Adult Abuse Reporting
In Minnesota, Adult
Protective Services, a unit of the Aging and Adult Services Division of the Minnesota
Department of Human Services are an effort to identify and prevent maltreatment
of the state's most vulnerable adults.
There are three basic kinds of maltreatment:
- Abuse - physical, emotional
or sexual;
- Neglect - caregiver neglect
or self neglect; and
- Financial Exploitation.
Eighty-seven (87) counties have their own Adult Protection units which are
responsible for investigating county complaints and providing protective
services. State agencies investigate complaints in regulated industries such as
nursing facilities. Law enforcement units coordinate with state and local units
to provide protection on maltreatment reports made and investigated.
More information including the warning signs, who is vulnerable and what you
can do to help can be found in the brochure Help
Protect People who are Frail and Vulnerable.
What can you do if you suspect a person with a disability is being
abused?
If there is immediate danger to the vulnerable adult, call 911.
If you suspect abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation you should call
your local County Agency
Common Entry Point . The phone line is available 24 hours a day/7
days a week so reports can be taken immediately. Be prepared to answer
questions like: who was abused, when did the abuse occur, where did it occur,
who did the maltreatment, and any other pertinent information. The caller
can remain annonymous.
After a report is filed, the county begins an investigation and protection
of the person begins. If a licensed program is involved, the report is
forwarded to either the Minnesota Department of Health or the Minnesota
Department of Human Services' Licensing Division.
For further information*:
Contact one of the information lines listed below during normal business hours. Services are free and confidential.
The Senior LinkAge Line® is served by volunteers and staff of the area agencies on aging who are certified by the Minnesota Board on Aging. Staff and volunteers receive extensive training and provide objective, confidential assistance. They are independent and are not connected with any private or non-profit companies that sell products. The Senior LinkAge Line® is the federal government-certified Medicare Counseling phone service for the state of Minnesota.
The Disability Linkage Line® is served by the Metropolitan and the Southeastern Centers for Independent Living. Staff and volunteers receive extensive training, and provide objective, confidential assistance. They are independent and are not connected with any private or non-profit companies that sell products.
The Veterans Linkage Line™ is answered by trained staff at the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs and Crisis Connection, a Twin Cities based nonprofit mental health telephone counseling service. MDVA staff, who are veterans themselves manage the lines Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm. Crisis Connection social workers field all crisis call during business hours, and all calls after hours, weekends and on holidays.
Minnesota Teens or Young Adults with questions or comments about this Web site can call (651) 431-4714; Mon- Fri, 8:00 am - 4:30pm or email: youth_corner@state.mn.us.
* Many programs in this Web site require that you have maximum income or asset limits and use the standard of Federal Poverty Guidelines (e.g. 120% of FPG). The Federal Poverty Guidelines are set by US DHHS, and take affect in Minnesota July 1st. Federal Poverty Guidelines are available at the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Eligibility for many public programs is done by the Minnesota County Social Services System. To find a county eligibility office near you, put your zip code into Minnesotahelp.info and type the name of the program in the keyword search box. For example, "Medical Assistance".
NOTE: There are many other factors - besides a person's income - that go into determining whether a person is eligible for a program. It's important to talk to the provider of the program to see if you can qualify.