relevant definitions include:

Abandonment: leaving a vulnerable adult without financial support or the means or ability to obtain food, clothing, shelter or health care.

Abuse: intentionally or recklessly inflicting physical or mental injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, cruel punishment, and may include sexual offenses.

Exploitation: the reckless or intentional act taken to obtain control through deception, harassment, intimidation or undue influence over the vulnerable adult's money, assets or property with the intention of depriving the vulnerable adult of those assets.

Neglect: depriving a vulnerable adult of the minimum food, shelter, clothing, supervision, physical and mental health care, and other care necessary to maintain life or health, or which may result in a life-threatening situation.

Self-neglect: when a vulnerable adult is unable, due to physical or mental disability, or refuses to perform essential self-care tasks, including providing essential food, clothing, shelter, or medical care, obtaining physical or mental health care, emotional well-being and general safety, or managing financial affairs.

WHO CAN REPORT CONCERNS?

Anyone who has a reasonable suspicion or knowledge that an adult is being abused, abandoned, exploited, neglected or is self-neglecting should make a report to the Department of Family Services or law enforcement. Anyone making such a report in good faith is immune from civil liability, even if the investigation indicates there is no wrongdoing. Names of reporters are kept confidential.

HOW DO I MAKE A REPORT?

Reports should be made to your local Department of Family Services by phone or in person. An on-call caseworker is available 24 hours a day. You may also make a report to your local law enforcement agency, such as the police or sheriff.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I MAKE A REPORT?

A DFS caseworker, law enforcement officer, or both will contact the vulnerable adult and caregiver to arrange a home visit and complete an assessment of the situation. The reporter may be contacted for further information.

STATEWIDE CONTACTS FOR WYOMING

Department of Family Services
Adult Protective Services		(307) 777-3602
Department of Health
Aging Division		(307) 777-7995
Long Term Care Ombudsman		(307) 322-5553
Office of Health Quality		(307) 777-7123
Division of Developmental Disabilities		(307) 777-7115
Attorney General
Consumer Fraud Division		(307) 777-5838
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit		(307) 777-3444 or toll free at (800) 378-0345