The Adult Protective Service program (APS) investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults age 60 and over who are handicapped by the infirmities of aging or who have a physical or mental impairment which prevents them from providing for their own care or protection. Those adults determined by evaluation to require services for the prevention, correction or discontinuance of an act or condition resulting from abuse, neglect, or exploitation will be assisted in arranging protective services.

 

Protective services may include but are not limited to case management, medical care, mental health services, legal services, fiscal management, home health care, homemaker services, housing related services, guardianship services, and placement services, as well as the provision of such commodities as food, clothing, and shelter.

 

Adult Protective Services are a legal responsibility of the Stark County Department of Job and Family Services under the APS Law (Ohio Revised Code Sections 5101.60-5101.72, 5010.99).  Trillium Family Solutions serves as the Agency designated by the Stark County Department of Job and Family Services to investigate APS reports.

 

Geographic Area Served

The individual named as the subject of the report must be a resident of Stark County. 

Hours, Days of Service

8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Monday - Friday)
Evening hours can be arranged by appointment. 

Adult Protective Service reports are received 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by the Stark County Department of Job and Family Services.  An Adult Protective Service worker is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to initiate an investigation. 

Parking is free at the Parking Garage or parking lot with a validated parking ticket. 

Goals

The goals of the Adult Protective Service Program are:

• To prevent, reduce, or remedy conditions causing endangerment to adults age 60 and over through provision of services appropriate to the adult's need

• To maximize the adult's independence and self-direction

• To prevent unnecessary institutionalization and to enable the adult to remain in his own home as long as possible, by selection of the least restrictive alternative.  The least restrictive alternative means the change resulting in the least loss of self-determination that will meet the specified need. 

Intake/Eligibility Policy

The Stark County Department of Job and Family Services receive the reports of elder maltreatment and fax those reports to Trillium Family Solutions for case assignment and investigation. To be eligible for adult protective services, the subject of the report must be age 60 or over and be residing in Stark County in an independent living arrangement.

There is no charge to the client for the investigation of the concerns reported to adult protective services. The Ohio Revised Code does allow for the Probate Court to order individuals determined able to pay for services to support those costs.